AITA for Refusing In-Laws Dog Indoors After Chaos?

AITA for refusing to let my in-laws' unruly dog inside, leading to tension and conflict during their visit?

Sophia

Published in Interesting
12 Dec 2025

AITA for Refusing In-Laws Dog Indoors After Chaos?

In the complex world of family dynamics, few things can ignite tension quite like a pet misadventure. In this Reddit thread, we dive into the story of a young couple navigating the challenges of hosting their in-laws, who brought along their spirited dog, Coco.

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While it’s not uncommon for family visits to come with their own unique set of challenges, this scenario escalated when Coco's exuberance led to a series of unfortunate incidents, including damage to the couple's home. The original poster, a 31-year-old woman, found herself facing a tough decision after Coco wreaked havoc during her in-laws' stay.

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After multiple mishaps, including a ruined rug and a damp couch, she made the call to keep Coco outside for the remainder of their visit. This choice, though rooted in a desire to protect her home, sparked a fierce debate among Reddit users about the boundaries of hospitality and the responsibilities of pet owners.

As the discussion unfolds, users weigh in on whether the OP’s actions were justified or overly harsh. With her husband caught in the middle, the situation raises important questions about compromise, communication, and the often-unspoken expectations that come with family visits.

What are your thoughts? Did the OP go too far, or was she right to prioritize her home?

Join the conversation and share your perspective!

Original Post

So I'm (31F) and my husband (33M) have been married for three years. We recently had my in-laws stay with us for a week.

Now, they brought along their dog, Coco, a rather excitable and poorly behaved pup. For context, Coco tends to have accidents indoors when overly excited, especially in a new environment.

My in-laws are aware of this but claim she's well-behaved. During their stay, Coco knocked over a lamp, chewed up a rug, and even peed on our couch.

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After numerous incidents and cleanup, I made the decision to ban Coco from coming inside the house. I set up a cozy outdoor area for her with food, water, and shelter.

My in-laws were not happy about this but complied. They tried to sneak her inside a few times, resulting in more chaos.

Despite the drama, I stood my ground, insisting Coco stay outside. My in-laws left earlier than planned, upset with me for not accommodating their dog properly.

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They felt I was being unreasonable and uncaring. Now, my husband is caught in the middle, saying I should have been more understanding.

He understands my frustrations but thinks I could have handled it better. I feel conflicted - I didn't want to risk more damage inside, but I also don't want tensions with my in-laws.

So AITA?