My furbaby

[Skates]

So I’m a man. I live with my little French bulldog who is my absolute world. He’s 6 years old. From a puppy he’s always slept on my bed and I wouldn’t have it any other way. So I met a girl. We get on great but unfortunately she thinks dogs shouldn’t be allowed on the furniture or sleep on the bed. We haven’t spent a night together as I won’t leave my dog to stay at hers and she won’t sleep at mine because my dog sleeps with me. I can’t see this relationship going anywhere and she says I’m being unreasonable putting my dog before her needs. I’ll always put my dog before any relationship. AIBU?

Although YANBU. If you want a dog, want it on the furniture and then want to treat it like a substitute baby so much as to call it a furbaby then you have to accept many women will just not be interested.
You may have to lower any standards you have of the type of woman you would like.

I wasn't attempting to make a blanket statement though, was I? I clearly prefaced with 'In RL the people I know..'

So I don't understand your need to make this point.

I am not lacking children in my life. You can't lack something you never wanted.

If that’s what you want to tell yourself 🤷‍♀️

I do not like children, and don't understand them at all. Even as a child, I said I never wanted one.
I am pretty sure I know myself better than you do.

Assuming another woman wouldn't care that your dog was on the bed with you, there would come a time when you and the woman might want to have sex with each other and I can't help but wonder how that would go for the both of you with your pet watching, possibly closely and possibly interfering and putting either one of you off your stroke ? An interlude when your pet is out of the room might be appropriate all round but if it won't work for either of you, you might need to resign yourself to having sleepovers rather than intimate opposite sex but same species relationships.

I don't have significant difficulties there, I'm afraid. I'm happily married with excellent family support, friends and children. I'm not easily upset in the slightest. I do however think that the majority of humans are dickheads, and I have no inclination any more to want to be around them. I'll stick to my dogs, who are much nicer company.

I'm not lacking anything in life. Nothing at all. HTH

Lower his standards? I'd say quite the opposite.

I’ve loved all my pets and respect those who are kind to animals.

But no way, ever, would they be sleeping in a bed with me. It’s grossly unhygienic. They are lovely additions to the family but they are pets, not humans.

If I were this woman you wouldn’t see my heels for dust.

Are you trying to convince me or you?

Beats me. But I’m far from convinced it’s in the animals’ best interests.

@TheCountofMountingCrispBags
What is it with anthropomorphasising bloody animals by adults?
Too much Disney.

Aldo supported by the pet industry in general. People spend more money on unnecessary tat/accessories/treats/toys (over and above what's required for enrichment, training etc) if they think that Fido appreciates being bought "stuff". Likewise things like "puppaccinos" in cafes or dog-friendly ice cream.

Me referring to my dog as my fur baby is not having a detrimental effect on her. I feed her, walk her, take her to the vets etc. She is well trained. She sleeps on my bed. We both sleep better for it. She is over 14 and a half and slept on my bed since I got her (at 4 months old).
Tell me how any of that is not in her best interests?
Me calling her my fur baby, or saying she is family, is not harming anyone at all.

I just don't understand how people on here get in such a lather over something that has zero impact on them other than they get the 'ick'.

You don’t have the same outlook on your pets. Long term it won’t work. You need to find someone who likes dogs as much as you.

you are being unreasonable to call a dog a fur baby on mumsnet. You will be flamed.

Humans don't really need cappuccinos or ice cream either. We could all just live on something like Huel.
My mum's dog has a weekly ice cream and he loves it. He drags her to the cafe to get one. It makes him happy, and makes my mum happy seeing him enjoy it.
Dogs are not robots. They have emotions and likes/dislikes.
What people spend their money on is up to them. The pet industry in the UK is worth 10 billion. We need people spending money, and we need the jobs it creates.

Ok I get calling him my furbaby probably does put some people off but he’s still my baby. Your babies will grow up. Become independent. Won’t need you as much. But my boy will always need me. He relies on me for his care. He’s food. He’s wellbeing and needs. Looking after him for the rest of his life is my responsibility. So yes he comes first because he was there first. It was my choice to get him and I fully understood the responsibility of getting him. To me he is more than just a pet. Hes my responsibility. Maybe if more people understood that there wouldn’t be so many abandoned animals in the shelters

Not everyone wants children. Is this a new phenomenon to you?

👏
You will find someone what will adore your dog as much as you do.
Are there dating sites for dog owners?

I voted YANBU because it’s admirable that you prioritise your dog however it’s not U of her to not wish to share a bed with your dog.

I can't believe that 61% of poseters think thr OP is not being unreeasonable.

Dogs on beds and furniture is rank.

They are dogs not people.

No, he isn’t your baby. It’s your pet.

If people treated their animals like the pets they are there wouldn’t be so many animal attacks these days.

His house, his rules. It has zero impact on you.

The dog attacks (and I assume you are on about the XL bully ones) are nothing to do with people treating dogs like humans, and more about the inbreeding and traits of a man made breed that has origins in a known killer dog.