So what do you do if you find yourself with a partner that isn’t a fan of your pet? We turned to relationship experts for their unreserved advice.
While in your mind, there may be no valid reason not to love your precious Fluffy or Fido, there may be some actual validity underneath your partner’s disdain for your fur baby. Are they allergic to cats? If it’s something medically related, McBain recommends that they check with their doctor about how to get around this issue. “You’re looking for a willingness on their part to try to make the situation better because they understand that your pet is part of your family,” she adds.
If your partner does not like you pet due to allergies, meeting with an allergist to address the symptoms can be helpful. In addition to seeing an allergist it may be time to increase the cleaning frequency or even hiring a cleaning service.
The dog stops you from going places
Dogs can be a real tie, especially if you have previously had a pup free lifestyle.
And some dogs can be left for a few hours happily, but others get very upset if they are alone.
Which leaves you in an awkward position, especially if it’s not technically your dog that’s causing the issue.
The solution to this is either to get a behaviorist to work with your dog to improve any separation anxiety if short trips out are your issue.
Or alternatively to arrange for doggy daycare if your problem is missing out on big days or weekends away.
Working in the cost of kennels or daycare when you make plans can seem annoying, but is a good way around the issue.
Another solution is to talk to a friend about reciprocal arrangements.
So they have your boyfriend’s dog one day, then you have theirs another.
Dog drool is one of those things that doesn’t bother you at all, or seriously grosses you out.
If you are in Camp Gross Out, then especially if the dog is a slobbery variety you will understandably not want it all over your nice pants.
Some dogs drool more in certain stressful situations, or when they are over excited.
In the car or at the dog park being classic examples.
When you are in these situations make sure you aren’t wearing your favorite clothes, and carry a small cloth in your pocket.
Or avoid joining your boyfriend in the scenarios where it’s going to be worse.
A quick gentle wipe around their snout every so often, always followed by a tasty treat, will help it to bother you less.
And those treats will increase the bond between you too.
Shedding is something that every dog owner has to deal with.
And when you aren’t used to it, it’s quite annoying to pick off your clothes or out of your coffee cup.
There are two things which really help shed hair
Now, I’m not for a single moment suggesting you start vacuuming your boyfriend’s apartment for him.
But very nicely pointing out that a more frequent routine would make you more inclined to stay more often, and more kindly disposed towards his dog, wouldn’t be unreasonable.
The same goes for a more frequent or thorough grooming regime.
Barking is one of the biggest areas where dogs and owners find conflict.
I love that my Lab lets me know when someone comes to the door. But I don’t want her announcing every time someone leaves the room, or walks past the backyard.
And if your boyfriend’s dog is very vocal it might well start driving you up the wall, and impact on your feelings about it.
Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do about barking.
And the solution can depend upon what is causing the noise in the first place.
Click on the links for potential solutions:
Aggression in dogs is a really tough one to deal with.
But sometimes what can seem aggressive is actually understandable and curable if you can get to the route.
If your boyfriend’s dog is growling at you, then your first step is to make sure that you don’t try to approach it or punish these scary noises.
Because when we punish growling we can stop the noise, but not the cause behind it.
Which means that the dog is now upset, but you aren’t aware, and therefore the situation can silently escalate and be more likely to lead to a bite.
You need to work together to find a behaviorist that uses positive reinforcement methods to help.
Dig deeper into their disdain.
Did their family forbid them from having pets? If their lack of fondness over your pet has something to do with their upbringing, perhaps a result of their family not allowing them to have pets, it may make some sense why they can’t seem to grasp the idea of having a furry friend around. “Are they open to getting to know your pet better?” asks McBain. “Sometimes people can be skittish around animals if they’ve never lived with one before, so find out if they are willing to try to make this work.”
Are they jealous of the attention that you give your pet (and vice versa)? If this is the case, McBain recommends reassuring them (both) that there’s enough love to go around. Also, she suggests giving your pet and significant other the time they need to warm up to each other and get to know each other slowly, over time. “Their relationship needs time to grow as well,” she says. “Have your partner do things that your pet enjoys like taking your dog for a walk.”