AITA for Refusing to Babysit Hyper Dog During Brothers Honeymoon?

AITA for not wanting to watch my brother and SIL's hyper dog, especially at the cost of my own cats' comfort?

Damjan

Published in Interesting
26 Dec 2025

AITA for Refusing to Babysit Hyper Dog During Brothers Honeymoon?

As the holiday season approaches, many families are making travel plans that sometimes clash with the responsibilities of pet ownership. In a recent Reddit thread, one user finds themselves at a crossroads between family loyalty and personal comfort when their brother and sister-in-law ask for a favor that raises serious concerns.

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With their upcoming two-week honeymoon, the couple is looking for someone to watch over their energetic mini Goldendoodle. Still, the request comes with complications that could impact the entire household. The user, who has three cats that have never been exposed to dogs, is understandably hesitant about locking their pets away in the basement for two weeks.

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The situation is further complicated by the fact that the dog is not well-trained and has a reputation for being overly hyper. As the user contemplates whether to agree to this arrangement, they wonder whether they are being unreasonable or whether their concerns about their cats' well-being are valid.

In this thread, readers are sharing varied perspectives on responsibility, pet care, and family obligations. Join the discussion to explore the nuances of this dilemma: Is it fair for the couple to expect the family to care for their pet while they enjoy a vacation, or should they consider boarding options instead?

Original Post

In mid-November, my brother and his wife are going on their honeymoon - a two-week cruise. They a one-year-old mini Goldendoodle who is, honestly, the most hyper dog I've ever met.

Don't get me wrong, he's not a *bad* dog, just super energetic and not very well trained. Since they'll be gone for two weeks, they don't want to board him, and SIL doesn't trust a Rover (for some reason).

They're asking both my parents and her parents to take turns watching him. The original plan was one week with each family.

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But now, her parents backed out because her sisters said they wouldn't help with the dog - they just didn't want to deal with him. My mom feels bad and wants to help, but there's one big problem: our family has three cats who have never lived with a dog before.

I joked that while we watch their dog, SIL's parents could watch our cats. She didn't think it was funny.

Right now, the only "solution" we've come up with is locking our cats in the basement for the two weeks. The basement is finished and has a room for them, but there aren't any windows they can look out of, and most of their favorite sleeping spots are upstairs.

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I really don't like the idea of locking the cats away in their own home for that long. I'd feel a lot better about it if her parents would take the dog for a week too.

I'll be helping my mom with the dog either way, but I can't tell if I'm being overdramatic for not wanting this situation to happen. **AITA for thinking this isn't fair to our cats (or us)?**