If one spouse wants to rehome a dog, and the other doesn't, who should get their way?

Eleven months old can be a difficult time for a young dog - and if you are willing to put time and effort in now - things should hopefully become easier over the next few months .

However - this is dependent on the time you have to devote to the dog . Do you both work full time ? Do you have children ? Or plan them in future?

Have things changed for you in the last 10 months ? As if not these things should have been considered before getting your puppy .

But obviously you can't go back in time so you need to manage the future and if you are not prepared or able to put in the time and effort needed then it's probably best to see whether you can safely rehome.

It's not about whether you or your partner should win your argument but what's best for the dog .

Christ. A dog is not a family member in the same way that a child or a spouse is.
Yes, in an ideal world, you wouldn't have got the dog if you can't meet its needs. But now that you're in that situation the right thing to do is to let it go live with someone who can, not force it to live in a substandard situation surrounded by tension amongst its humans. I know of two families who have rehomed a dog because they couldn't deal with having it and in both cases it was absolutely the right thing to do, for the humans and for the dogs, whose needs just weren't being met in the homes they were in.

have only read OPs posts. Rehome the poor dog.

Do the changed circs mean one partner has to take on the extra burden of additional dog care?

Dogs are brilliant if you put the work in. The stupid/stubborn dog teenage years are not easy, but you both should have known that from your research prior to committing to a dog. They settle down around 18 month / 2 years if you keep the training up. Or are there issues beyond this normal behaviour?

What breed and do you have a contract/agreement with breeder to return for rehoming?

Ahhh...

Tell me you're an adolescent dog owner without telling me...

Which party is doing the bulk of the work with the dog.
That should be the person who gets their way... however, if the other person wants the dog more than they want to stay in the relationship, theres not a lot you can do about that!

Adolescent dogs are hard work, bloody needy and often regress in their behaviour/skills. It isn't forever, but it is for now. I think it'd be a shame to rehome because you didn't realise this is a part of raising a dog.

Depends on the reason and its not comparable with having a child.

You can't force an individual to own a pet if they don't want to so the choice becomes which is the most important to you.

Even your dog's behaviourist feels you're the wrong family for this dog.

You keep the dog and both put the work in. It's a living creature entirely dependent on you. You don't dispose of it just because you're a bit bored and want to go on holiday instead.

You're 11 months in to having the dog. You started having doubts 2 months ago.
You might have another 10 years of this OP.
Can the partner who wants to keep the dog make the necessary sacrifices for 10 years?

I strongly feel that when one partner wants to get a dog and the other doesn't, the one that doesn't should absolutely get their way.

But when it comes to getting rid of a dog, then the one who wants rid doesn't get their way, unless the reason they want to get rid of the dog is for safety eg the dog has bitten a child in the house.

What about a pet sitter for times you want to be out and / or a dog walker during the day? Or doggy daycare?

They are a huge commitment, as others have said, you should have both realised what this would mean to your family Iife.

The person who failed to do their research will have to suck it up in my view.

I would completely lose respect for someone who would just abandon a family member like this purely because they don’t want to put the work in.

I would genuinely leave any partner who made me choose between them and my dog.

If you both aren't on board, it's pointless. Really irresponsible to take the dog on in the first place. Please rehome via a reputable rescue rather than selling.

Are you going to return the dog to the breeder when you say re home

Dogs are for life not just for Christmas springs to mind. I love my dogs, my life revolves around them and I’d leave a partner before I left my dogs. Tbh even the suggestion to re home would be the end for me.

it really boils down to what’s important to the person wanting to keep the dog, their life and relationship or the dog.

easy choice for me

Yes it's about the animal's welfare not humans disagreements, petty or otherwise, on who actually takes care of him/her.

One of the issues a few people I know have with having pets is that they go on holiday more than once a year or for 4-6 weeks. As they don't have a decent sized social circle of people who will help or can't afford boarding fees they don't have pets.

This is whether the pets are tank animals/caged animals especially those that have to be handled/let out frequently, or dogs, or cats.

What breed of dog?

What did the aggrieved party think was involved with a dog??
They obviously didn't do their research so it's on them.

But keeping the dog may mean a miserable existence for the animal so may be better off re homed. In which case, the non dog fan should organise the rehousing while the other gives final approval....

A possible solution?

Op is it a situation where everyone wanted a dog but it turns out only one person is doing all the work and they’re now resentful?

Yes this is vital! Also could it go back to the breeder or rescue?

One person is going to have to back down and either accept the dog or rehome it. The environment can't be the best for anyone, dog or humans, at the moment. Everyone is suffering by the sounds of it. I would say the dog has to be rehomed. I can't understand ending a marriage because someone has chosen a dog over their spouse.

I’d keep the dog. They’re already here, so I think you have a responsibility to look after them. I’d think less of my partner if he suggested getting rid of our dogs with such weak reasons tbh.

A dog should be part of the family.