Would you let someone change the relationship you have with your dog?

[MeriYa]

I know someone who had a nice dog, it was a mix of Doberman Pinscher and something else. I'm not sure what the something else was, but to me it kind of looked like German Shepherd. Anyway, like I said, nice dog... well-mannered. This person, for the most part, kept the dog in the house even though she had a large yard.

Well, enter a new boyfriend. After his arrival I came over one day to visit, and I noticed that the dog was outside. I asked the owner about it and she said that her boyfriend didn't want the dog in the house. That kind of upset me, but it wasn't my dog, so there's that.

Have you ever experienced anything like that, someone treats their animal one way and then because of the desires of another person they change the way that they interact with their own pet? Personally, if I had a boyfriend who didn't want my dog in my house, I think I'd rethink that relationship.

 

[HereSadie]

I've known people like that. I've also known owners who dump the dog outside once it's no longer a cute puppy or once they realize it takes consistency to potty train. Some people can just be very cruel. I wouldn't change my relationship with my dog nor would I expect my love interest to dump his pet for me.

 

[MeriYa]

I wouldn't change my relationship with my dog nor would I expect my love interest to dump his pet for me.

I know, right? To me that's a red flag. Then again I was thinking maybe this person only kept her dog in the house because she didn't have a significant other, and once one came along, she was all for the dog being outside? I don't know. I would be remiss however if I don't mention that the boyfriend was super helpful to her, and to my entire family for that matter. When we needed a hand with certain things, he was always right there and he helped out in a big way.

You're right, some people can be cruel when it comes to dogs. Not only do people abandon dogs when they realize it takes consistency to potty train, they will throw a dog to the wayside when they realize the dog needs consistent care period. I know someone who has a good bit of land and has a few dogs on that land. He's had the dogs for years but he has never bathed them. They're only dogs after all. Thank goodness there are good dog owners out there.

 

[HereSadie]

I know, right? To me that's a red flag. Then again I was thinking maybe this person only kept her dog in the house because she didn't have a significant other, and once one came along, she was all for the dog being outside? I don't know. I would be remiss however if I don't mention that the boyfriend was super helpful to her, and to my entire family for that matter. When we needed a hand with certain things, he was always right there and he helped out in a big way.

Oh, I wasn't judging him or anything and I meant my comment in the general sense rather than to apply to that one specific case. Most significant others are aware when a pet lived inside previously either through photos in the house, through social media, or through a phone call when the dog barked. If it were me, I'd try to coax the owner into letting the dog back inside. Actually, we'd probably have to break up because my dog would be coming along and I'd want her inside. Maybe it has more to do with a person's upbringing because my pets could always come in and out.

 

[MeriYa]

Oh, I wasn't judging him or anything and I meant my comment in the general sense rather than to apply to that one specific case. Most significant others are aware when a pet lived inside previously either through photos in the house, through social media, or through a phone call when the dog barked. If it were me, I'd try to coax the owner into letting the dog back inside. Actually, we'd probably have to break up because my dog would be coming along and I'd want her inside. Maybe it has more to do with a person's upbringing because my pets could always come in and out.

I understand where you're coming from as far as the judging goes, I definitely wasn't trying to judge him either. I just figured that since I put it out there that the owner said her boyfriend no longer wanted the dog in the house, I felt I ought to temper that with the fact that he was helpful in other areas.
As far as coaxing her to let the dog back in, like I said, I'm kind of feeling like she only had the dog inside because she was living by herself. I don't know. I could be wrong. The reason why I say that is because when I went over there and the dog was outside, the boyfriend wasn't even there, he was out of town, so I was kind of standing there looking at her like, "But he's not even here right now. Can't the dog be inside when your boyfriend's not here?"
I have to admit that I let the subject drop simply because I was kind of stunned that she was letting her boyfriend dictate something like that. It was just weird to me.

I'm with you, any boyfriend I got together with who didn't like my dog inside, I think we would have to part ways. I'm all for letting a dog go out into a nice fenced-in yard on a daily basis, but to just leave the dog outside all the time, especially when it has grown used to being an inside dog is just not something I would be willing to do.