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“[Am I The Jerk] For Refusing To Bring My Daughter To Her Grandparents’ House On Thanksgiving?”
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“[Am I The Jerk] For Refusing To Bring My Daughter To Her Grandparents’ House On Thanksgiving?”

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Gathering for Thanksgiving dinner with one’s extended family may be very fun and relaxing, but not if a snappy dog is in the same room with a toddler.

Having her dog who previously attacked the girl at the Thanksgiving table was something that this Redditor’s sister-in-law insisted on, so the mother refused to come.

More info: Reddit

A woman was planning to celebrate Thanksgiving with her in-laws but changed her mind due to her sister-in-law’s dog

Image credits: RDNE Stock project (not the actual photo) 

The woman’s sister-in-law owns a dog who doesn’t like kids and has been growling at her daughter since she was a baby

Image credit: u/Jass_the_Yass

Image credits: Tatiana Syrikova (not the actual photo) 

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Image credit: u/Jass_the_Yass

As the girl grew up a bit, the dog continued to be aggressive towards her

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Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual photo) 

The last time, the chihuahua lunged at the girl’s face, growling and snapping, and the mom was just in time to save her from being bitten

A mother of a toddler brought it to the Reddit AITA community online asking whether she was right to refuse to come to her in-laws’ house for Thanksgiving due to their dog.

The woman explained that her sister-in-law owns a chihuahua who doesn’t like children. Since the birth of the OP’s daughter, the dog has been growling at her. Yet it became even more challenging later on.

After the last time when the dog lunged at her daughter’s face, growling and snapping, the girl’s mother told the dog’s owner she had had enough and wouldn’t have them in the same room.

Since the sister-in-law needed to have her dog with her on Thanksgiving, the woman requested that she keep the dog in another room.

The woman’s in-laws were hesitant about keeping the dog separately from the toddler and refused to confirm, so the mother made sure to keep her daughter safe and made an update that she chose to have Thanksgiving as a trio with her daughter and husband at home.

The woman asked her SIL to keep the dog in another room on Thanksgiving, but she only agreed to be holding him

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Image credits: wkn (not the actual photo)

So the woman didn’t bring her daughter to her grandparents and celebrated with her husband and daughter at home

Someone less familiar with the breed could wonder whether such a small creature as a Chihuahua can do any harm, yet these dogs are known to sometimes have a snappy character and there probably is no question that with toddlers, it is better to be on the safe side.

While Chihuahuas and children can coexist, this often requires appropriate training and precautionary measures for both the dog and the kids. This is due to the dog being fragile, kids not always paying attention to the dog’s body language, and Chihuahuas not always appreciating unfamiliar kids’ company.

Finally, it is advised to keep Chihuahuas’ and friends’ or relatives’ children’s interaction supervised at all times to avoid accidents and possible shock to a young kid. For these reasons, celebrating Thanksgiving in the safety of their own home was probably the best decision the parents could have made in this kind of situation and Redditors sided with them.

Redditors sided with the woman and shared their experiences

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Aura Vyšniauskaitė

Aura Vyšniauskaitė

Writer, Community member

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Aura is a writer at Bored Panda. She finished her BA in Philosophy at Vilnius University. She lived in Prague for a few years, where she worked in Trade Compliance at DHL Express. Finally, she came back to Vilnius to continue her studies in Philosophy.

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Aura Vyšniauskaitė

Aura Vyšniauskaitė

Writer, Community member

Aura is a writer at Bored Panda. She finished her BA in Philosophy at Vilnius University. She lived in Prague for a few years, where she worked in Trade Compliance at DHL Express. Finally, she came back to Vilnius to continue her studies in Philosophy.

Monika Pašukonytė

Monika Pašukonytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

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I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

Read less »

Monika Pašukonytė

Monika Pašukonytė

Author, BoredPanda staff

I am a visual editor here. In my free time I enjoy the vibrant worlds of art galleries, exhibitions, and soulful concerts. Yet, amidst life's hustle and bustle, I find solace in nature's embrace, cherishing tranquil moments with beloved friends. Deep within, I hold a dream close - to embark on a global journey in an RV, accompanied by my faithful canine companion. Together, we'll wander through diverse cultures, weaving precious memories under the starry night sky, fulfilling the wanderlust that stirs my soul.

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brianne_amos avatar
Brainmas
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the idea that they would wait until the dog acted aggressively before they would lock it up. Newsflash dummies, it already acted aggressively last time! Putting your kid's dog over your actual grandchild is a new low.

janetfloyd1 avatar
Janet Floyd
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly. Once that child's face is ruined, or worse, you can't take it back. Crazy grandparents. My daughter's face was bitten by another family members dog when she was 4. It was an accident the dog was playing and bit at a glove she was holding at her face. My uncle and his wife were horrified, and always kept that poor dog on a chain after that when they would visit. My daughter is 42 and still has that scar on her cheek, but no hard feelings and still loves dogs.

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sheriesmith avatar
Skulls.N.Succulents
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have had put bills that protect newborns/yoddler/kids with their life and let them pull on their tails and poke their eyes with not even a flinch and I have a chihuahua that is the epitome of evil when it comes to any human under the age of 12!!! If a dog doesn't like kids that child WILL be bitten and holding a dog is never a good enough option!!! Good on the parents and the rest of the family can kick rocks of a dog being in one room for a day means more the safety of baby!!!

destinythornton avatar
Spocks's Mom
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holding a dog can make a situation worse if the dog is resource guarding the person holding it. The parents are doing the right thing. I love dogs more than almost anything, but I try to keep a good realistic head when it comes to these things.

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rebecca_currens avatar
R.C.
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've worked with dogs a lot of years and I've found a lot of owners (not all) of small dogs don't care or even think it's funny when their animals are super aggressive. My dog was 120 lbs and he once had a miniature poodle hanging off the scruff of his neck when we tried to pass them on the sidewalk and the owner was laughing! It makes me so angry because if my dog had defended himself it would have been my dog put down because of his size. It was a good thing he was so laid back (and well trained).

wendyschkade avatar
Wendy Schkade
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh I'm glad your dog is ok. I would have called animal control on poodles owner.

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brianne_amos avatar
Brainmas
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the idea that they would wait until the dog acted aggressively before they would lock it up. Newsflash dummies, it already acted aggressively last time! Putting your kid's dog over your actual grandchild is a new low.

janetfloyd1 avatar
Janet Floyd
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Exactly. Once that child's face is ruined, or worse, you can't take it back. Crazy grandparents. My daughter's face was bitten by another family members dog when she was 4. It was an accident the dog was playing and bit at a glove she was holding at her face. My uncle and his wife were horrified, and always kept that poor dog on a chain after that when they would visit. My daughter is 42 and still has that scar on her cheek, but no hard feelings and still loves dogs.

Load More Replies...
sheriesmith avatar
Skulls.N.Succulents
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have had put bills that protect newborns/yoddler/kids with their life and let them pull on their tails and poke their eyes with not even a flinch and I have a chihuahua that is the epitome of evil when it comes to any human under the age of 12!!! If a dog doesn't like kids that child WILL be bitten and holding a dog is never a good enough option!!! Good on the parents and the rest of the family can kick rocks of a dog being in one room for a day means more the safety of baby!!!

destinythornton avatar
Spocks's Mom
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holding a dog can make a situation worse if the dog is resource guarding the person holding it. The parents are doing the right thing. I love dogs more than almost anything, but I try to keep a good realistic head when it comes to these things.

Load More Replies...
rebecca_currens avatar
R.C.
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've worked with dogs a lot of years and I've found a lot of owners (not all) of small dogs don't care or even think it's funny when their animals are super aggressive. My dog was 120 lbs and he once had a miniature poodle hanging off the scruff of his neck when we tried to pass them on the sidewalk and the owner was laughing! It makes me so angry because if my dog had defended himself it would have been my dog put down because of his size. It was a good thing he was so laid back (and well trained).

wendyschkade avatar
Wendy Schkade
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh I'm glad your dog is ok. I would have called animal control on poodles owner.

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