Man Threatened With Divorce Because He Keeps Bringing Dogs Home Despite Knowing That His Wife Fears Them

"I love this man so much, but I want a divorce"

Maryjane

• Published in Animal Stories
• January 28, 2024

Nine out of ten, we can't go outside without seeing a dog—and frequently a large breed like a German Shepherd. A dog phobia can be crippling, preventing one from interacting with friends and family who own dogs and preventing one from engaging in everyday activities.

Like all phobias, dog fear varies greatly in intensity from person to person. For some, only huge breeds may frighten them and for others, they could enjoy watching dogs on TV or in pictures but might feel uneasy near live dogs.

The OP works about 60 hours per week, and her husband spends a lot of time on his own. He brought up getting a dog when they first moved, specifically a Doberman, because he had a dog as a child and his parents had to give it away.

It’s really important for him to have a dog as an adult, but the OP was very much against it. She's terrified of big dogs and is not an animal person at all, but she asked him to hold off until they could rent or purchase a home.

This way, the dog would have a backyard to play in, and there would be enough space in the house so the OP and the dog wouldn’t be on top of each other. Yet, OP's husband came back with a dog, and she felt betrayed by his actions.

It led to the OP seeking a divorce, and you can read the full story below.

OP writes

And the story kicks off

OP's husband gets a dog

Now the OP wants a divorce

OP provided a summary for her story

I came home from work and my husband had a Doberman puppy in the living room. He had just gotten back from a work trip and I had no idea he would be bringing back a puppy. I’m scared of big dogs and we live in a small apartment. Two days later, I told him I want a divorce.

And the comments roll in...

Notorious for health issues

He needs the OP's consent

Talking about compromisation

The OP dropped this to just to address some comments

I did try to compromise on a smaller breed. He was completely against that. It had to be a Doberman. I also understand getting a house doesn’t solve my fear, but it would

1. Give the dog a dedicated space to run around and 2. More physical space to roam around the house without the two of us being on top of each other

He has no respect for the OP

He handled it wrongly

They're both incompatible

The dog needs space to roam

If someone wants to own a high-energy working breed, they must be prepared to provide their pet a strict schedule, especially if they live in an apartment. These breeds are generally quite productive when working with a regular program or timetable because they are accustomed to having a daily task to do.

These dogs begin to exhibit those negative, destructive behaviors if their daily needs for energy and mental stimulation are not satisfied. So Redditors hoped OP's husband knew what he signed up for.

Maryjane