AITA for telling my aunt and cousins EXACTLY why I kenneled one of my dogs

When Thanksgiving Turns Into a Dog‑Training Session

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans. Happy Thursday to everyone else.
Now onto the post. I (26f) am currently getting passive aggressive remarks from my aunt (48f) and sad remarks from my 2 younger cousins (12f and 10f) because I have my 1‑year‑old lab/​malinois mix kenneled out on the property instead of having him at the house.
The kennel is a 10x20ft, indoor/outdoor hunting kennel that is temp‑controlled and has a camera inside for me to check on him.

As is said above he is a 1‑year‑old lab/​malinois mix who is currently entering his teenage phase. He isn’t dangerous in an aggressive sense but he does play way too rough for him to safely play with my cousins. They are the other reason why he is currently kenneled. My aunt never taught them proper manners around dogs. They think that they are entitled to pet, play with, etc any dog they come across. It’s even worse with family dogs. I’ve had to intervene so many times to keep them from getting bit.

When they got here about 2 hours ago, the girls immediately headed for my service dog before I redirected him to his place mat (which I have finally gotten into their heads means to not touch him). Once that plan was thwarted the girls started telling me to bring Octavian (lab/​malinois) out for them to play with. I told them that because I couldn’t watch them play to make sure everyone was playing nicely/​not being mean, I kenneled Octavian in his hunting kennel.

My aunt sent the girls outside to play baseball and rounded on me asking exactly what I meant by watching them play and if Octavian was dangerous now. So I told her exactly what I said above. Octavian is in his teenage phase and pushing boundaries when it comes to play. The girls don’t know how to read dog body language and don’t have good manners around dogs. I’m not having this Thanksgiving end in an ER visit and a sheriff report because something happened.

My aunt didn’t say anything directly to me after that but ever since she has been making remarks to the girl like “Geneticlydemonic doesn’t think y’all know how to play with dogs so she’s not letting y’all be around either dog.” My mom says that I should have just said Octavian was being naughty and left it at that but I don’t think I said/​did anything wrong. I have also explained to the girls what I meant in a nicer way (explaining to them that Octavian is extra wigglely lately and keeps testing the line) without blaming them because they are still young kids but they keep trying to give me reasons why I should just let them for a minute. AITA?

The Comment Section (Because Someone Needs to Tell You What a “Teenage” Dog Is)

NTA… your aunt needs to teach her kids not to harass other people’s dogs, especially a high‑drive breed mix, and you’re protecting everyone, including your dog.

Right?? Especially a half Maligator in his naughty Teenager Phase. Aunt should be thankful that at least one adult uses their brain while she is off to nag the family with stupid stuff.

Also at 10 and 12 they are absolutely old enough to behave appropriately around dogs. I could understand a 5‑year‑old forgetting rules in their excitement but at 10/12 their age is not an excuse to not abide by safety rules around interacting with animals. NTA and I hope OP has a lock on the kennel in case the aunt decides to try and let out the dog for the kids to play with.

I have 11‑year‑old twins, they have been instructed how to interact with dogs since before they could walk properly.

I’ve had people be amazed that my kids will ask the owner/handler before they approach a dog, offer their hand to be sniffed, and wait for the dog to consent to touching before they start to pat them. Occasionally I have to remind them of some signs the dog doesn’t want to play (ears going back, shrinking against/behind the owner etc) but very rarely now.

It makes me sad that other parents don’t put in the work to ensure their kids safety around dogs.

NTA, I’m sure if something did happen all hell would break loose. You are being responsible as a dog owner. Also, if you don’t give the actual reason there is a zero chance of anything changing. Screw keeping the peace for the sake of easiness.

TL;DR

Someone tried to throw a family Thanksgiving at a teenage dog; the OP locked him up in a kennel. The comments? 100% NTA, because keeping a “half‑Maligator” from turning a family game of baseball into a dog‑bites‑and‑sheriff‑report spectacle is just responsible parenting. And if you’re a kid, please, just ask before you touch the dog—no one wants a “Geneticlydemonic” drama queen on their hands.