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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think DP should have taken our dog out

79 replies

strawberryjammy · 11/12/2022 14:26

DP walks our dog first thing during the week, and I walk him first thing at the weekends so that she can have a lie in. Loosely, on all days after the early morning walk I am responsible for walking him and then DS is responsible for walking him about 4.30pm onwards, however these times are not totally rigid and we all help out depending on who is out and who is at home etc. We don't have a garden so can't just open the back door to let dog out to go to the toilet, we actually have to take him for a walk (though this can be 5 mins long if he's already had enough exercise that day).

This morning I was helping out at a Christmas event at a club I volunteer at. I took the dog for a walk before I left at 8.30am. The event was due to last until 12.30pm but as I was volunteering I was going to be there later than that for clearing up etc afterwards. By the time I got home it was just after 1.30pm.

At 12.25pm DP sent a message on our family group chat to say that our dog was barking to go out and was anyone available to take him out. Clearly I was not at home (she knew where I was) and DS was asleep. I saw the message about 10 mins after she sent it but didn't open or reply to it as I was busy and assumed the people who were at home - DP and DS - could sort it out between them.

DP then sent another message at 1.35pm saying that the dog was going crazy barking. At this point I had just pulled up on our driveway and was going into the house. DP asked me if our dog had done a poo this morning and when I said no, she said "that must be what's wrong with him now then".

At this point I was flabbergasted to realise that nobody had taken the dog out yet. I asked why he hadn't been out yet and DP said, "it's my day off". DS was still asleep (he has issues with insomnia and deep sleep so not unexpected that he hadn't woken up yet). I put the lead on the dog and said to him, "poor puppy". DP said that if that was an attempt to get at her, I was being very rude. AIBU to think that DP was unreasonable not to take our dog out when he needed to, even though it was her 'day off' and she wanted a break? I totally understand her desire for a break, but I think it's cruel to not be flexible enough to take the dog out if there is nobody else around to do it. She didn't know I would be home when I was and DS is unlikely to waken for a while yet. So she effectively left the dog barking indefinitely (it turned out to be 'only' 1 hour 10 mins) because she thought she shouldn't have to take him out today.

OP posts:
butterfliedtwo · 11/12/2022 15:30

She's clearly unreasonable and also clearly give zero fucks about the animal in her care. Is she always this selfish?

Unbelievable.

ILoveToads · 11/12/2022 15:32

I would leave someone for that, just shows a complete lack of compassion for a poor animal who has no autonomy over their life.

Liz1tummypain · 11/12/2022 15:34

Yes that's really mean to ignore the doggy's needs like that. Cruel.

DottieUncBab · 11/12/2022 15:34

Poor dog :( why is walking the dog a chore anyway? My dogs are my absolute world and I love walking them. I think your DP isn’t cut out for dog ownership

MichelleScarn · 11/12/2022 15:37

Absolutely dreadful of her. Obviously doesn't care about animal welfare. Horrible person and I'd have to consider my relationship with someone this cruel.

MangoBiscuit · 11/12/2022 15:37

Poor dog. I don't think I could be in a realationship with someone who could treat an animal poorly on purpose.

Aprilx · 11/12/2022 15:39

I don’t even know what she means by day off. You don’t get a day off from being a pet owner. I can’t believe she sat there for an hour, texting people that are not there about walking the dog that was right beside her.

CarefreeMe · 11/12/2022 15:48

YANBU I assumed DP had gone out!

Why was she texting asking people to let it out when she could have literally done it herself?

CarefreeMe · 11/12/2022 15:49

I would leave someone for that, just shows a complete lack of compassion for a poor animal who has no autonomy over their life.

I would too.

I wonder what she would have said if it pee’d or poo’d on the floor instead.

JoyBeorge · 11/12/2022 15:51

You do not get 'days off' when you have a dog. Some people don't deserve dogs. He isn't your partner's dolly to amuse her until she gets bored or to only walk if she can be bothered. He is a living breathing animal who can't unlock the door and take himself for a walk. If this is honestly how you think having a dog in your life is supposed to look then please take him back to the breeder and get a goldfish instead.

Adultchildofelderlyparents · 11/12/2022 15:54

Your 'D'P was in the house with the barking dog, and decided to message you rather than take the dog out herself?

"it's my day off"
FFS, you don't get a day off from being a pet owner, just as you don't get a day off from being a parent. You manage the responsibility depending on plans and availability, just as you said at the beginning.

I could not leave my dog so desperate for a poo that he was going crazy barking. Your poor dog.

Your partner sounds like a lazy selfish idiot.

WhoWants2Know · 11/12/2022 16:18

You can have a day off from hoovering, or making dinner or washing up. But you don't get a day off from attending to the needs of a living creature that can't provide for itself. If no one else is home, you're up.

If your partner is ill on a weekday, do you sit there and let the dog bark until she's better?

LimeTwists · 11/12/2022 19:04

I have two dogs and I can’t tell you how upset and angry this would make me. Poor dog will have really struggled to be clean and not go to the toilet indoors. So cruel. He’s really selfish. YANBU.

LimeTwists · 11/12/2022 19:05

*sorry, realised it’s your DS that is he and your partner is she.

AlwaysGinPlease · 11/12/2022 19:15

That would be the end of the relationship for me. What a nasty bitch.

AnotherForumUser · 11/12/2022 19:18

LTB. Anyone who can do this is lazy and spiteful. You and your dog deserve better.

Twospaniels · 11/12/2022 19:22

So your ‘DP’ sat for over an hour listening to the dog barking? They should have taken the dog out even if it was just a short toilet break.
What would they have done if the dog had pooped on the floor in the house? Left it there for you to clear up?

Furrydogmum · 11/12/2022 19:23

Your living circumstances don't sound ideal for pets.. Either way my DP wouldn't be my DP, if they had such a cavalier attitude to any animals welfare to be honest - he wouldn't because he loves our pets as much as I do.

Crunchymum · 11/12/2022 19:27

DP sounds horrendous but why was DS in bed at 1pm in the afternoon?

Notyetacatlady · 11/12/2022 19:29

This is actually really upsetting. I feel really sorry for your dog. I have a dog and I can’t imagine putting her through that. So distressing for the poor thing needing to go , telling the person who is supposed to care for him and being ignored. Your partner is a horrible human. What a lazy selfish bitch.

SquirrelRed · 11/12/2022 19:35

Disgusting behaviour. Who was she expecting to answer the WhatsApp message knowing you were out and that your ds was asleep?

Mrstumbletap · 11/12/2022 19:40

Keep the dog, chuck the partner.

If I came home to my dog barking and desperate for the toilet and all my DH had done was send messages and not look out for her welfare I would be raging!

Poor poor dog!

PlantsAndSpaniels · 11/12/2022 19:40

She shouldn't have a dog if that's how she treats them. No excuses since you don't have a garden.

PinkiOcelot · 11/12/2022 19:50

Would have served her right if it did a massive shit in the middle of the living room!

How cruel can you get?!

Probablymagrat · 11/12/2022 19:55

This was very cruel to your dog, and totally unreasonable behaviour. But I also question if it is reasonable to own a dog if it doesnt have access to a secure garden area.

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