Puppy or him?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2008
Puppy or him?
19
Sat, 03-22-2008 - 12:19pm
My fiance and I recently got a puppy from my mom. To give you some background info; he has never really had inside dogs before. His family had dogs and they were only inside long enough to withstand the weather and then they were outside for the remainder of their lives. I have had inside dogs all my life, my family and I never left our dogs outside. The puppy is 12 weeks old and isn't potty trained just yet. She is extremely smart so she is learning but she has had accidents. He is fine with her when she is good but when she pees in the house (all of 5 times)
DaisypathWedding Ticker

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: alxrosr
Sat, 03-22-2008 - 2:18pm

Ask him if he'd want to send your first child back after having to change a few diapers and clean up baby vomit. Just kidding, but I'd

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-05-2007
In reply to: alxrosr
Sat, 03-22-2008 - 2:25pm

Welcome to the board alxrosr,


I was going to let Coltara answer this one on Monday as she has experience with indoor and outdoor animals.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2007
In reply to: alxrosr
Sat, 03-22-2008 - 5:13pm

Was the puppy a surprise gift....or did the two of you discuss this at length before receiving the gift?


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2008
In reply to: alxrosr
Sat, 03-22-2008 - 5:26pm
We discussed it, I voiced to him that I'd like to get a dog and asked him how he felt about it and he was just as excited as I. Of course until she came and had accidents.
DaisypathWedding Ticker
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2008
In reply to: alxrosr
Sat, 03-22-2008 - 5:35pm
It's funny you say that because I did ask him just that. His response was that he didn't have a problem with kids doing it because that is what they do but that he didn't want a dog to 'dictate our lives'. The dictation comment came when I said that we would have to get up at wee hours as if she were a baby until she was able to hold it until we officially got up for the day.
DaisypathWedding Ticker
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-06-2010
In reply to: alxrosr
Sun, 03-23-2008 - 10:10am
I'd tell him we both agreed on getting a dog and we are going to keep the dog. If my DH ever told me to get rid of a pet DH would be gone.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
In reply to: alxrosr
Sun, 03-23-2008 - 9:19pm

Are you serious?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2007
In reply to: alxrosr
Mon, 03-24-2008 - 7:57am

I really wish the "child vs. puppy" argument weren't brought up because a lot of people feel very strongly for their pets and I'm a little skeptical that this thread won't erupt into a dog argument.

As one of the CLs said, taking care of a puppy is not the same as taking care of a baby. Dealing with baby messes and problems are a lot more difficult but also a lot more rewarding.

I don't think your boyfriend really wants to get rid of the puppy. He's just being dramatic when he sees that the puppy has made work for him to clean up a mess. I also don't think that this is a relationship breaking problem - do your best to get the dog housebroken and she will not be causing these problems forever.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-06-2010
In reply to: alxrosr
Mon, 03-24-2008 - 8:23am

If we both agreed on getting an animal and he then was not being patient and practical about training that animal and insisted we get rid of it instead of working with it to fix the problem then I would tell him the animal stays and if he doesn't like it he can leave. He married me knowing that I do NOT get rid of an animal unless it is a danger to us, someone else or our other pets.

My pets are just as much a part of our family as we are and if my husband was so impatient that he could not want for a dog to potty train than he wouldn't be the right person for me to be married too. I was raised that pets are for life unless they are a danger to us and that I don't get a pet unless I am 100% committed to it.

Getting rid of a small dog that has accidents is not being committed to that dog. It is getting something and then when it is not perfect you send it away.




Edited 3/24/2008 8:28 am ET by seirith
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-06-2010
In reply to: alxrosr
Mon, 03-24-2008 - 8:26am

"As one of the CLs said, taking care of a puppy is not the same as taking care of a baby. Dealing with baby messes and problems are a lot more difficult but also a lot more rewarding."

I know I am not most people but I would rather care for a puppy than a baby.

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