Man Chooses Dog of 7 years Over New Girlfriend
A dog owner who is now in dilemma after his decision to prioritize his dog of 7 years over his new girlfriend has taken to social media to share his experience, seeking advice from the online community on the reasonableness of his decision.
The anonymous man with the username u/district-season1765 took to Reddit’s “Am I The A**hole? (AITA)” forum, on October 31 to detail his ordeal. He reveal his dog whom he has been with since he was 12 weeks old has been an invaluable source of emotional support, particularly during challenging times.
He described their bond, stating, “He’s like my son, brother, and best friend. He’s made me suck it up when depressed and been my support.”
However the cordial relationship between the man and his beloved dog took a turn for the worse following the arrival of his new girlfriend.
The man’s now-deleted post revealed that his new girlfriend was uncomfortable with his dog’s presence, especially its habit of sleeping in their bed that she displayed aggression towards the dog.
Concerned about the issue, the man attempted to provide solution by washing the bed linens regularly to mitigate issues with dog hair.
Despite his effort, the tension escalated, culminating in physical confrontation. This ongoing issue had led to frequent arguments between the couple. A recent incident, where the girlfriend pushed the dog on its chest with both hands further strained the relationship.
The man, who views his girlfriend’s behavior as dramatic and unacceptable has prioritized his dogs well being over the relationship. He has expressed his intention to rather end the relationship if his girlfriend’s aggressive behavior towards the dog continues than to get rid of the dog.
“I don’t like her being aggressive to my dog and find it a turn off,” the anonymous man said to Newsweek. “She thinks my dog is jealous and doesn’t like her.”
“I think she’s being dramatic and I absolutely will get rid of her before him,” the man added.
The man now grappling with the decision of whether his choice to prioritize his dog over his girlfriend was reasonable has turned to the Reddit community, questioning whether he is an a**hole.
His candid concern however sparked a wave of comments from Reddit users, many of whom sided with the dog owner. Some argued that the couple’s incompatibility was evident, suggesting that the girlfriend’s priorities did not align with the man’s deep bond with his pet.
One user commented, “I don’t think you two are compatible then.” Another added, “Agreed. She’s showing you who she is and what her expectations are now. These are not going to change down the line. I had a bf who was the same with my cat. I thought he would warm up to her, maybe love her even. But nope, it ended up being the same fight for years and finally came down to an ultimatum of him or the cat. Anyways, now I’m married to a man and we have several cats that sleep in our bed with us.”
A more creative solution was proposed by another user who suggested he make a dog bed close to his bed. “My dog insists on sleeping with me, but I don’t want so much hair in my bed, so I built an extension at the foot of my bed, and made a dog bed on it. Might work for you,” the commenter wrote.
However, some users acknowledged both perspectives. One wrote, “I see your side, but I also see her side. From your side: Your dog is your constant companion, best friend, and secret keeper. From her side: you’ve invited her to sleep in your bed but you aren’t inviting her to be comfortable in your bed. If the dog is more important than your relationship, break up with her now so she can find someone who prioritizes her over their pet. Otherwise we’ll be here next week reading a story from her asking if she’s wrong for feeling hurt over this situation.”
