AITA for not allowing dogs inside my house?

A Redditor shares a disagreement with his girlfriend and her daughter over their pet policies in his home. Having grown up on a ranch where dogs were never allowed inside, he has maintained this practice in his own house.

While he has a well-cared-for German Shepherd in a kennel, his girlfriend’s daughter, Ashley, is upset that her large goldendoodle is not allowed inside. Despite his girlfriend’s offers to help with cleaning and vacuuming, the Redditor remains firm in his decision.

Is it unreasonable to stick to your own household rules, or is he being too rigid in the face of family needs? Read the original story below to explore the clash of pet ownership perspectives in blended families.

‘ AITA for not allowing dogs inside my house?’

I (48m) was raised on a ranch and we didn’t allow the dogs to get inside. It stuck with me, I like dogs, but I don’t let them inside. I have a 6yo GSD right now and I built a large kennel for her to sleep and eat in.

My girlfriend Sarah (42f) and her daughter Ashley (16f) recently moved in. Everything is smooth, except for one thing. Ashley has a dog, a goldendoodle or something, the thing is, it’s a large fluffy dog that I don’t want to have inside my house. Her dog is well behaved and gets along with my dog, so keeping him in the yard with my dog isn’t a problem.

Now Ashley is upset because she can’t let her dog inside, on the furniture, in her bed etc. She complains to Sarah and Sarah nags me about letting dogs inside. She says she will do the extra cleaning and vacuuming and will even wash the dogs paws every time they come inside.

I’m staying firm on my decision. She knew that I’m not letting any dogs inside beforehand and decided to take her dog along to move in with me anyway. I’m not against her dog, just don’t want to have him inside. AITA?

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

pointermom1 −  If your GSD is not a working ranch dog staying outside with the animals it guards, then you are TA. Dogs are social and want to be with their packs. You are its pack. You’re leaving it outside to get bored and lonely in a kennel. That is no life for a dog.

Why do you even have one? Not only should your girlfriend’s dog be in the house, yours should too. It’s one thing to keep them off the furniture, it’s another to abandoned them outside. You should not even have a dog if you’re leaving it out. Find it a good home.

[Reddit User] −  YTA, why even have a dog if you just ignore it and leave it outside? Dogs are social animals that love company and you just leave it alone outside? How cruel. You don’t have to let them on the furniture or sleep in the bed with you but damn how sad that the dog is just alone outside.

Excellent-Count4009 −  ESH. You and your girlfriend are MAJOR AHs – and your gf is a s**tty parent – for doing this to her daughter.

Maximum-Swan-1009 −  ESH. You, for not allowing a dog who has always lived inside with his person, and your girlfriend for agreeing to move in with you, expecting that she could change your mind.

One_Recording_5943 −  Goldendoodles and other dogs should never be kept outside! If you are not going to love them and treat them like family, do not get a dog. WTH is wrong with you. I really hope she does the smart thing and moves out!

anonymousreader7300 −  YTA. I f**king hate this dog outside mentality. If you didn’t want it in your house, why tf did you get one? Dogs are pack animals and need to live with you, meaning inside most of the time.

Their world is already so small, and you make it smaller by putting restrictions on where they can be. I can bet you don’t spend your whole day outside with the dog. That poor dog is so alone. You’re a bad dog owner. And I wouldn’t want my dog to live with you either.

Endowarrior79 −  YTA. The dogs aren’t working on a ranch. They’re family pets and should live indoors with their family.

Sickly_lips −  So, congrats. You’re not meeting your german shepherds basic needs, German shepherds are INCREDIBLY family oriented. I would know, I live with one.

And second off, goldendoodles are indoor f**king dogs. They do not have the coat, or the personality, to live the way you’re making it. Congrats, you’re a horrible dog owner.

heishancell −  A German Shepherd. In a “large kennel”. I mean these are a very strong willed working breed that is very pack oriented that need lots of exercise everyday and have a high shed double coat and are commonly seen for overheating when kept outside but I am sure you know best, that’s why you keep it outside.

It’s obviously not used for protection, or it would be in the house protecting. So… why do you have it? Because you’re e always had a dog and keeping it in a pen like livestock makes you feel loved because it has no choice but to rely on you?

And then there is a labradoodle, a shed resistant dog that is not made for the outdoors, that has always been an inside dog, that is now sharing a “large pen” with a German shepherd. Uh huh.

But it is your house, your rules. I mean why stop there? Is the pen large enough to house Ashley too? I hear teenage girls can shed and get on the furniture as well, might just nip that one in the bud.

Her mother knew how you treated your dog, but did you ever sit them down and say “if you move in, that dog will not set foot in this house?” Why did you move in with someone who had an indoor child much less an indoor dog.

I assumed you had met and seen how she ran her house. Is it because now they too are dependent on you and you see respect for “your rules” and their dependency as love much like your dog?

Lighten up. You might find that having pets in the house is better than you thought. If you don’t like taking actual care of your pets, then quit getting them. Same goes for kids and girlfriends.

If not, well there were no kids in your house either and I am sure your girlfriend knew that and shouldn’t expect for her child to be allowed in either. Just because it happened at her house, I mean, you win: your house-they are just guests.

Effective-Essay-6343 −  Why would you get a social working breed and stick it in a kennel alone? You shouldnt have a dog.
YTA. Your girlfriend should cut her losses and leave.