AITAH for keeping my puppy tethered to me while my BIL is around?

So I have a thing with my BIL. Years ago I had an AmmStaff pittie. During a Christmas celebration I had to fight my boy away from one particular food on the table. I did not want him to have it, it had garlic and onion in it. My BIL had asked me why I didn’t want him to have it. I said it was potentially harmful and he was not to have it. Well he goes and sneaked it to my dog anyway. I yelled at him and proceeded to make my dog throw up. I thank the gods everyday that he didn’t have a reaction to it then. I had decided after that, that he would never be alone with my dog again. I conveyed this to my family and they agreed if I wasn’t around BIL would be watched by one of them. Well they lied. I had gone to the bathroom and my sister was supposed to watch him, she was sitting right next to him in the same room. He tried to wrestle my dog when he had a sprained knee and I ended up asking him to leave. According to her I really pissed him off.

A year ago I lost my dog and now have a new puppy. I’ve decided that he was to be leashed and by my side at all times. I don’t think I should have to crate my puppy whenever he comes around, it’s his house. I’ve apparently offended BIL and my sister thinks I’m a jerk for not letting BIL have another chance. But I don’t think so? He clearly won’t respect boundaries. It doesn’t matter what I say to this man or how I say it. He seems to think that since he himself has grown up with dogs he shouldn’t have to be told what to do around them, even if they aren’t his.

I don’t know. Am I the asshole for keeping my puppy tethered to me when BIL is around?

Posted Jun 12, 2026, 8:14 PM UTC

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