Roommate Doesn\'t Like Dogs?

Oh-kay! May 19'th, my husband and I are moving into our first home. To my utter dismay, one of his best friends [and mine] is coming to live with us to get on his feet.

It helps us lower our expenses for rent and utilities, and he stays downstairs. It won't be like he's constantly in my face or anything.

The only real qualm I have with this is that he doesn't like our dogs. Well, he likes our biggest dog, but he doesn't like any of our smaller ones.

I just KNOW we're going to run into problems later on with this, especially when he comes upstairs to use the microwave or stove, etc.

What can we do to best avoid confrontation, and to keep him from complaining at and about my dogs for the duration of his stay?

Throughout my life I've almost always had someone who is not related to my family unit co-habitating with us. I think its a family tendency as my parents have always had friends or children's friends in and out.

What works for us is to have a household meeting BEFORE as part of the process of allowing someone to move in - we usually make it sort of an informal party (food & beverages) with a set agenda. The main points of the agenda are:

Basic Rules
Contribution to the household
Communication
Other expectations

General basic rules are easy - clean up after yourself, be courteous etc...
Contribution - there are times when this is monetary and times when it is a "labor" type thing
Communication - I require those who live in the household to let me know if they are not going to be around or if they are - it saves me worry if/when they decide to stay over at a friend's and saves me from preparing too little/too much food.
Other Expectations - everything else...

One of the general rules in my house has always been - If you come home PLEASE let the dogs out (and back in).

Tell him to move out as soon as he has enough money, or make a designated "dogs only" area upstairs away from the kitchen. This may help a little, and if it doesn't, then see if you can all (including dogs) sit down and talk about why he doesn't like the smaller dogs, and see if y'all can come to an agreement about who is where and at what times. Hope this helps!

Hopefully he has the sense to know what an incredible deal you are making him and will keep his mouth shut about the dogs. He can be asked to move out if he complains about them. Since it is your house it is his duty to fit in, not yours to accommodate.

Well, dont get rid of it, and if they really don't like your dogs thats their fault and you have nothing to do about it. Its their fault and they should learn (your friends)
maybe they should buy a stove and microwave.

This might sound mean but he's just going to have to deal with the dogs. You guys are doing him a favor. He doesn't *have* to stay there. He shouldn't complain, he should know what he's getting himself into.

Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

If he doesnt like dogs, that is his issue. He can choose to not enter into the agreement.
Keep your dogs in what you pay for. Like if he pays for a room, dont let them in that room.

Have them have their own kitchen downstairs and if the dogs bug him you can always train them to stay away. DO NOT get rid of the doggies.

it's not your fault that he doesnt like your dogs.
its his problem, but for now you can try to keep your dogs in a different room or something.

You could just gate the common areas, so the dogs wont be under his feet.
Why dont you discuss this issue with him before you move, and come up with options to keep everyone happy?

lots o dogs

To be honest, any complaining that he does is uncalled for - you are housing him in what is your first home with your husband, which is quite a special time. He should understand that, regardelss of whether he will paying rent or not.

Do you know why he doesnt like the smaller ones? Is it a male "little dogs arent dogs" thing or does he have a valid reason? Its possible that being around them more may swing him him round when he sees them in their true enviroment.

Failing that, babygates may help in keeping them away from him (or him away from them, whichever way you see it!) Even just a babygate in the kitchen may settle the issues.

Wow. I really think he has no right to complain about the dogs of the people who are going through the trouble to give him a place to stay. I would hope he would act like a real man and be humble, polite and thankful about it.......

But i digress. Even if he is being immature, you should make sure your dogs don't act the same. The problems people have with small dogs is often due to the fact that owners allow their small dogs to bark, jump and be pests at their own will.

I don't know how well behaved your dogs are, but any dog big or small should have good manners. Have your dogs be good little hosts, and don't allow them to bark/bite or jump at him. And really, they shouldn't do that to "anyone" for that matter!

If your dogs "are" already well behaved, and don't bother him or anyone else, then there isn't much else you can do. If he dislikes them simply for their size, he's being very immature. Perhaps living with the dogs will teach him that small dogs can be great companions.

Just make sure the little ones are on their best behavior. At best, he will fall in love with them. At the least, he should be nuetral with them. And if he's a real jerk and hates them for no reason at all, then you have the right as the host to tell "him" to behave!

Owner of both big and little dogs!

get rid of the dogs.