Is it normal i love my dogs so much?

84% Normal
8 Comments

I have had two dogs for over 7 years. My mom and my sister originally picked them out and they were family dogs. After a few months my sister lost interest in hers (she was 18 at the time, I was 17). My mom lost interest in the other one when my other sister had a baby. I started providing their food and taking almost full responsibility for them when they were about 3.
I got a good job offer away from town and took it. I took the dogs with me and still have them.
I met a great girl and we moved in together after a year or so. We have been together for over 3 years and are happy. I love her so much and we will probably be married soon. She also has a six year old son (before me)
When she moved in my dogs were not very well trained and I didn't take them out enough. So they peed in the house sometimes and the carpets weren't great.
We trained the dogs and they are much better. They may have an accident in the house maybe once every couple months (pretty much only if we don't take them out when they need).
The dogs are still hands down the biggest reason we fight. Things like: she doesn't like to bring their food out, take them out, or they make noise when they roughhouse(not barking just soft growling sounds).
I feel she likes to bring these things up because of all the things I've given up to help her take care of her son.
I love her more than I love my dogs. But I refuse to give them up because she seems to not like them. Is this normal thinking?

Voting Results
84% Normal
Based on 79 votes (66 yes)
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Comments ( 8 )
  • imadragon
    10 years ago

    You should not give up your dogs because of this. I think she should love them as much as you do, but I guess there's nothing to do about that.

    Maybe move to a bigger house if it's possible. Where the dogs can be outside in the backyard and she can have more time away from them. You can work this out. It's her responsibility in my opinion.

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  • ProseAthlete
    10 years ago

    I'm not much of a dog person, but I'm on your side. She knew you had dogs when you moved in together; it's unfair to expect you to get rid of your dogs. Pets are family; demanding that you get rid of them is cruel to you and to your beloved pets.

    If she hasn't asked you to get rid of your dogs but still complains about them, then she's being a lot more reasonable. Big dogs can be intimidating to small people, and if they growl when they roughhouse, you might not think it's scary, but she might -- especially if they're growling at her son. Do they jump up on her and slobber when she feeds them? Maybe she has trouble feeding them because of that. If they tear stuff up, chew shoes or are otherwise undisciplined, that's a problem too.

    Can you give your dogs more training to give them better manners in the house? Everyone likes a good doggy better than a rude one. Maybe you can help her take as much pleasure in taking care of them as you do by training them to behave well on a leash and during feedings.

    You shouldn't have to give up your babies, but she shouldn't have to put up with a couple of undisciplined beasts. Try meeting in the middle and live a happy life with your wife-to-be, her son and your puppies. :)

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  • Doglvrzoo
    10 years ago

    Your dogs are family members as well. On top of that you and the dogs have known each other longer than your wife has known you. Also, the dogs give unquestioning love and trust. My guess is you don't necessarily think your wife does the same. More over you weren't forced to make huge life changes to accommodate your dogs. Your wife did make you change your life to conform to her per-exisiting burdens. So it is understandable and normal that you don't want to discard your older family members just because your more recent ones don't love them like you do. It might be that she feels she's competing with the dogs. It might be helpful to talk to her and put your relationship with her, the dogs, and yourself in a context she can understand not feel threatened by.

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  • Janie2T
    10 years ago

    I've loved lots of dogs in my time. Other animals too. Once lived on a farm, grew up on it in fact.

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  • GuessWho
    10 years ago

    You've had the dogs longer than her.
    The dogs were a pre-existing condition/factor in your relationship with her.
    She knew what she was getting into.
    It's unreasonable for her to pick a fight over the dogs after all that time.
    I get the impression that she's just grumpy anyway and looking for a reason to fight. (If she had a problem with them, why didn't she bring it up before moving in)
    If I were in that situation and it escalated to the point where I had to choose, I'd choose the dogs.

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  • FionnaCakeFan
    10 years ago

    I LOVE PUPPIES!!

    Wait-- If your sister and mother had the dogs for seven years, and you had it for three years, that must mean your dogs are about seventy-years-old.

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  • KaffeInjection
    10 years ago

    Yeah it's just fine to love cats that much!

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  • Moonbow
    10 years ago

    If your math is correct, you're around 24 years old, waaaay too old to be in love with dogs! If you love your girlfirend, get rid of the damn dogs! If you love the dogs more, do the girl a favor and tell her to leave. She would be a lot better off with a real man instead of an immature freak in love with his "doggies."

    Instead of whining on a website primarily frequented by teenagers and immature adults, you should be thanking your lucky stars that your girlfriend didn't dump your filthy, dog freak ass the first time you took her to your stinking, piss-infested, shit-hole of a house or apartment. She cleaned up the place and trained your unruly fleabags and here you are bellyaching about her, you ungrateful asshole! What you need to do is get your nose out of those dogs' asses and start acting like an adult instead of a 10-year-old brat!

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