Pets are tricky. Especially baboons. A baboon once convinced me to trade power of attorney for two coconuts and half of a squirrel. In my defense, it looked more like a marmoset (the squirrel, not the baboon; the baboon looked like Martin Landau). None of which will help in your situation, but I bring it up because it illustrates my points: A) pets are tricky, and B) never trust baboons.
Some people think of their dogs as little more than machines that take in food, excrete poop, and guard valuables. To other people, a pet is a member of the family, except sometimes covered in insects. If you're serious about getting with this guy for the long term, you're going to need to figure out which type of pet owner he is.
Here are a few simple tests:
1. Ask your boyfriend what kind of food his dog eats. If he says "I don't know. Dog food." Then you 're in the clear. If he details a grocery list of scientifically calibrated coat-lustering superfoods, you might be in trouble.
2. Tell your boyfriend about a pathetic, whimpering stray that always hangs out in your neighborhood. If he offers to adopt it or starts knitting it sweaters, be wary. If he laughs, you probably have bigger problems to worry about than dander.
3. Leave a dead dog on your boyfriend's doorstep. It's not a test so much, but he'll definitely get the message.
Even if your man is super-attached to his pooch, don't give up hope. I know it stings to be compared to a dog in any context (except maybe olfactory ability), but look at it from a pet-lover's point of view: this is your boyfriend's constant companion, surrogate child, and utter dependent. If you're going to convince him to kick it out of the house, you're going to need to come at him with some convincing arguments.
My advice, firstly, would be to do all you can to accommodate the dog. Not to sound pedantic, but have you tried allergy medications? There's a ton of them. If that doesn't work, would your boyfriend be willing to keep the dog outside? Or brush it every day (which this page says is good for allergy sufferers)? If you make the effort, and show your boyfriend that you've done everything in your power to let him keep his beloved pet, then he'll be a lot more likely to send it off to die in a pound cell when you finally ask him to. Which, let's face it, is the inevitable outcome here. J/K!!! Lolz!
It may seem kind of stupid for you to kowtow to an animal that licks its own genitals all day, but think of it as showing your boyfriend that you understand and respect his connection to his animal. Plus, if you've done all you can to make it work, and he's still not willing to keep the dog outside, give it to a friend, or get rid of it entirely, then you can feel way more justified when you call him an asshole to all your friends.
Also, let your guy know that there are dogs that are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction. If he can't find a type of dog he likes on this list, then he's just being difficult.
I'm certain this is something you aren't supposed to say but I'm one of those obnoxious chics with an opinion and I have to chime in...How about not ask him to choose? How many allergy medications are on the market? Sorry, I'm a person with severe animal dander allergies but I just don't understand the mentality. I couldn't ask a person to choose me over a pet. If you care about your significant other, you make adjustments that don't involve them getting rid of friends, pets, family members, hobbies (unless the hobby is hooking up with randoms)...etc.
I got a guy to get rid of his sister because I told him I was allergic to her. In the dead of winter too.
Just kidding...or am I?
Personally, I think dogs are more reliable and sweeter than boyfriends. However, I need a mate and wont let myself miss any dream guy over my pet. Lots of good homes are out there. Let it happen on his terms-if an ultimatum is given, you will never live it down.
I'm getting the impression that this is not a site for animal lovers, so I might get laughed at for saying this, but seriously; what's fairest to the dog?
Thing is, there will always be other guys. But if he tosses the dog, that poor pooch has nowhere else to go. It's not like he has friends he can couch-surf with until he gets an apartment. A pet is a family member. Maybe you don't think so, but many pet owners do. You wouldn't ask him to get rid of a child, would you?
The guy I'm dating has a cat (whom I adore). One day I joked about how, if the building were on fire, he'd save the cat's life before mine. He told me in all seriousness that I was probably right- while he'd only known me for less than a year (at the time), he'd raised that cat from a kitten himself. The cat had been his constant companion for five years. And while I, in a burning building, would probably be capable of saving myself, the cat was completely dependent on him.
All of this is to say that, whether or not you're allergic, the guy's dog is a living creature, with rights and feelings, and one whom he has a relationship with which probably pre-dates your own. Think about that before offering your ultimatum.
A significant other, will outlive a dog or cat. While animals are theraputic and comforting to humans, you can't compare the beneftis of a mature adult committed, serious loving relationship to an animal/pet. Each has it's own benefits, but reality is that the kind of human intimacy people share cannot be duplicated or achieved with an animal. Choosing animals over meaningful and loving human relationships, especially when there's a health issue with one of them being severly asthmatic and allergic to the animals, gives concern that the animal lover may have unhealthy emotional attachments to animals due to fear or inability to have healthy human intimacy. This might piss off animal lovers to hear me say this, but consider the animals hoarders with 50 dogs and cats. That actually do them more harm but believe they love and need these animals and don't see the smell or neglect they're causing these animals. We need to have a balance between the love we give our pets and humans. We love them both but there needs to be perspective. My spouse will be with me for the next 50 years. My pets will die after 11 or 15. Unless you want a relationship where your spouse is more like a dog because they're happy to see you after they've been locked in the trunk of your car, then get a pet. Unfortunately, the dog doesn't care if you kick him to the curb, he'll come back to lick your face and love you, and some people confuse the with unconditional love. It's not, humans want respect, animals don't know the difference.
I'm sorry but what a ridiculous question. That dog is essentially his child. Would you ask a guy to put his son or daughter up for adoption because you didn't like children? Same thing.
Millions upon millions of perfectly healthy animals are euthanized every year because there simply isn't anyone who wants them. Do everything you can to make your allergies bearable, and if that doesn't work, just hang out at your place instead of his.
i'm having this problem, only the dog is his best friend (a female) whom he also dated briefly. lol
A boy and his dog. A man and his dog?Choose Over a woman? Don't let the door hit him in the ass when you kick him to the dog house! Dump the chump! What happened to Real Men? Oh wait maybe he has learned to lick his own ba""s? And as'! Hole.