Am I reading too much into hints about getting a dog?

[Ontodaysepisode]

Agh, I have nowhere to share this!

I’m turning 40 next week and I’ve been asking DH for a dog for a long time, he’s never really been too keen on the tie of having one. We both grew up with dogs and I’ve wanted our own for so long!

DH has been mentioning my birthday a lot more recently and asking if I’m excited. I’ve also mentioned wanting a dog again recently and he’s not been as ‘absolutely not, no way’ and more kind of.. quiet? He rolls his eyes (not in a mean way) and kind of just nods away and listens. But he hasn’t been as definite with his refusal, or at least it doesn’t feel that way!

I was speaking to my SIL (also agrees that dogs are too much of a tie) earlier about wanting a dog and she said “although I can see why you’d want one, I agreed with DH and I don’t really think you should be getting a dog, it’s such a tie!) - Is it me or is the term “should be getting” sounds like I might be?! Am I just getting my hopes up 😭

Is he going to surprise me? I really don’t want to be disappointed so I don’t want to think I am.. but I can’t help it now there’s certain phrases and demeanours that just feel.. like I am 😭😭

Oh gosh! I really hope you aren’t “barking” up the wrong tree!

🤞🤞🤞🤞 you get your dog OP

Aww, I do hope you get your dog, OP.

🤣🤣🤣 oh me too! I do love a good pun..

Aww sounds like there is movement in the right direction!
I hope that, if you get one, it's not on your birthday with all the hassle & bussle...
Sorry for the downer, but a dog will need a calm & quiet home to settle into.

I would hate for someone to buy me a dog as a surprise. If it's my dog, I want to choose it.

Does he know what breed you want? Will he have done his research and found a puppy from an ethical breeder? Or bought the first one he saw advertised within travelling distance?

Hopefully he's bought you dog accessories along with an IOU one puppy note. 🤞

the accessories would be such a lovely surprise! I have a particular breed I love, but there are others I like too and I generally look at rescues rather than breeders. An IOU would be so fabulous😭 I’d be absolutely floored either way!

I'd not want this, and I'm sorry but it does sound like you are just getting your hopes up for no reason. He's eye rolling because he's repeatedly told you he doesn't want the tie of a dog. You can't buy someone else a dog for their birthday - it's like 'A dog is for life not just for Christmas'

As pp said, you want to choose your own dog very carefully from a reputable breeder. And both parties have to be really on board with it or he will resent it. I love our dog, but I've made it clear to DH that this is the last one. He's a real tie now that we are retired and would like to do more. Kennels are expensive and he doesn't like going in them, which means holidaying is now pretty limited just at the point when we could be travelling the world a bit more.

Lunch out and a trip to Woodgreen then?

I hope it works out for you and you aren't disappointed on your birthday.

@Ontodaysepisode If you want a rescue dog (and personally I'd rather everyone did that than buy a dog) then he definitely won't be able to adopt one as a birthday surprise. So you can certainly discount that.

Keep us posted OP

I will keep everyone posted (likely back here having a quiet little cry because I got my hopes up!🤣)