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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Boyfriend has just gone and bought a pug.

137 replies

Pugpigprick · 19/04/2019 09:22

I'm not sure where to start really and I'm still in shock. Just for a bit of background; we're both mid twenties, in a fairly long distance relationship but were hoping on renting our own place in the next couple of months (he's still at his parents/I rent my own flat).

On Wednesday night he calls me to tell me he's getting a pug - I laughed it off thinking he was joking. I phoned him back and said we weren't in a position to get a dog as we both work long hours, we both quite often are working away etc. I also mentioned that a lot of landlords won't rent to dogs etc. I also told him it should be something we should both decide (I'm really not a fan of dogs and prefer other breeds 100%).

Now the other issue is that on Wednesday night he told me it was his dog, after I (calmly lost my shit) he said it's for his mum as she's been down and feeling lonely (absolutely great idea - she loves dogs and wants one) - all is resolved I'm not having to spend the next 12 years having to deal with the bad decision of puggy... I apologise on Thursday morning for getting the wrong end of the stick as his mum is going to love it. I got bollocked for ruining his moment as he was so excited and he doesnt like being told what to do.

But yesterday he comes home with said pug and it's his dog (or now as he's calling it a family dog but his). It's going to live at his family home and everyone is queuing up to look after it - which he believes it will still happens when he moves out with the pug as it's a 'family dog' that everyone will look after it (guess he's decided we're moving locally then).

I can't get over that he's made such a big decision for both of us - I don't want to be tied down to a dog right now (would be completely different if I met him and he already had a dog) but I'm more upset that he thinks I'm being unreasonable for being upset.

Sorry if this doesn't make much sense as my head's all over the place.

OP posts:
WhereYouLeftIt · 19/04/2019 11:45

DO NOT GIVE UP YOUR OWN PLACE TO MOVE IN WITH THIS MAN-CHILD!!

Seriously, don't.

"I got bollocked for ruining his moment as he was so excited and he doesnt like being told what to do."
Look at what you wrote. He doesn't like being told what to do. I expect this will extend to cooking dinner, grocery shopping, housework in general. There will be petulant outbursts of "I'll do it in my own time, not to suit YOU!" Any request you might put to him (can you pick up some milk/put the bins out/stop leaving your clothes on the floor) will be received as an instruction, and he won't be instructed. You will be screwed, and expected to provide the same level of hotel service as his mother currently does. I am in full agreement with the poster who said she would never move in with someone who has not already lived independently.

Ah, just seen your update (your OP alone launched me into full flight Grin).
"I know I need to dump him but he'll put me in a bad light. Apart from this week we've been getting on so well! We've got a wedding this weekend thats been booked for a while - i'm going to have a good think and write him a letter of why this is so bad."

"he'll put me in a bad light". Not sure what you mean here. Do you mean he'll badmouth you to all your joint friends? If they can't see this for what it is, they're not worth having as friends.

"Apart from this week we've been getting on so well!" Yeah, everything is fine until it's not. This week has shown a side of his personality that he hasn't shown before.

Go to the wedding. Enjoy it. Then dump him. I'd do it to his face rather than a letter. Why a letter? I wouldn't be giving him something to wave under people's noses. Because he sounds enough of a dick to do something with a letter that you won't like.

ChristmasFluff · 19/04/2019 11:46

OP, here's a handy life tip. Whenever you find yourself explaining normal adult behaviour and boundaries to another adult, it is showing you that you have no boundaries yourself.

This is why you care that he might paint you in a bad light (rather than caring that he's the type of person who would paint you in a bad light), and this is why you haven't dumped him now that he has shown himself for who he is - a person who gives no consideration to you and then expects you to be grateful for that.

Now if that's the sort of person you want to be saddled with, fill your boots. But look around all the sad posts on Mumsnet from women (and men) who have been trying to change their spouses ever since they met them. Prepare yourself to be one of them.

Or dump him and send yourself a message of how much more you are worth.

SansasSnatch · 19/04/2019 11:47

A puggle!!!! Got a pic?

BettyDuMonde · 19/04/2019 11:50

Beagles are bonkers. Really hard to train (slaves to their noses) and can be very destructive. You have to really want a beagle to be a good beagle-owner!

If this dog is half beagle, he might be trading slightly better health for considerably worse behaviour!

Hearhere · 19/04/2019 11:53

dump him and send yourself a message you how much more you're worth
this is a great phrase 😊

Acis · 19/04/2019 11:54

Another one wondering why it matters if he puts you in a bad light if your break up. If it's in relation to your friends, you can explain your reasoning. If it's his family, that's largely unavoidable (though they too may be a bit disenchanted with the impulse purchase) but that's not a reason to stick with him.

Durgasarrow · 19/04/2019 11:58

Sounds as if you have a manboy on your hands.

IHateUncleJamie · 19/04/2019 12:13

A puggle!!!! Got a pic?

It’s not a “puggle”, it’s a crossbreed that the OP’s boyfriend has bought on a whim. As no responsible dog owner would do. Ever

OP this “man” is not only an irresponsible immature twat but he’s also trying to make you think you’re being unreasonable for objecting to HIS actions.

Run.

Hearhere · 19/04/2019 12:26

It's definitely a DARVO manoeuvre that he's trying to pull

gamerchick · 19/04/2019 12:28

'puggle' who thinks of these names man!

FineWordsForAPorcupine · 19/04/2019 14:09

Poster #1: "Pugs suffer from a whole host of health problems because they've been bred to look cute with zero thought given to how much the animal suffers as a result."

Poster #2: "Yes, it's dreadful. They are soooooooo cute though! Send us a picture!!!"

Poster #1: "They look cute but actually they find it hard to breathe and it's online pictures that are fuelling demand and hence puppy farms -"

Poster #3 "POST US A PICTURE NOW"

ilikebeckerinmyoldage · 19/04/2019 14:45

Living with him will be a nightmare. He'll stomp his feet and have tantrums every time you disagree, then he'll do it anyway.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 19/04/2019 15:04

Why is everyone assuming he got the dog by iffy means and that he knows nothing about dogs - the OP doesn't say that!

If he knew/cared anything about dogs, he wouldn't have got one when he knows there is no-one to look after it during the day.

user1480880826 · 19/04/2019 15:11

He’s being unreasonable for so many reasons.

  1. Making a massive decision without consulting you
  2. Lying about who the dog was for
  3. Making decisions about where you’re going to live without consulting you
  4. Getting a dog breed that is riddled with health problems and totally inbred. It’s exceptionallt cruel to support the breeding of such dogs
  5. Not rescuing a dog
Moomoomoomoomoo · 19/04/2019 17:29

I know I need to dump him but he'll put me in a bad light

Well you know, he’s not going to be happy about being dumped is he, so he’s hardly going to say pleasant things to his mates about it. However that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t break up with him. What he says isn’t really your problem. How long have you been together and how old are you?

WellThisIsShit · 19/04/2019 18:04

Go to the wedding, then split. Then do lots of sadness and then, you pick yourself up and you carry on, finding someone lovely and better for you! Have hope and faith that things will get better...

Flowers
IncrediblySadToo · 19/04/2019 20:01

Whichever of you is closest to the B&G can go to the wedding. The B&G probably won’t notice, let alone care why only one of you is there.

You don’t have a commitment problem. You know it’s not fair (or practical) to have a pet. You’ve told him that, but HE got one anyway and EXPECTS you to toe the line...as he will with flats, cars, kids and everything else. He won’t listen, talk or compromise. He’ll just do his own thing then blame you...

You deserve WAY more than that with a partner.

There is NO point in writing him a letter. He is NOT going to change.

You KNOW you need to break up with him. Your life will be absolutely miserable if you don’t and you might end up tied to this wassock for life if you get pregnant. You’re FAR too sensible and nice to be with this tosser.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 19/04/2019 20:07

Fuck that shit-he can do one!

mama17 · 19/04/2019 20:25

Sounds like he knew what he was doing and to tell you it's for his Mum was just a big fib to make you feel bad! Very well thought out and had no shame or guilt whilst u was apologetic!

EKGEMS · 19/04/2019 20:35

Who cares if a breakup puts you in a bad light? Living with him might put you in a psych ward the way he sounds! There's more red flags here than a May Day parade in Moscow!

HomeEdRocks18 · 20/04/2019 08:04

Dump him. He sounds awful. Presuming that you should have said dog move in with you without asking your opinion.

Pugpigprick · 20/04/2019 13:27

Thank you to everyone for all the replies. I seriously love Mumsnet as he's seriously in denial and it's good to hear that I'm not being unreasonable and he is being a prick.

He's sent me a bunch of messages saying how much he loves me, he hates that he's upset me (I asked him why I'm upset which he literally can't work out) and he's sticking with the story that it's a family dog that will be living his mum. He's trying to grovel but Im over it. His response to it is 'i can't believe I'm in the wrong for doing something nice for my mum'. When I've tried to highlight some of the reasons why he's in the wrong he just has the same come back 'its living with my mum why is this an issue?'

I need to dump him which is fairly impossible task. When I've done it before he's turned up at my work/flat etc.

OP posts:
BettyDuMonde · 20/04/2019 13:30

Dump him now, so you have time to enjoy the long weekend with your mates.

Ellisandra · 20/04/2019 13:34

It gets worse - you’ve had to dump him before?
Come on love, you know this has more than run its course.

Nanny0gg · 20/04/2019 13:35

I need to dump him which is fairly impossible task. When I've done it before he's turned up at my work/flat etc.

So? Tell him to go away/don't answer the door/block his number/tell work not to let him in