Re: Don't sugar-coat it, the truth can help and hurt
You see because you are trying to sugar-coat it, they may not get the message. Be direct and tell them the truth, tell them how you felt when the dogs came out, and ask them if they could put the dogs in another building during your next visit. I am sure that they will understand, if not then they are not good inlaws because they value dogs over family. A dog is a pet, not a family member. If the pet gets out of line, you have to control them, if they bother the guests or family members, you have to put them away somewhere. It is the responsibility of owning pets to control them.
I'm not really trying to "sugar-coat" it, just say it with tact. Rather than say, for example, "It smells really bad staying there with all those dogs, and there is hair everywhere" I would like to try and say, "The scent of dog is rather overwhelming and the hair gets on everything and I think it makes me sneeze."
That's an example.
As for putting them in another building, it really won't work, bottom line is I don't want to "stay" there anymore. Visit, yes, but not stay. And when we visit, i would like them controlled a little more, as in rounded up so we can get out of the car safely, and into the house FIRST, then if they have to be let out, we aren't trying to go in and out of doors, which seems to make them nuts.
And I would really like them to provide some sort of lighting, even if it's a flashlight, (ours was in the car, and thus useless because we didn't think to take it out of the car and into the house,) to get us in and out where we don't step in stuff or be unable to see.
There are things they could do to make it a better visit, but I don't know how willing they would be. Like maybe putting them all outside during dinner, even.
Don't worry, Norman, I will make sure she gets the message, trust me. Just with tact.
Would you put your bird in a cage and throw a blanket over it, if it kept pecking at your mother-in-law's face and eyes? Of course you would. Same deal here.
Yeah only big difference is my birdie is easier to catch and cage than 14 loose running romping dogs. But yeah, same deal in some ways.
Nightowl >8#
"I love the sound of CNN in the morning! Even if it is only temporary!" -- Temporary Owl thought while in New Mexico.