For as long as one can remember, animals have been loving companions that are considered an additional member of most families. Commonly in America, pets are treated more like humans than anything else. On any given day, you could see a dog sporting the latest stylish doggy wear down the street. They're like a needed accessory, with less hassle and more reward.
But can the bond between an owner and their pet affect a relationship?
I'm a huge fan of a show on Animal Planet called
It's Me or the Dog. On it, there's a dog trainer who comes into homes that are having difficulty training their dogs; whether it be walking or feeding. But most of their issues are behavioral.
One married couple in particular had adopted a dog that, over time, had become an issue in their marriage. So much so that the husband was seriously considering divorce.
The dog slept in the bed next to his wife, while he slept in the guest room. Whenever the dog cried from lack of attention, the wife dropped whatever she was doing to baby him as if it were a child. Victoria, the dog trainer, explained that the issue wasn't so much the dog, but the wife who didn't put a stop to his behavior, placing the dog before her husband.
Now, I understand the love for your pet. I have a cat that I absolutely adore, as if he were my child. But there are times when a line needs to be drawn with their behavior, as far what is and isn't acceptable. Training is recommended for a reason. Letting an animal get between what you built, is something I find quite ridiculous. I wouldn't get rid of my own animal, however. The word compromise comes to mind.
Have you or anyone you know, ever let their pet come before a relationship, rather than rectifying the situation and improving it?
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Comments (26)
I know people, who treat their dog like a real baby. they microwave the dog's food, so the dog is used to it, and won't eat the food unless it is heated up. they talk to their dog using an annoying baby voice, so the dog won't respond unless you use the whiny googoo gaga voice. the dog has a puffer jacket to keep warm on cold/rainy days. the dog roams all over the yard and dirt, then roams freely inside of the house, and rests on the sofa, bed and everywhere else. I think their dog is ugly. I'd probably be more prone to like the animal if I thought he/she was cute. I ignore their dog, but the dog kneels down and wags his tail at me to play. he's really annoying like ugly guys:D I wouldn't mind the pet if it is trained and cute.
My boyfriend had a dog before me coming into the relationship but I love her! We got a puppy together when I moved in. That put a toll on us however due to putting all our attention on her training. But we got over it when she was better trained! :)
But I would never choose. We're a family! you can't just ditch your kids when it's inconvenient! And animals are way less barbaric than human beings. lol.I've lost interest in someone because he was making fun of my dog. He said that she looked like a football and made a joke about kicking her. I told him that it wasn't going to work out a week later. I don't put up with that at all.
My dog is kind of like my baby. The most I'll do to dress her up is a bandana at Irish Festival. I don't go overboard with babying her. I think I've trained her well and I adore her personality. She's such a sweetie. She's the only living being that is my life right now that needs me, even just a little bit. Plus, she's independant, almost like a cat without the hairballs and the gross butt-licking. I adore her. I'm responsible for her and I care for her. That's what you do when you decide to adopt a dog.
The only time she comes between me and a relationship is when I encounter jerks that joke about hurting her, like my ex did. We dated for about three months before I let him come over to meet my dog and my family. He made several jokes about her and that was just the end of it. If he was okay with making jokes about potentially harming my dog, he had to go. Good riddance.
pets are a total dealbreaker, except for MAYBE fish (which smell like shit anyway). i can think of a million things i'd rather blow my money on.
on a related note, i've heard before that girls who want dogs actually have some subconscious (or maybe even conscious) desire to have kids. interestingly enough though, i met this girl earlier this summer who said she hated kids, but wanted a dog. she was so perfect in so many ways, it's too bad we didn't get married.
@ShirleyD@xanga - on a totally unrelated note, sometimes when i'm shitting, i think about your toenail story, hahaha.
I have a hedgehog and probably always will. I do not want children either. If the guy can't accept my passion and love for hedgehogs or the fact I will probably aways have one, then I don't need that person. I would pick hedgehogs over a man any day!
I love my dog like it was a real baby. Anyone who doesn't like my dog can get the frick out. Animals are far more loyal than humans. Even when those animal abusers don't deserve to own pets, animals are still loyal to them. My dog is so likable that people who normally dislike pets altogether all love her.
'It's Me or the Dog' is ultimately an owner-training show. :)
I have a cat that I absolutely adore, but if I could only save one I would have to choose my partner. Just the thought of losing the cat (and he's getting on in years), though, makes me really sad. :'(
my best friend had his Rottweiler Roxy for 8yrs.. she was a total puppy, although she was massive.. One girl he dated claimed she was terrified of Roxy,.. So much so that she insisted he put her in a crate whenever she was there (and she was very over dramatic about it too.). They were together about a month when he was invited to meet her parents.. and guess who had 2 King Shepherds and a Great Dane?? She wasn't afraid of dogs at all, she just didn't like Rottweilers because of the bad rep they got. He broke up with her on the way home.
I have a sort of alllergy to dogs so if someone had a dog, that would be it for me.
Well me and my boyfriend have 2 orange tabbies. He is actually allergic to cats but let me get them because he knows how much I love cats and have never gone a day without owning one.. His allergies seem to be getting ALOT better over time (is it possible for people to become ammune to their allergies over time?) and he loves them too :) It's going to be very sad when they die someday :( They are basically our best friends and are always around us, follows us everywhere :) They are our babies. But, I dont think we will ever get a dog. It's not that I dont like dogs, it's just I am more of a mellow animal person. Plus, cleaning a litter box is easier than cleaning up after a dog :)
@P0RCELA1N_D0LL@xanga - OH GOD... Someone I used to live with would feed their dog microwaved wet food and it made the entire house smell DISGUSTING.... Sadly, that dog probably wont live to be an old dog.... She basically only eats people food (except her wetfood).. NEVER dry food, and she is the ONLY dog who doesn't get excited to eat a dog bone.. o.O
My ex-wife hated a cat that we adopted. He was kind of a pest when he was little. I cut him a lot more slack than she did, because what the hell do you expect from a kitten? She couldn't stand him but I'd bonded with him. We fought about it a lot and she eventually made me choose between the two of them. Though I preferred his company to hers (she ended up not being a very pleasant person to be married to), I sent my cat to live somewhere else. But now that we're divorced (not because of the cat), he and I get to live happily ever after. My girlfriend may not understand the bond I share with my cat, but she accepts that we're a package deal.
I love my dogs as if I gave birth to them. I would sympathize with someone else's love for their pet/child.
@Gaia - My roommate's also allergic to dogs, but mine is hypo-allergenic and doesn't shed. You'd be okay around my dog. :)
If he cant like my pets hes got to go!
My furry friend. If you make me choose then that is selfish, you are not right for me. If you love me, you make me happy.
I love my cat to pieces, and she's never ever really liked any of my boyfriends, ever. She's real skittish and doesn't like many people. One day my boyfriend who's been around for a long time sat with me on the couch, and my cat jumped up on the arm and started purring and rubbing all against him. It was odd. I didn't take that as a sign of "he's a keeper" because I know some people do that and let their pets decide, haha. But I thought it was very peculiar. He really likes my cat and I hope she's not so old and gray when we decide to move in!
No one comes between me and my birds, I wouldn't come between my boyfriend and his cat. His cat doesn't really like when I'm taking up space on his bed (where he usually sprawls out), and once in a while, I do get clawed in the middle of the night but he's going to get used to it. Like an above commenter said, it's a package deal, all or nothing.
If a partner isn't willing to work through any issues with pets, especially if the pets came first (I've been with my boyfriend for a year, but I've had my birds since they hatched ten years ago in my house - who wins that one?), they're probably not worth keeping around.
Haha no. Snuggles with my kitty is all wonderful but when it's time to snuggles with my man: "bye bye Colby." Luckily my two guys get along well, :p. If it was an ultimatum situation then that person is obviously not the right choice anyway.
I'd never let a pet come before my relationship, but if you love me you better love my cat too :P
This post seems inspired by that Australian show - Wilfred. Or maybe it's just me.
@LadyGwenivere@xanga - Good for him! A Rottweiler would be a lot less maintenance than a girl like that, anyway!
I don't much care for dogs, and a potential boyfriend would know it up front because I wouldn't be ooooing and aaaahing over his dog. I wouldn't even want to pet it and dirty my hands. That would be a cue for him to dump me, unless he found me so hot he decided to dump his pet. Then I'd dump him for being so cruel as to dump his beloved pet.
@TheNotoriousGOD@xanga - Haha that is awesome.