Man Sparks Family Rift After Refusing to Let Brother Bring Dog on Parents’ Anniversary Trip

A man turned to the Reddit community for advice after a family fight over what seemed like a simple vacation rule. He said he never expected his choice to cause such a big argument.

“I’m starting to think I have started a family argument over what I thought was a simple request,” he wrote. The problem involves his younger brother and the Labrador he takes everywhere.

The man explained that he and his wife had carefully planned a weekend trip to celebrate their parents’ 50th anniversary. “We booked a country house that could fit me, my wife, our two kids, our parents, my brother, his wife, and their kid,” he said.

They also arranged for a private chef to cook one of the meals. But the house had a strict “no pets” rule, and the chef wanted to work in a pet-free space.

The man assumed it wouldn’t be a problem. But his brother was upset when he learned the Labrador couldn’t come. “My bro has always been glued to his lab taking her everywhere,” the poster wrote. He said his brother even compared the dog to his own child.

The younger brother suggested bending the rules. “He suggested leaving the dog in the car while the chef was there and said no one would ever find out,” the man recalled.

The older brother said he had to stop that idea immediately. “I tried to shut this down by saying it was against the rules, and I don’t want his dog barking or running loose while we are trying to relax with the kids,” he explained.

There were also health concerns. “My youngest is a bit scared of dogs, and pet hair can trigger their asthma,” he said.

According to the man, the discussion got heated. “Things got a bit heated, and my brother said he’d bring the dog anyway,” he admitted.

At that point, he lost his patience. “I lost it a bit and said if you can’t do this for a special occasion, maybe you should stay home,” he wrote. His brother didn’t take it well and stormed off. Later, he told their parents he wouldn’t come unless the dog was allowed.

Their parents reacted differently. “Mom says I’m being too harsh and should ‘work it out’ with the house owner and make arrangements with the chef,” the poster said.

His father, however, agreed with him. “Dad thinks he’s being a bit of a brat and it’s my call since I’m paying for it,” he added.

Even though he stood firm, the man felt conflicted. “I feel bad because my brother and I usually get along great, and I want him there for Mom and Dad,” he shared.

He even offered to pay for a dog sitter or kennel for the weekend, but his brother called that “offensive” and said the dog isn’t “just a pet.”

Now he’s left wondering if he handled things the right way. “Do I try to find a compromise, or is my brother out of line here?” he asked Reddit.

One commenter supported his decision. “This is a weekend trip you planned. If this was an event specifically for your brother, that’d be one thing,” they wrote. They also noted that the trip is for the parents, not the dog. “But this is a gift to parents, so they’re the ones you need to accommodate,” the commenter said.

As the man thinks about what to do next, the main problem stays the same: he wants his brother there, but not if it breaks the house rules, risks his child’s health, or ruins his parents’ anniversary celebration.