Williams: Love you, but not your dog

The other day, a friend asked me for the nicest, most tactful way to tell his good friend that her dog is driving him nuts. According to him, her dogs are very badly behaved, completely out of control, beg horribly and even jump into his lap at the dinner table to steal his food. All the while, his friend says and does nothing. In her mind, her dogs are just being dogs, and she expects him, or any visitor for that matter, to just deal with it. It has gotten to the point where he doesn’t want to visit her anymore.

However, he’s at a loss as to how to tell her he can’t tolerate her dogs’ behavior anymore without hurting her feelings. As a dog trainer, I rarely find myself in this position. Not only do people and family members expect me to tell them when their dogs need training, I get paid to do so. When it comes to others, what’s the best way to handle this situation? If ever there was an occasion for a Hallmark card, this is it!

I view this predicament as very similar to when a person doesn’t like their friend’s spouse or significant other, their child, their parents, or their other friends. It’s a sticky situation, and I’m not sure there is a safe way to go about it without the friend taking offense. He wondered if buying her a gift certificate for dog training classes might do the trick. Now, I like that idea a lot. Not only would he be dropping a major hint, but he's also showing her he cares enough to help with costs. But on the other hand, it’s still risky. After all, it's really no different than buying a dust buster for someone who’s a lousy housekeeper. People are real sensitive about their dogs. Delivering it with a smile or a hug might help lessen the blow. An offer to attend the classes with the friend could be the icing on the cake.

This got me thinking of some other creative ways to drop a hint to a friend or family member that their dog's behavior is bothersome:

1) Tell her you found out you're allergic to her dog. No, not all dogs, just hers.

2) Every time her dog does something out of line, point at the dog and give the signature Cesar Millan "pssht." And I do mean every time. I guarantee before long, you'll start getting on her nerves and she won’t want you around her dogs.

3) Tell her you've given up her dogs for lent.

4) Put a bumper sticker on her car that reads, "My Dog Isn't Smarter than Your Pre-Schooler."

5) When together talk only about cats, cats, cats all day: how superior they are to dogs, how well behaved they are, how you like them so much better, and on and on. She'll either get the picture or she'll get you a cat!

Laurie C. Williams is a Stafford business owner. She appeared last year on “Greatest American Dog.”