Is it required that your S.O. loves your dogs?

[chachi]

I would require that they be tolerant of them but not love them. My Husband is an animal lover like me though

[Sweet Apple]

If the SO doesn't like your pet or any pets, then you made the wrong choice picking him/her...I have a neighbor, two doors down ( a guy ) that mentioned, once, he didn't like small dogs, and he has never dawned my door again...lol...

[Deuce]

While he doesn't have to LOVE my pets, he does have to at least like them. I'm a package deal, if he doesn't like it he can find someone who doesn't like pets to spend his time with.
My bf didn't grow up around animals so meeting me and seeing me around my pets has been enlightening for him. He's never seen anyone so loving towards pets before (which I think is sad) but he likes it. He likes to tease that neither me nor Rizzo would survive without each-other. Mostly because whenever I sit down Rizz is right there with me, not to mention his waiting impatiently outside the bathroom for me, and following me everywhere! lol. I love it, it's just strange to my bf, but he's learning quick how he should be around my little pets.
IMO, a SO needs to be more than just tolerant with your pets, while they don't have to love them as much as you they need to respect both you and your animals. Not to mention they should know if it came down to one or the other, you'd always pick your pet...keeps them on their toes

[Jinger]

I don't think i could ever truly love someone who didn't accept and "love" my pets. (And have you noticed how attuned dogs are...if they don't like someone, I pay attention!)
Life is just so much fuller with dogs...I could never miss out on that.

[Perrella]

My DH and I have been together 30+ years and we have always had a dog or two. Our last two were both 14yrs and went to rainbow bridge within a week from eachother. My DH was a mess at the vet's office same as I was. He has always loved our animals, but I have to say when we got Zhoie, he became obessed same as me.

I know if that changed.......heck, it would a deal breaker even for him now. LOL.

[MauiGirl]

Love me, love my dogs (all of them)!

My dogs deserve love and kindness, and understanding period.

Any human that doesn't feel the same way is not welcome in my life (that goes for sig. other, partner, friends, and even employees). Sorry, my dogs rule around here, and that's just the way it is.

[orlnurse]

Originally Posted by MauiGirl

Love me, love my dogs (all of them)!

My dogs deserve love and kindness, and understanding period.

Any human that doesn't feel the same way is not welcome in my life (that goes for sig. other, partner, friends, and even employees). Sorry, my dogs rule around here, and that's just the way it is.

LOL..I was about to say the same thing. "Love me, love my dogs!"

[Sammy Mommy]

Originally Posted by MauiGirl

Love me, love my dogs (all of them)!

My dogs deserve love and kindness, and understanding period.

Any human that doesn't feel the same way is not welcome in my life (that goes for sig. other, partner, friends, and even employees). Sorry, my dogs rule around here, and that's just the way it is.

I couldn't have said it any better. I made a needlepoint pillow that says Love Me, Love My Dog.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by JESSY_RN2B

Absolutely! My ex husband met me with pets and if he wouldnt have at the very least tolerated them and treated them lovingly, that would have been a deal breaker.

I have dated in the past and one guy was incredibly scared of cats and dogs alike. There was no working around it so the relationship didnt move on.

my current spouse is allergic to cats but loves them. He met me with a cat and dogs but made it work. Took his meds faithfully etc. My cat passed away last year and the decision was made not to get another cat but while my cat was alive he was gfeat with him.

I woukd never get rid of a pet for a man. Sounds mean but I couldnt do it.

OK! I missed a step here.....I didn't know you remarried....and when did that happen?

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Sammy Mommy

I couldn't have said it any better. I made a needlepoint pillow that says Love Me, Love My Dog.

My mother had a saying, she said it in Spanish but, translated to English "Beware of those that don't love children, animals or flowers":

[tjdmom]

I was married long before I got yorkies and my hubby is not totally in love with them. He tolerates them mostly. Sometimes he does snuggle up to Libby and I hear him calling over to his side of the bed when he thinks i'm asleep but they are totally mine and my responsibilty. He will feed them of course or put them out if I ask but he doesn't really think of that stuff on his own. I will say though that I do wish he felt the same about them that I do and if I were single with just my dogs, another dog lover would be a must for me.

[Foster Mom]

Oh Absolutely. As someone here said we are a package deal. I had 2 when I met my hubby and he loves dogs but he thought 2 were enough and he said the ONLY reason he did not balk at getting Romeo is because it was made clear from the day we met I was getting another little boy, I just was not sure when. I was waiting for the right time and the right litter.

Now we are down to one and I feel so empty, but hubby has said once we lose Pixie (and it better not be for a long long time, after my Theo passed 3 months ago she nad I had a long talk and she was made aware she is not allowed to go anywhere for a long time) he wants to be dogless for a little while. We have never been able to just pick up and go or just go away for the weekend and he wants to be able to do taht for a little while without worrying about finding a sitter and such. While I understand this reasoning, I just do not think I can be yorkieless for too long. I only lost my little man 3 months ago but I have such a huge hole and desperately want another yorkie. I think once we have no dogs I am going to be so unhappy and depressed he will have no choice but to change his mind and let me have another.

I truly do not remember what life was like before I had yorkies. I have had other dogs but NEVER had the bond with them I have/had with my yorks. Mind you all my other dogs were German Shepards, so not exacty a lap dog LOL

[Mardelin]

I will say my husband loves the dogs as much if not more than I do. If he didn't I'd be unable to exhibit. Since he's the unpaid "kennel" help. He does the feeding, grooming (yes, he knows how to wrap and put up a topknot too) while I'm gone. And since I go to Texas twice a year for extended stays, he holds down the fort. The man can whelp a litter too, he is a gem.

[Princess10]

When the time comes that I move on from my split the guy will have to be just as passionate about animals as I am. I don't need him to baby talk Princess or anything, but I don't want someone pretending he can stand her when he can't.
There's a married-in member of my family that I know is not nice to his family's dog, I've mentioned it to his SO & she has turned her head--There is no way!

Princess is part of our family 100% and just like with my DD, if I had to wonder if my SO would mistreat either of them when my head was turned then they are def not for me.

Also, I just think someone's ability to love an animal period says a lot about them, and is certainly a quality I would look for in a guy.

[MyTrixie143]

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan

Yes, any future SO would need to not only love my current dogs but also KNOW that there will be more dogs/pets in the future. It is not enough to say "I will like these two but then thats it" because dogs (and maybe cats) will always be a part of my life. It is also not enough to tolerate them honestly. They must love them. I lived with my sister for a number of years and she was fine with the dogs being there but isn't really a dog person- honestly its not that great, your always walking on eggshells that a dog is going to pee/poop/ vomit somewhere when they are sick and the person is going to get mad. I don't mind the dogs being my primary responsibility, but when you are running late unexpectedly or something and there is someone home but they won't feed or walk the dogs it does get frustrating. I make sacrifices for my dogs and I would expect the person I am with the understand that. For example, I have taken the dogs on family trips and then refused to leave them in the car to eat- I say I can get something and take it out to the car or a park- and people in the family get upset because they want to sit in the restaurant and eat. I wouldn't want these kinds of petty little arguments always coming between my and an SO. Also NO ONE is going to tell me my little fuzzbutts can't sleep in bed with me, or tell me I spend too much on them. I am willing to sacrifice things for myself so they can have the best medical care- will an SO agree? they better.

HA! Can you tell I have been thinking about this. Basically, any SO needs to really LOVE animals and LOVE my animals in order for it to work out. I know people will say relationships are about give and take but this is not something I am willing to "give" on. So I wouldn't find someone who doesn't like animals and then force my beliefs upon them. I just would not have a relationship with someone who didn't feel the same way I did. If it takes longer to find an SO- thats fine, I am in no rush.

Well said, that is exactly how I feel!! Animals have always been a huge part of my life and will always be.