Has anyone a problem with people not wanting to come over

Mostly I feel alienated from my female friends. Most females think I'm an oddity and, unfortunately, commonalities are hard to find. I guess I'm the antithesis of traditonal femininity. I don't do jewelry, knick knacks, sewing.....or any of the lovely intricate detailed things that many of my friends do. I wish I did. I'd rather be hiking in the dirt with teh dogs! They wonder why I would take up so much of my time and energy on walking, training, being with my dogs. That, my dear I-doggers, is why I am here as much as I can be. How nice is it to "talk" to others who understand our obsession!

This I understand. I had no female friends really until I started meeting other women with tons of Border Collies that were also into livestock, dog sports, and just romping through the woods/fields with the dogs. They have become some of the best friends I've ever had! I don't do girly stuff, and if it breaks of tears easily it won't find a way into my house. Beyond that I don't have any kids yet, so finding common ground can be difficult. I'm with you.

To the OP, I have four dogs, a small house, and a small yard. Like you, I crate the dogs if we're having a LOT of company, or just short stays. The only family member to ever balk was my 3 year old neice. I asked her if she wanted to come home with me, and she screwed up her face and said, "Thoo mamy dogs Aunt Wawa". Other than that my family members all know my dogs, and don't seem to be bothered by them. The only real problem is parking in our neighborhood, so we don't get a lot of visitors for that reason.

I just smile and go about my business.

and if it breaks of tears easily it won't find a way into my house.

LOL [] Words I live by!

We personally don't have many people over to our house because we just don't really socialize much and anyone I really do like to see actually live in S.C. and normally I go there because it usually just works out better that way. If someone does come though they had a problem with any of our pets I would probablly just tell them to just leave. This is there house and I will not make them feel any differently. The only exception to that would be if someone came to visit briefly and they were really scared of our GSD (Sasha) then I probablly would crate her because she can be intimidating at times. Other than that just don't knock on our door and exspect to come in without being greeted by barking and flying fur....lol

DH and myself are the King and Queen of anti-social behavior. So if someone doesn't want to come to my house due to my pets...works for me []

I refuse to go visit certain relatives homes because they have hordes of unruly, ill-behaved children. So I certainly understand where non-dog-lovers may be unhappy about visiting a home with a horde of dogs in it. But do you care? you like the dogs, and that's all that counts. If you must meet with these people, maybe you could meet them in a restaurant.

I honestly don't want anyone in my house that doesn't like (or at least tolerate) dogs.  Fortunately, I really haven't had to deal with this as everyone I'm close to either has dogs, or likes them.  I guess I choose my friends wisely

If I've invited someone over and they seem uncomfortable with my animals...then I do what I can to make them comfy. After all I invited them over...that's part of being a good host/ess really.
 
I have come to accept some simple truths about being with animals in the same home.
 
a) my house smells like whatever animals I have. I cannot smell it, but others can. This is a fact many animal folks may have the proverbial blinkers on about. Your house smells like dog, or like cat, or like rodent...if you have these. No amount of candles or such can completely cover it. This will offend some folks...and it's quite alright that that's the case. But one shouldn't be offended or in denial about it. It just is what it is. People with diaper pails house will smell like diaper from time to time...and the toddler/baby room has a smell all it's own. People who smoke...even ONLY outside...same thing. Same as with people who toke. Hide it all you want, deny it...your house will tell anyone who DOESN'T live there, the truth
 
b)some people may be comfy with animals but not those in their lap or sniffng their personal effects, or in their face. Rudeness exists even in animals. Curiosity too...both are controllable by the owner. I don't allow my children to invade the personal space of guests..nor do I expect guests to enjoy sitting on or stepping over mounds of children's toys or leftover snacks...so I apply that same rule to my pets.
 
c) There are some places my animals are not allowed to be. That's just me. Some places are solely for people. Whether for hygenic reasons, or safety reasons, or no reason at all beyond "because I said so". Again...same rule for my kids.
 
Basically I believe in making someone whom I like enough to invite to my home, comfortable. People who invite themselves...much less effort. I have a grandmother who I rarely see but I know she does not like dogs in the house. The dogs are outside when she visits. Why? Because I love my grandmother and she deserves to be shown respect...my Aunt does not do this and allows her dog to jump ONTO my grandmother who...tho not frail...is highly stressed by this. THAT imo...is extremely rude. that's something I do not think is good host behavior lol. As children should be well behaved especially in their own home when company visits...so should animals. And if their presence is detrimental to the visit...then they can be found something quiet to do in their room or in another room...or be sent outdoors to play. It's not an incovenience to me, to be polite to people I like. Because if I add up the time spent without company...and figure it against time spent WITH company. The without time is much more plentiful...for that small part of my time...I can make adjustments.

as an aside I always, always inform folks when I am having the rare get together for sporting event watching etc...what animals are present. Allergies are quite literally a matter of life and death for some folks, as are phobias. Being as I have cats and dogs, both of which are common catalysts for the above...I always feel it safer and kinder to warn those who may not be aware...or if they bring along  a guest not familiar with my home
 
Even kept away in another room...hairs, dander, etc can cause reactions in folks. Better safe than sorry. Nothing ruins a party like an ER visit...lmao

Looking at your question from the other side, my SO and I will not return to a house that has badly behaved dog(s). I do not enjoy dogs that jump up repeatedly, bite at hands/feet for attention, crotch sniff every chance they get, and continually pester you.

My SO was roomates with a guy that has 2 great danes. Both were well behaved dogs. Unfortunately, the dog's owner fed the dogs from his plate, fed the dogs in the kitchen and allowed them to rest their heads in the table next to his plate while he was eating. Then every time we would try to eat the dogs would be on top of us drooling a river, begging and being a terrible nuisance. You couldn't leave food on the counter or stove because the danes were tall enough to get at the food, even on top of the refrigerator. Cooking in the kitchen turned into a game of keep the food away from the dogs. We started eating in the bedroom or at my apt. Last thanksgiving we had at his house, one of the dogs snatched food off someones fork as they were eating. We won't be back there for dinner.

100% true Kara. I think pet owners, have a thing called "puppy blindness' sometimes...like show folks get kennel blindness...where they cannot see the faults in their own dogs. IOW see how your dog presents itself and to an extent you, to the world.
 
How many of us on walks are approached by dogs lunging at the end of their leashes...yowling, frothing etc. They then proceed to walk right up to us because their dog "loves other dogs"...without thinking of how the other dog and it's human may feel? Loose dogs, snarling rude snapping tiny dogs, dogs that bark the entire time you stop and chat with their owners, from sheer happiness, not necessarily protectiveness. There are things my dogs get away with at home that I know would bother other people...even those with dogs of their own.
 
Imagine how these dogs might behave at home....
 
we here are a minority of dog owners...and IMO a minority skewed towards the "perfect dog owner" lol! People may have preconcieved notions about what visiting a home with multiple or even one pet is like...but given the pet owners we rant about on a daily basis...are they REALLY pulling these notions out of their ears??

Gina - I think you put it perfectly.  I too feel that if I've invited a friend over, they deserve to feel comfortable.  I haven't limited my friends to only people who adore dogs, so some just don't enjoy all that goes along with it.  I don't allow my dogs on the furniture (except on rare occasions and I put a blanket down) but if I did, I'd feel horrible for them to have to de-hair themselves when they left.  I'm a huge dog lover and I wouldn't appreciate that if I went to someone's home.  When we have BBQs or parties, we put the dogs away.  It's easier on the guests, but it's also easier for me to enjoy the company and not worry about whose feeding the dogs something they shouldn't have or the dogs attaching themselves to the one person who likes dogs the least. 

Oh yeah, I just crate them when people come over that I know are un easy around them. []

One of my son's friends refuses to come over to our house because Jasmine barks when visitors first come over.  She normally stops after a minute or two.  I have offered to crate her in a different room, shutting the door, but he still won't come over.
Their friendship finally ended when my son was playing over at their house.  There, the friend told Nick that he hated Jasmine.  Nick immediately burst into to tears, yelled at him, "How dare you hate my dog!  That dog is my sister!"  Nick is an only child.
I tried to explain to Nick that it doesn't matter if his friend likes them or not, that they're just dogs.  But he said he can't be friends with someone who hates his sister.

I do crate Molly when someone we don't know well comes over.
My parents are okay but we don't get a lot of company so Molly has yet to settle down when people come over. I do crate her however cause she can bark rather menancingly and being a GSD I know lots of people are freaked by that. Once in her crate she stops barking and settles down - showing she can be a good quiet girl
We just don't have enough company to get Molly used to people coming/going on a regular basis.

I really enjoy all your responses. It's been interesting to read how everyone handles this.
Also have learned something again..as always.[]