Boyfriend+dogs= Unhappy Brandie

[imported_LuckyGirl]

I've been dating Shane for a while now and he 'tolerates' Happy and Lucky.* The first time he met them the dogs were really well behaved and outside playing.* My brother and a few of his friends came over for a visit and had the dogs fetching and Happy was running after Lucky to retrieve the ball and he side swiped Shane in the process.* Happy ran over and apologized of course because he's such a well mannered sweet boy.* Then later that day Lucky a.k.a the fetching diva kept wanting to fetch and I was talking to Shane and he was ignoring Lucky so she did what any lab would do, she dropped the ball in his lap.* He freaked out, jumping up and saying 'ewwww' so it was a little slimy from her drool?* Sheesh he acts like it was totally gross.* Well after those two incidents things have been going really well, he prefers cats over dogs but I never saw it as a problem.* I love my labs, but he doesn't like hardly any dogs.* He says mine are 'okay' but when Phoenix (six year old with autism) gets older I would like to get some other breeds.* I'd love to have a rottweiler and a great dane at some point in the future.* Shane thinks they are ugly!* Every dog breed I've showed him he's not liked * Then last night we got to discussing animals and he really doesn't like dogs!* He says he tolerates them but he just doesn't like them!* He's this total animal rights activist guy too, he's a Vegan and loves his cat, but not my dogs apparently.* At first I thought it was more him trying to get a rise out of me, but then he said "Let me put it this way if I didn't know your dogs had feelings and I care about animals feelings, I would insist you get rid of them"* * * * :'(* >* to which I replied "You ever did that I'd tell you to get lost, my dogs were here first."*

I don't know what to do.* I really like this guy, and Phoenix absolutely loves him, but dogs are a huge part of my life, especially my dogs!!* They've been there through all the crud I've been through this last 18 months and they calm and reassure me on a level no human has ever come close to.* But I can't 'make' him like my animals.* *:'(

[TangerineFizz]

What is your gut telling you? I think you already know the answer to your question. Personally, if any guy I dated told me no animals or get rid of them, guess who I'd be getting rid of??

Tough spot you are in, but only you know the answer.

[CoCosMom]

That's a tough call! I guess if he's willing to put up with them, then that's a pretty big compromise on his part, and so you could compromise equally by putting up with his dislike of dogs... If he actually woudn't live with them... well, then this relationship is going no where! JMHO!

[Mooselady]

Only you can answer your question but I think you already know what you answer is....I suspect that if you got rid of your dogs you would always hold that against Shane and that you wouldn't be happy with out them. If you are looking for a long term relationship then the guy has to share your passion for pets or it isn't going to work in the long run. Good luck, it's a tough spot to be in.

[imported_bacatherine]

I'm afraid I agree with the rest. You have to know but your dogs are a HUGE part of your life and make you happy. Even if you did you would regret it and probably hold it against him. Sorry it's a hard decision.

[chocolatecoverdlab]

Ditto what everyone has said so far. Would you pursue a relationship in which the guy didn't want children and you did? Even more extreme...would you pursue a relationship with a guy who dislikes children and you had two of them? My dogs are like my children, and I wouldn't give them up for ANY man...there are others out there you know (that LOVE dogs too)! In my opinion...you need to find yourself a dog loving man!

[Ender's Mom]

I agree with the others. If anything were ever to happen to Eric and I... I'm sure I'd be keeping Ender (we already discussed that what if before we even made the decision to get a dog)... the next guy would HAVE to like dogs and he just wouldn't even be considered an option if he didn't like Ender for ANY reason at all. Ender is my child.

[mitziandjudysmom]

Ditch the boyfriend. He couldn't possibly love you as much as Happy and Lucky love you.

[imported_zoezoe]

Kick him to the curb NOW! Relationships are hard even when two people like the same things ... If you dogs are that important to you, things will only go south as time goes on. You sound like a neat person and deserve better!! Move on ... take it from an "older" broad that's been through her share of troubles!!

[imported_Wendy B.]

ditch guy--keep dogs