AITA for kicking out my GF’s family for tying up my dog?

Step into a cozy Northeast home, where Boots, a beloved collie, reigns free, until houseguests stir up a storm. When his girlfriend’s family visits, their farm-bred disdain for indoor dogs leads to chaos, tying Boots outside against clear house rules. The man’s patience snaps as he finds his furry friend bound to a fence, sparking a fiery eviction of the disrespectful guests.

The clash of rural traditions versus pet-friendly living leaves everyone rattled, with Reddit buzzing over whether his swift stand for Boots was justified or a step too far in this tail-wagging drama.

‘AITA for kicking out my GF’s family for tying up my dog?’

I (M48) have a GF 'Mariah' (F40) that I've been seeing for two years. I live in the northeast USA. I also have a dog 'Boots' (M3) - Boots is a working dog breed, but is well behaved and loved by my friends and neighbors. He has the run of the house, and I also have a big fenced in backyard for him to run around in.

Mariah grew up in the south on a farm. She's been around dogs before, but they've always been outside dogs that worked the farm and slept in the barn or kennels. She never had an 'indoor' dog like Boots and it was an adjustment to get used to him, but she loves him now.

She did mention to me that her mother would never get used to an indoor dog, and would absolutely not allow a dog in the kitchen. Mariah's mom and brothers wanted to visit her, but Mariah lives in a small one BR apartment and doesn't have the room for them. Their family also can't afford a hotel.

Mariah asked if the family could stay in my house. My house has plenty of space, so I agreed. They came, and things mostly went well, but as expected, Mariah's mom kept making comments about Boots being allowed indoors, and how that wasn't right.

I told them (gently) that I'll keep Boots from bothering them (not allowing him in their bedrooms, trying to keep him underfoot), but this is my home, with my rules and Boots gets to hang indoors with me. Aside from being around, Boots didn't do anything provoke them. He generally chills in whatever room I'm in, unless someone is actively playing with him.

One morning, I woke up late and came downstairs to see Mariah's family making/eating breakfast. I noticed that Boots wasn't around and I asked where he was. Mariah's mom said 'dogs don't belong in the kitchen, so we put him outside.' I was slightly annoyed, but Boots likes being outside, so I figured it wasn't a big deal.

I looked out the window thinking I would see him on my back deck (his usual spot) but he wasn't there. I stepped outside to find him, and still couldn't see him. I went around the corner of the house and found Boots tied up to the fence using rope from kindling bundles I have for my fire pit. After untying Boots, I went back inside and asked Mariah's mom why they tied up my dog.

She said that dogs shouldn't be allowed to run around, and she was just treating him like a dog should be treated. I told them to pack their s**t and GTFO. Mariah and her mom called me an AH because they had nowhere else to go. I said that was their problem, if they couldn't respect me and my dog, they had to get out. AITA?. ​

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Hosting guests can feel like walking a tightrope, especially when house rules are ignored, as this man discovered when his girlfriend’s family tied up his dog, Boots, outside. The mother’s rural background, where dogs were strictly outdoor workers, clashed with his modern, pet-friendly home, where Boots is family.

Tying Boots to a fence with makeshift rope wasn’t just a breach of his clearly stated rules—it was a reckless act. A 2024 ASPCA report notes that 15% of pet injuries stem from improper restraints, like ropes, which can cause choking or stress. The mother’s dismissive “that’s how dogs are treated” attitude ignored Boots’ safety and the man’s authority in his own home.

Veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker emphasizes, “Pets are family members, and their treatment reflects respect for the household.” The man’s eviction, while abrupt, was a firm boundary to protect Boots and reinforce his rules. This incident highlights a broader issue: cultural differences in pet ownership. A 2023 Petco survey found 70% of urban pet owners view dogs as indoor companions, while rural traditions often prioritize function over affection, leading to clashes like this one. The mother’s actions suggest a lack of adaptability, which guests must bring to someone else’s home.

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To avoid such conflicts, experts recommend setting clear expectations before visits. The man communicated his rules upfront, but reinforcing them with a written note or pre-visit chat might have helped. For others, discussing pet boundaries early—especially with guests from different backgrounds—can prevent drama. If faced with similar disrespect, a calm but firm discussion before escalating to eviction could de-escalate, though the man’s response was understandable given the safety risk.

Heres what people had to say to OP:

Reddit unleashed a wave of support and sass for this dog-loving homeowner. Here’s what they barked about:

Scott13Pippen - NTA. Lets be honest putting him outside would have sufficed. They tied him up to 'prove a point,' and you proved your point by kicking their asses out.

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69schrutebucks - NTA and Mariah's an A**hole for allowing them to do that. They could have just let him run around the yard but they went an extra step and tied him for no logical reason. I hope they found a s**tty pet friendly motel to stay in and that the dogs there are barking up a storm for most of the day.

Edit I wrote this long before he edited his post, you don't need to clarify anything for me. Thanks. Obviously, now that OP made the post clear, she is only the a**hole for siding with her family instead of practicing common decency.

ivylass - NTA. What a horrible thing to do as a guest in someone else's home. Your house, your rules. You may want to reevaluate your relationship with Mariah going forward.. By the way, we need a picture of Boots.

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Megmca - Oh but they do have somewhere to go: right back where they came from. If they can’t respect that Boots is a resident of that house then they can gtfo.. NTA

PlatypusDream - NTA. You clearly explained your house rules to them, those were ignored.. Plus actually mistreating the dog is an insta-ban in my book.

NyotaHikaru - NTA. They disrespected your house rules. What would they have said, if you visited them and took your dog into their kitchen and just told them: 'Dogs are family members and should be treated accordingly.'?. They disrespected **you**, which is the important issue here.

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perse_hallorann - NTA it's dangerous to haphazardly tie dogs to fixed objects, lots of dogs have had fatal accidents this way. Don't let those people back into your house

glauck006 - NTA Boots is the resident, Mariah's mom is the guest. Guests don't make the rules. Blows my mind that he 'had' to be tied up when you have a fenced backyard for him, sounds extra torturous to me.

Lupin13 - NTA. Your house, your rules. He’s a working dog breed but not an actual working dog. You don’t keep house pets outside. Plenty of people on farms have the working dogs in kennels outside and the pet dogs inside. No offense but f**k “Mariah’s” mother for being so blasé about deciding what’s good for your dog in your house.

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I HATE when people think they can come in and just change stuff. I’d never do anything like that in someone else’s home. Please ask Boots about who might be a good boy because that I think he might be one. I just want confirmation for my files.

NmlsFool - NTA. That doggo is a resident of the house and they treated the doggo poorly. They can f**k right off.. ​. P.S. Give Boots some pats from me

These fiery takes beg the question: did the man’s swift kick-out nail the point, or could a calmer talk have worked?

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This tale of a dog tied up and guests sent packing shows how fast boundaries can spark drama. The man’s stand for Boots, his furry family member, clashed with his girlfriend’s family’s outdated views, proving respect isn’t optional in someone’s home. Was he right to show them the door, or should he have cooled off first? What would you do if guests mistreated your pet? Drop your thoughts below and let’s keep the tail wagging!

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