I have a 7 year old Rottie/Shepherd mix that I have had since he was 6 months old. He is pretty much like my child. My new husband just told me yesterday that he can't stand the amount of hair that Romeo sheds and I have to find him a new home or else. We've discussed shaving or grooming and the hubby won't even examine these options. His view is that he feels it's gross to have any dog hair in the house. I love this dog like my child, but this may have a huge impact on the hubby and I's relationship in a really negative way. I also feel it's cruel to find new owners for this dog that I love so much and it was a bad ultimatum, what do I do?
2007-08-02 20:02:42 · 9 answers · asked by serenastargazr 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
If the dog were mine, I would take him to a professional or call a mobile groomer to your home and have him clipped down with a #7 blade or a #9 blade, head and all, which will leave his coat like a smooth coated dog, say a Dalmatian. You can expect to pay anything from $50 to $150 for this type of grooming, depending on where you live and what type of service you get. Mobile grooming is more expensive but is sometimes a little better because in mobile, the dog has to be hand dried which will blow out all of the little undercoat that would be left after a good clip.
While the dog is being groomed, I would have the carpets shampooed and there are some carpet cleaning companies that even do your hard floors. I would also have the furniture done by the company while they are there. I wouldn't discuss any of this with the husband, I would just get it done while he is at work. I have no idea what all of that will cost. Wash all the dog's bedding, if you have to, go to a laundromat to do it.
Then I would leave it all at that. If your husband continues his ranting about you getting rid of the dog, then you can get rid of your husband because if you take these 3 steps to eliminate the fur problem and he is still complaining then you know he is going to try to control your every move for the rest of the time you are stuck with him.
If the husband stops his complaining and you decide to keep him, then next April you would want to have the dog shaved again, with one of those two blade lengths I mentioned above, because this will curb the big Spring shed. Then one more shave down at around this time of year (July/early August) Next I would put your dog on a schedule of being groomed at the very least once every 3 months. It's in the best interest of the dog as well as your husband. In the fall and winter grooms, just have a bath and brush out done, again, mobile service normally can get more fur out with the hand blow drying rather than cage drying that is done in grooming shops.
Another thing to keep in mind is the age of your dog, once dogs begin to go into the older stages, the fur isn't as great quality as when they were younger and they have a harder time keeping themselves groomed, so it seems like they shed even more when they are older. It's only natural that at this stage of his life he would require help in his grooming needs.
Finally, depending on your financial situation, to keep shedding at it's lowest, you could get him professionally groomed (Bathed) as often as every 10 days, 2 weeks or 3 weeks. If he is hand dried this will keep a lot of dead coat removed. But again, no longer than 3 months and I would still do the clip downs twice a year.
2007-08-03 07:24:02 · answer #1 · answered by joanie m 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have to agree with everyone about the ultimatum. That was a bad choice of words. Or else what? He knew you had the dog before you got married. He had to have been at your house before you got married and this should have already been discussed. A marriage is a partnership. If the both of you work, you should both have duties in keeping the home in order. If the dog hair is his gripe then perhaps that should be on his list of duties. Buy him some lint brushes and tell him to get to it! As for you, take the dog out every day and brush him before or after his walk. It is summer time now, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to shave him for summer. It will be more comfortable for the dog and the shedding hair won't be so long and noticeable. The dog being 7 years old and a bigger dog will be hard to place in a new home. It will be very stressful for him as well. It will not be as hard to re-home the new husband and he can take care of himself, and the dog can not. I would let him know all this. Tell him you will be glad to get the dog shaved down for summer, and that you will be more than happy to brush the dog every day. Also that you will be more than happy to help him in his duties of de-hairing the house. But getting rid of the dog is not at option. He has to know how much you love the dog and it is very cruel for him to expect you to get rid of him. Print this and let him read it! He is being a jerk!
2007-08-03 03:30:45 · answer #2 · answered by tm1trish 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you had this dog before you were married. It should have been a big discussion topic between you and your potental husband on weather he likes or dislikes dogs and if he can get past those dislikes if he had them. If this animal is like your child then you should have thought about that before you married a dog hating man. Keep your dog let your husband go if he truly loves you he will get over his phobia and accept that this animal is as much a part of your life that he is.
2007-08-03 03:15:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He is being unreasonable. And obviously he knew about the dog beforehand. Honestly I would be a little worried about his lack of reasoning and not willing to listen to you and consider your feelings and what you can do to help the shedding. Little red flags going up...
In the meantime to help shedding, you can get a ton of hair off with a slicker brush and comb, or the FURminator. Helping get rid of some of the hair may help cool the hubby off some for now..
2007-08-03 09:21:31 · answer #4 · answered by Akatsuki 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have known the dog longer than your husband. You have a better bond with the dog hunny, especially if he is like a child to you. Your husband is out of line. FIND A NEW HOME, OR ELSE! Your husband needs a stern talking to. I assume you have your dog trained, now its time to train your husband. Lol.
2007-08-03 03:07:15 · answer #5 · answered by Sally 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Keep him.
If youre new husband cant stand him,
thats too bad.
The dog was around first.
And ask a local vet about options on keeping down the shedding.
believe me,
i have a big white poofy american eskimo.
We just vaccum alot.
2007-08-03 03:08:26 · answer #6 · answered by Kalee :] 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honestly that was awful of him to say to you. He has no right to ask you to get rid of your dog. You can brush the dog every day and vacuum and sweep every day. That will help. Other then that Mr. Man can just deal with it. What is his or else? I mean will he leave you because of a dog? That is just plain crazy!
2007-08-03 03:08:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
He's jealous and using the dog as a power play (even though he probably doesn't know it). He knew about the dog prior - tough bananas.
2007-08-03 03:59:39 · answer #8 · answered by Caninelegion 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your husband should have realized that you are a packaged deal before he married you.
If I was given such an ultimatem, I'd tell him that I sure will miss him, but the dog stays.
2007-08-03 03:17:23 · answer #9 · answered by Nekkid Truth! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋