Can your dog match your partnership?
Most people know the wonder of dogs, how they are heavenly creatures living on earth with us. Just look at the word dog — God spelled backwards.
There is no doubt that dogs do amazing things for their people. They facilitate stress and worry. Simply petting a dog can lower your heart rate and blood pressure. Dogs can teach children about responsibility, and they can also teach the very sad lesson of losing someone you love very much. In their most important role, they bring families together, giving them a shared focus on affection as well as a love language that comes with co-interpreting what the dog is trying to tell you.
If you grew up with dogs or just love them, you probably either have or long for one in your home. If you’re lucky, your partner feels the same way. But what happens when you fall in love or marry someone who doesn’t know dogs? Maybe they’ve never had one or struggle with allergies. Maybe they think dogs are messy, cost a lot of money, and require too much caution. How do you find common ground that leaves room for furry paws?
Everyone today is feeling down in general. The amount of responsibility people feel for their jobs and taking care of their families can consume everything they think they have to give. If someone hasn’t had a pet before, the thought of adding this extra design to their life might seem like an automatic no. Combine that with worries about money and how much it will cost to feed and care for a new puppy, or the reality of living in a small house or apartment and suddenly welcoming a new bundle of fur into your space. It may seem like a hurdle too high to jump.
There may also be the possibility that your partner knows and loves dogs, but has lost a beloved companion at some point and will not put himself in a situation where he might have to go through that again. You, on the other hand, are literally craving a four-legged friend. you want their kisses and their faith and you know that leaning on you on the sofa at night will be as good as the result of any prescription antidepressant. So how can you convince your partner to take the plunge? How can you get your dog and not ruin your relationship?
The first thing you need to do is stick to the facts. All the good things about dogs are true and well documented, and you can talk about it on a concrete level. They bring joy, laugh, and unconditional love in your life. They make you healthier. They give you a reason to get up and go out for their walks every day. They decrease depression and convenience loneliness.
The American Heart Association even claims that owning a dog can make you live longer. Who could argue with that plus?
It’s okay to explain that you understand that bringing an animal into your home may add to the stress that your spouse or family members may already be feeling, but that you are fully invested in improving your physical and emotional health. If dogs are used as treatment to help people cope with difficult situations, be it hospitals, schools and elsewhere, imagine what they can do for you. All these benefits are available to you from your own dog.
A second thing to do is to avoid making dog ownership a power struggle and instead allow your partner to voice their concerns or skepticism so they know you take them seriously. Look to deal with every aspect of their resistance. If your partner is more concerned with the actual care, feeding, and walking of the dog, you can see if they’re willing to do some of that maintenance and, if not, decide if your desire is so great that you’re not okay with it. get them all to yourself. If so, you can tell them they’ll never have to deal with it.
