His dog or her dog?

[Emoore]

I'm interested in talking about gender and how it relates to taking responsibility for the dog. With apologies to our single friends and our GLBT friends, I'd like to know, in households with a male and female adult, are your dogs "his" or "hers"? Whose idea was it to get a dog? Who chose the breed? Who chose the breeder/shelter/etc and the specific dog?

In our house, the dogs are really more mine. When we first decided to get a dog about 9 years ago, it was a GSD or nothing for him. That's all he had as a kid growing up. I'd had lots of different breeds and mixes but never a GSD. I research breeders, take them to the vet, take them to training, work with them during the week, research food options, keep track of heart worm and flea prevention, etc. He loves them, plays with them, and gives them their morning meal.

Although he says they're his dogs and if I'm nice he'll let me snuggle with them.

[Rerun]

I brought both my girls to the relationship. We adopted Micah together although he's always been more "mine" because my SO wasn't living with me officially when we adopted him.

We made the decision together on Kodi but Kodi was his boy, and Dante was mine.

So I wouldn't be surprised if a 5th was added when the right one comels along. Probably a GSD but he's interested in other breeds as well. We make decisions together on pets, but the next dog will be his pick primarily because Dante was mine.

We both care for and love on the dogs equally. It's not a "one person loves them and the other just allows them to be here" kind of situation.

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by Rerun

We both care for and love on the dogs equally. It's not a "one person loves them and the other just allows them to be here" kind of situation.

Absolutely. We both love them very much, I just do most of the dog-related work because I have the time and inclination to do it.

[JakodaCD OA]

all the dogs I have/had were my idea , I paid for them if I bought them, I rescued them when I rescued. They have always viewed the hubby as a playmate Altho my male aussie has attached himself to the hubby, which is fine, I consider him his dog.

The cats on the other hand, (I have 5),,were a mutual decision, but again they mostly hang with me..

He 'likes' animals, but lets put it this way, if I ever left, they'd all go with me

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Emoore

Absolutely. We both love them very much, I just do most of the dog-related work because I have the time and inclination to do it.

Me too. I usually do the feeding AM and PM, most of the cleaning, baths, poop pickup, etc. But this is only because I am a stay at home mom now and he works an off shift, so he's not up as early and leaves by the dogs dinner most nights for work.

BTW, I selected "they're all both of ours" because they really are, but we both refer to Dante as "mine" and Kodi was "his." So I'm making sure that the next dog is his pick...whether it's a puppy from a breeder or a dog from the shelter. He knows it's ultimately his decision to get what he wants when the time and right dog comes along.

[Good_Karma]

My husband and I never make a decision without consulting each other. We're a team in everything we do, and that includes our dogs.

[chicagojosh]

mine. i walk them, feed them, train them, play with them. no offense to my GF, but she's pretty much for for an occasional walk either with me or if I'm gone. give some pets and cuddling with them. i do all the work

[kiya]

I had to vote "hers". Hubby loves them but thats about it. I do everything. I tried to get him involved with training or going for a walk but he couldn't be bothered. He's not lazy. Sometimes I think my "obsession" with the dogs pisses him off. He tells me I love the dogs more than him. Gee I wonder why.

[jakeandrenee]

Mine.....all the way!

[JudynRich]

The girls are definitely my dogs! DH feeds them dinner and does play w/ them, but I do all the training, grooming and set the rules!