How to handle a hubby who really doesn't like my dog? This is a constant argument.?

Question

He doesn't like dogs period. Crazy, cause i totally love em....what great friends. Anyway, the newest problem....he's mad that I let her sit with my on the floor in my bedroom. He wants the bedroom off limits. But, dang....he gives her little to no affection (he says I give enough for 2 people) and we are all unhappy when everyone is home cause I want to please him but not neglect my dog in the mean time.
Help! (No "get rid of husband answers" please. That's a silly option. I made a covenant with God....I want to make it work. The dog is honestly our one and only argument.
What cha think folks?

Answer 1

im sorry, but i could NOT marry someone who didnt like my dog. lol

but my suggestion is to find creative ways to get ur hubby to at least tolerate the dog. for example, teach the dog a simple trick, like bringing the remote to your husband when u watch t.v.

i would though, at least agree to some rules so that all of you can live in harmony. like, maybe the dog should stay out of the bedroom, but can be elsewhere. during family time, the dog doesnt need to be ignored, but definitely shouldnt be lavished by you. im sure your husband wants/needs/misses your attention. and you won't be neglecting the dog if he isnt paid attention to alllll the time.

you could also havecertain times (like once a week, or twice a month) when the dog goes to "doggy day care" (or even a trusted friend/petsitter) for the day so you can have time with your family, your husband can be relaxed, and you know the dog will be taken care of

Answer 2

My husband grips and complains about our dogs. He does like dogs, just not the ones we currently have. He was extremely attached to our Rottie of almost 8 years. So I know why he is bitter.

Anyway...a little compromise wouldn't hurt. If it is only 1 room what's the harm? Spend your quality time with your dog in the living room on the floor. If it gets him to ease up and you wouldn't be ignoring you dog.

Did you have the dog before you got married? If so, then he shouldn't complain at all. He knew way before hand how you were about your dog. If nothing else just tell him "this is the way I am, this is the way it's gonna be and that's the end of discussion". You don't have to be mean just get your feelings and your point across.

My husband does take a back seat to my dogs at certain times of the day...when I first come home and when I first get up in the morning. One day he made the comment that my dogs were more important than him. I explained to him...the dogs get excited and bark when I come home. You don't like it when they are making such a rackett so in order to keep you happy I have to attend to them first so they settle down. After that he's been fine. He knew before we married that I was an animal person and have told him from the very begining. We both are stubborn but we don't let our likes and dislikes come between us.

Sorry but just because someone doesn't like dogs doesn't mean that they will or are hurting them.

Good Luck and I'm sure you will be able to work this out.

Answer 3

oooh !! Difficult situation !
Why would you get a dog when your husband isn't very fond of one. Its very unhappy environment for the dog as well.
My dog is on the bed with us,,,i cant imagine not letting yours be in the same room :-(
I feel so bad for the dog :-(
You should try and do happy things with the husband and the puppy...like going to a beach together and walk together.
Try and make it a happy moment for everyone where the husband feels good and he will slowly start loving the dog.
Try and make your husband take the dog for a walk / play with him especially when is is really tired after a long day of work. Let him see the dog as the happy medium to release tension. Get him to start liking, then loving and then start taking responsibility of the dog.
It will be a lot of hard work but with your love and enthusiasm to keep the two ;-), you will get through this.

good luck !

Answer 4

By you letting the dog into the bedroom is only adding fuel to the fire. At least let him win that battle (or at least let him think he did). Keep the pooch out of the room for now. If you give in to some of the small things maybe he'll soften up a bit. He may have won the battle but you'll eventually win the war. Good luck.

Answer 5

to be honest i feel sorry for your dog. this was something that you should have made a priority when you started DATING let alone marrying someone.
it's not silly to make sure that your life partner and your companion animals will get along WAY before matrimony!

basically it's too late for all that, so...what to do.
in a non-threatening way ask your husband what it is about dogs in general that he doesn't like. get his feelings about it, but do not become angry or argue, keep it calm.
once he's told you how he feels about it, tell him you can understand his reasons and feelings..then tell him how YOU feel when he talks ill of your friend (cause that's what dogs are..our friends, compainions..etc.)
let him know why your dog is important to you and ask him if he can try to compromise w/you about things.

you might have to make the bedroom off limits hon..it's going to have to be a compromise both ways...OR your husband could end up issuing an ultimatum for you to get rid of the dog. *poor puppy!* and i know you don't want that.

Answer 6

I think it's time for hubby to grow up and learn that relationships are give and take and that he needs to respect the things that you love.
In return you need to respect that he asked you to keep one room off limits, it's unfair to expect him to cope, but not give him a little too.
This is more a question for relationship forums though, as you can't make someone love something they do not.
I can only wonder if he is this much against a dog, how in the world will he be able to handle sharing you with a child??

Answer 7

I don't trust people who don't like dogs. But since you aren't willing to send him packing, I guess it's time to train him. If this is the only thing you two fight about, I would think you two communicate well. Explain to him that when he says things about the dog he is directly hurting you. This dog is a part of your heart whether he likes it or not. He should at least respect the dog for that. He doesn't have to get all mushy with the dog, but he shouldn't get jealous when you do. Tell him that the dog is your loved companion, not an item to be jealous over.

Answer 8

Have you considered the fact that the dog is in fact just a dog. No matter how much you love your dog I assume you love your husband more. When he is home you need to act like it. He is jealous of the dog for good reason. He will never love the dog and give it the affection you do so forget about it. When you are all at home feed the dog, pet it and then give the rest of your attention to your husband. That is why you married him, right?

Answer 9

i think you have to think about compromise, he lets you have a dog, maybe you should have an outside dog, i think he would appreciate that lots more and then would be happier about you going for walks or whatever with the dog or both of them maybe.

honestly whats with all the get rid of your husband answers? thats absurd! and why should it only be guys who have to accept everything in the wifes life? what if it was the other way around, women would be like oh well if he doesnt accept that you hate dogs then you should leave him...
and people wonder why the divorce rate is going up... really..

Answer 10

I'm not fond of dogs myself but I would never harm one. I just don't pay any attention to them and try to avoid interacting with them if I can. My husband and I have never kept dogs so this has not been an issue for us. What I'm saying is that I know how he feels. It's easier to avoid other types of animals you might dislike than it is with dogs. That's because they always seem to want you to pay attention to them and they can be quite persistent and pushy when you don't. This has led to a lot of embarrassment for me when I go over to other people's houses. I've had them make rather insulting comments when I just stand there stiffly while the dog is leaping all over me.