Dog Owner Seeks Solution After Girlfriend Demands He Rehomes His 9-Year-Old Dog Before Moving In

"This was a really hard situation and I don't think there was an easy answer."

Chelsi

• Published in Animals
• February 15, 2024

It was difficult for a dog owner to witness his girlfriend's aversion to his 9-year-old Great Dane, Scooby. OP has been with his girlfriend for eight months.

He thinks they have a great future together. OP's only issue with his girlfriend is her antipathy towards Scooby.

Scooby jumped on OP's girlfriend and licked her when they were first introduced to each other. OP said that was Scooby's way of saying he liked his girlfriend.

Unfortunately, his girlfriend did not appreciate Scooby's display of affection. She disliked it even more when she learned that Scooby slept on the same bed as OP.

She elected to sleep in the guest room when she visited OP because she did not like sleeping beside Scooby. OP was unwilling to lock Scooby out of his bedroom.

Eventually, OP kept Scooby in a separate bedroom whenever his girlfriend stayed for the night. He said the dog sensed he wasn't wanted.

OP's problem with Scooby and his girlfriend coexisting in a shared space became an urgent matter when he needed to move into her house. OP's work made it necessary for him to move to a location near his girlfriend's place.

As they finalized the details of the move, the subject of managing Scooby was brought up. His girlfriend said she did not want a dog in her house.

She explained how she preferred a clean home, which would be made more difficult if Scooby free-roamed around her house. OP felt it wasn't fair to keep Scooby outdoors, and his girlfriend did not have a fenced yard.

OP was hurt over how his girlfriend felt about Scooby living with them. He said that she knew how much his dog meant to him.

It did not bode well that she was willing to give up on Scooby without even seeing how they would function under one roof.

OP was at a crossroads. He loved his girlfriend, but he also loved Scooby.

He was not willing to give up on either. There seemingly was no third option where he could have his girlfriend and his dog in his life.

Redditors chastized OP for not training his dog enough. It made it difficult for his girlfriend to bond with Scooby.

OP could promise his girlfriend that he would be a better dog owner moving forward. He has to show her that he is willing to train Scooby to be a better dog, so her life won't change drastically when they move in together.

His girlfriend probably felt awful each time OP demonstrated through his choices that he would prioritize Scooby over her.

Another commenter suggested postponing their plans to move in. OP could spend those months training his dog to show his girlfriend his commitment to her.

Based on OP's post, it was clear how much he spoiled and prioritized his dog. His life was built around his dog. How would his girlfriend fit into the picture?

None of this is Scooby's fault. The responsibility begins and ends with OP.

OP talked to his girlfriend two days after his original post. They tried to find a solution they could be happy with.

OP didn't want Scooby to live outside, so his girlfriend suggested setting up the garage as his space. OP said it was too small and suggested they use one of the spare rooms for Scooby, but his girlfriend declined.

They couldn't compromise. His girlfriend said she understood that OP and Scooby were a package deal. She said she loved OP and realized that she wasn't willing to keep him and Scooby apart. They ended their relationship. OP was glad he had Scooby to help him get over the breakup.

Redditors advised OP to retrain Scooby. It would be beneficial for them and any other partners OP would have in the future.

OP is not wrong to love his dog to that extent. His girlfriend was not at fault for sticking to her boundaries. As difficult as it was for OP, they were just incompatible with each other.

OP and his girlfriend were simply too different, as one commenter explained. Forcing their differences onto each other could have potentially made them resentful of each other in the long run.

OP does need to train his dog better and teach him some boundaries. It would make Scooby an even more loveable dog for OP's future partners.

Chelsi