Dilemna... guests that are afraid of dogs!

You know, it really is sad to have to exclude him, but if your MIL is sending those vibes that she is so afraid of him and doesn't like him, I think he is better off alone for a little while. OR, if if were me, I would hold my sweet girl the whole time. I just do not like my girl to be with people that do not like dogs. They understand what people feel.
 
If it is just a while, I think it is OK to have them separated. My little poodle and I were attacked horribly by a "friendly family" Rottwieller. I will not be near them or some other dogs, but I do not know anyone with one of them. 
 
 

I have a few people that come over and are frightened of my dogs.  Though I don't like to, I put the dogs in another room or the garage while they're here.  I like to ensure that my guests are comfortable while they are in my home, and if that means putting the dogs away for a bit, so be it.

Yeah, I know a couple of people like that. They are extremly afraid of dogs. But I would never put Bruno in a seperate room or the backyard because he's going to to start whining and and scratching the doors and barking. Usually if he ever comes near them I'll just sharply call his name so he'll come to me.

If it were me, I'd put the dogs up in another room especially if it's for a few hours.

How long is your MIL coming for?  If it is just for dinner or a quick visit I would crate Sammy to another room.  If she is staying over for a few days I would say too bad for MIL.  I have had some people ask to come stay with us but tell us that they don't like dogs.  I say too bad, if you don't like my dogs that find another place to stay.  Plus it's not like Sammy is some huge mean dog!  Could you put a leash on Sammy and tie him to yourself???

I crate Ash when I have guests. I only her out when that person says it's fine to have her out. Ash's crate though is right in the middle of my apartment so she can see us and she's pretty calm as long as she's in the middle of it all. One of my friends doesn't like dogs at all, so Ash will be crated that whole time. Another friend of mine loves dogs and loves Ash so I have Ash in the crate until that friend says to go ahead and let her out. When I do, Ash is fine. If Ash is too hyper though, I will put her back in the crate. I understand that it's Ash's home too, but if it's only for a little bit, it's not gonna hurt her and my guests feel more comfortable.

I agree with what others have said so far, a lot would depend on how long your MIL was staying.  If it was just for dinner, not a problem for me.  But if it was all day or overnight, then they need to get over it or not visit for that long. [] 
 
My niece is terrified of dogs, we will put our guys in the back yard while she is here, although its never for too long.  However if it was raining or other severe weather I would most likely baby gate them or make other plans with my niece.

I can't think of anyone who has come to my house and is afraid of dogs because everyone either really loves Brown and Grey or at least tolerates them if they're not "dog people." When I do have strangers coming here (like someone delivering an appliance or something), I'll put up the baby gate to keep Brown and Grey out of their legs and to keep Grey from de-pantsing someone who makes a sudden move he could take as a threat (Grey has a thing for pulling pants off of strangers lol). Now, if someone was staying at my house for a few days, and they wanted my dogs away from them during that time, they'd probably have to find a hotel room or learn to share the couch with Grey lol.

Like Ivette said, short term visit - put the dog away. Longer term - try to build some bridges. My little sister was afraid of Russell but since we spend whole weekends at a time at their house I wanted to do more than just lock him up all the time. I kept him on leash around her at all times until she was comfortable. She's gotten over her fears (after about four or five weekends) and now he can be off leash around her. []

If it were going to be for more than 4 hours I'd say visit her....overnight I'd be booking her a room.
I had a lady come here once who was afraid of cats (I didn't know this at the time). She's a psychologist!!! Can't help others get over fears if she can't.
Anyway my little tiny petite 6 lb. sealpoint rubbed against her leg and her reaction was so silly I laughed. I know it was rude but to see a grown woman carry on like that over such a tiny cat rubbing her leg it was all I could do.
I told her to sit and relax as my cats hadn't yet sent anyone to the ER (although if she'd kept up I would have).
Yes you gotta keep the MIL happy - but there's a limit (at least I had one with my MIL - she didn't like any animals (once sucked a hamster up in a vacuum) so I found it amusing with my large mal/shepherd would sit on her feet).
I have a sick sense of humor and have more loyalty toward the creatures that live in my house and share my life....I would probably go to her house before shutting my animals up or leaving them outside.

I had a roomate who was afrade of cats and would freak out whenever she even saw one, was bad luck. I think the fear was based on what she belived and in her mind cats were evil. When I moved to anounter house I got a cat and she would not come over at all. Now that I only have a dog she does not mind at all coming over to my house and will even bring treats for my dog.

If you think about it this way some people have fears of snakes and spiders. I've owned many and when guest come over I do not bring the critters out. I have no fear of them but it seems like so many people do it's not worth it to fight it.

Now think of it this way, imagin the instead of owning a dog you own a 40lb spider and you invite a guest over who hates even the tiney spiders. Now why would you exspect your guest to suddenly stop fearing spiders because it's your pet. I would just put your dog in anouther room or crate for the time they are over. As much as your dog is a part of your family your friends may never see it that way.

have more loyalty toward the creatures that live in my house and share my life....I would probably go to her house before shutting my animals up or leaving them outside.

I agree!

If someone wanted to come to MY home and told me to lock my dogs up or put them outside,i would react the same as if they were to ask me to lock my kids up or put them out because they couldnt stand children! The answer would be "NO WAY"! I think people who demand something like that have got a prety big nerve.I just would not have the gall to ask someone to put their animals away because i wanted to come visit [8|]
My friends daughter "was" terrified of dogs,especially my big guys,she asked me once to put them away when they came to visit,i said no,she ended up coming,and after a few tentative visits,her daughter is fine and now plays with my dogs.Ofcourse i didnt let them pounce all over her when she came,but let them get to know each other on their own terms,and it worked out great as i knew it would.Now,had i put them away things would still be the same and the kid would still be terrified of dogs!
I really dont need or want people in my life who dont like animals,i've got plenty of friends who do []

One friend has rats which she lets have free roam of her house,personally i cant stand them,but i wont ask her to put them away,i just dont go to her house,she comes to mine[]

We have a couple of 'aquaintences' who arent particularly keen on dogs,whenever we visit(my dogs come everywhere with me) it is very uncomfortable,so i just dont go,sometimes i HAVE to, for work things or whatever,but this is only once or twice a year,i make an appearance for a couple of hours and then leave.It  annoys me that i have to leave my dogs at home,so i just dont want to be there!

In the end if people genuinely want to see me, they will,whether they like my dogs or not.Afterall they are here to see me,not my dogs,and everyone knows my dogs are like my children so they put up with it,not that they are a nuisance,they're not!They pretty much ignore any visitors after an initial sniff and then go lie down.

So in answer to your"what would you do" question.I would make sure my dogs were well behaved and let them roam they're house as usual,i wont lock my dogs up in their own home to satisfy someone else,who doesnt even live there!

Sounds like a good reason to keep MIL away  [] 

We have a small house and a large family.  When everyone is over (twice a year for kids b-days) there is barely room for people so we do put the dogs out.  The visits are usually short and "sweet" though also, maybe an hour or 2

I don't care for my boss' 2 dogs - they are definitely ankle biters.
My solution - I don't go to her house. I don't expect her to crate the dogs for me, I don't expect her to remove them from the house for me....so I stay away.
Her dogs, her house why should her dogs have to change their lives for me?