What to Do When Your Partner Doesn’t Want a Dog

Maybe you failed to put “must love dogs” in caps on your Tinder profile. Maybe your partner thinks puppies are cute but isn’t sure about all the dog-walking responsibility. Regardless, your partner does not want a dog, so what’s a pup-loving person to do?

When one half of a couple wants a dog and the other doesn’t, the first step is to figure out what their objections are. Many people who are opposed to getting a pup like the idea in general but are held back by one or more particular concerns. If you can come up with a solution to what your partner views as the problem, you increase your chances of successfully convincing them to add a pet to the family.

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Financial Objections

It’s true that it costs money to have a dog — and the prospect of extra expenses understandably freaks out a lot of people. So, it’s important to figure out how easily your budget can accommodate an increase in spending. If you can save money ahead of time for your future pup’s needs, that shows your partner that you understand the concern and that your household can make it work. These days, pet insurance and CareCredit can make a big difference. Sometimes it’s necessary to cut something else out to convince your partner that you can swing it.

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Lifestyle Changes

Many people worry that having a dog will make it harder to go out in the evenings, to go away for the weekend, or to take vacations during holidays or time off from work. It’s a legitimate concern — raising a pup means that spontaneous outings present challenges, so it’s important to have a plan to meet them. Find out who can care for your dog when you are away or if you want to go out after work. Consider daycares and boarders, dog walkers, and neighbors you could hire to help you. Pet-friendly restaurants and hotels are becoming more and more popular so your pup can tag along. And while a European tour may be off the table for a little while, hiking and camping with dogs are definitely great ways to have adventures together.

Fear of Failing the Dog

Having a dog is a lot of responsibility, and that can make many people nervous, especially if they have never been a pet parent before. Assuage your partner’s nerves by researching resources in your area such as trainers, behaviorists, and veterinarians. Doing your homework about the basics of dog behavior and care will help you both feel more confident about bringing home a new dog.

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Shedding and Slobbering

Not everybody is unbothered by muddy paw prints and (let’s be honest) nobody is totally OK with dog vomit or what happens to the carpet while potty training is still a work in progress. The really gross things tend to happen rarely, but the slobbering by the water bowl and dog hair are daily occurrences for many pet parents. Whether you promise to step up your scrubbing or shell out the money to hire people to clean your house, it’s important to at least propose a solution. It’s also sensible to choose a dog who is less likely to drool and shed than the slobber-and-fur nightmare your partner is picturing.

Compatibility with Other Pets

If your partner is concerned about how a dog will affect your cat, for example, consider yourself lucky to have such a thoughtful and caring human living in your house. It’s very sad when a cat who has been happy in a home is suddenly living under the bed because they are terrified of the dog. In not-so-surprising news, a dog will fit into the family far better if you choose one who actually gets along with cats, so make that a top priority. Additionally, it’s smart to commit to doing the initial introduction with a professional trainer or behaviorist to make the dog-cat match more successful.

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Concessions and Deal Breakers

Along with addressing any of the specific concerns that your partner has about getting a dog, here are some additional tips that may help you convince them. Let your partner have the final say on which dog you choose, and a lot of input into what kind of pup to consider: old, young, big, small, long or short hair, Hound or Terrier, or other type. Because your partner is (at best) on the fence about the whole dog thing, you may be able to tip the scales in your favor by giving them a weighted vote.

Let your partner know how important it is to you that you get a dog. Although it makes sense that if you want a pup so much, your partner should consider it, there’s obviously a flip side to that. If getting a dog is so unappealing to your partner, you need to respect that as well. Feeling very differently about this subject can cause a serious rift in a relationship, and the only sensible advice is to not let this difference ruin the relationship — unless it truly is a deal breaker for you.

Try a Trial Run

Becoming a pet parent is a big deal, and that can be intimidating to some people. A trial run of sorts could help your partner feel more comfortable with this big step. Consider watching a friend’s pup for a few days or fostering a dog, so you can try out what it feels like to have one in your life without the long-term commitment. Even if they shed all over the place, the joy of living with a dog temporarily has convinced many people to get one of their own.