Inspired by vet thread: dog people - did you marry a dog lover?

[Pea-n-Me]

Just curious.

I grew up in a household where my mother was not a dog person but my father was a huge dog person. Dad won out, and I have him to thank for my love of dogs, but there were times it wasn't pleasant. Because of it, I knew when I grew up it would be important to find a life partner that loved dogs as much as I did, which I did. My DH is really great with animals and so are our kids.

What about you? For those who are at odds, how do you work it out?

 

[WDWBarb]

I am a huge dog person (heck, I love all critters) and DH pretended to be ... until we got married. After my dog passed away (the one I had since I was a child, still with me when I got married), DH "forbade" me from having another. Said he hated the dog hair, yadda yadda yadda.

I have two dogs today and will never be without a dog in my life. It makes me happy, brings me security and fills my life with love. DH threw a fit about it but finally came to grips with it. Heck, he even kind of likes my big dog.

Dog people should really think hard before marrying a non-dog person because, as you dog people know, living without a four-legged friend can be very miserable...

 

[NikiM20]

DH was the dog person, I was not. Now we are both dog lovers. We have 6 rescues and I love my dogs.

 

[tinkerfan1]

I am a huge dog lover. Luckily, DH is, too. He brought home our oldest dog because somebody he was working for gave the dog to him. The dog is 104 pounds of love. He looks like a flat coated retriever but is much bigger. Our other dog is one I bought and one my husband swore he would not get attached to. He is a Golden Retriever. Let me tell you, this 75 pound pooch sleeps ON THE BED and lounges on my DH's lap in the recliner! And he told me that he would not get attached! Ha! Of course, I asked if I could bring home another Golden that somebody was going to give me and he said, "No!" He said we have too many mouths to feed right now. If I win a lottery, I'm getting another dog!!

 

[hiwaygal]

One of the reasons I fell in love with my DH was because of his love of dogs.

We met on the day I had to put my beloved 14yo basenji down. A few weeks later, I had gotten a beautiful cherry wood 'urn' for his cremains. I couldn't bear to put them in the box and seal it up. My DH (who I'd only known for a short time then) did it for me while I sat by and cried. When he said he was done I looked up and saw that he had been crying too. That was when I knew he would understand about dogs.

 

[ToddyLu]

We have a 4 legged daughter (Jack Russell) named Trinity. DH named her after the Matrix character. He is a big burly fireman and she is his pride and joy. She rode with me tonight in her car seat to drop off some food for him at the Fire Department. She talks to me sometimes, too.

 

[acejka]

For some odd reason I thought I was a cat person (my best friend always had a cat in her house-we had no indoor pets, just some stray cats in the neighborhood that we got fixed and fed when they came around) until I married my husband. I bought him a jack russell for his wedding gift since dogs were "ok" and I knew he would really love a dog since he lost his frist dog the Feb. before our wedding.

Was I wrong! I actually couldn't stand having his cat in the house. I am a total dog person, they bring me joy that I can't explain, and I love em all-all breeds, all sizes!

 

[Mermaid02]

I have always loved dogs- dh grew up with cats and does not like cats- he was eager to become a dog person.

 

[NMAmy]

Yeah, both my ex and my DH are dog people. My ex is a K9 cop so we had that dog plus at least 2 (and sometimes up to 4) family dogs. He was always bringing home strays for me to find new homes for. What cracks me up is dd says that I must have been the better dog trainer because the dogs he has now are not as well trained as our other dogs were.

DH had two dogs and a cat when we met. We've just got one dog now and that's fine with me.

 

[Skywalker]

I am a huge dog person (heck, I love all critters) and DH pretended to be ... until we got married. After my dog passed away (the one I had since I was a child, still with me when I got married), DH "forbade" me from having another. Said he hated the dog hair, yadda yadda yadda.

I have two dogs today and will never be without a dog in my life. It makes me happy, brings me security and fills my life with love. DH threw a fit about it but finally came to grips with it. Heck, he even kind of likes my big dog.

Dog people should really think hard before marrying a non-dog person because, as you dog people know, living without a four-legged friend can be very miserable...

Yes, you are so right, and this is what happened to me! I told my husband he pulled the old bait and switch technique, lol. I'll always have at least one dog though, no one will ever prevent that.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We like all animals. My dh is probably more of a dog person than I was growing up with a dog all his life.

That being said we miss our cats. They are so easy compared to the 2 dogs we have. Once these dogs are gone we plan on having no animals for a long while.

ETA....

We also have 2 beta fish and a hamster. My dh loves birds and would get one of those too.

We really need to move to a farm so younger dd can get her chickens.

 

[mamamary]

Yes - DH and I both love dogs (and animals in general).

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

DH and DD are HUGE dog people. I love dogs. I had my own when I met DH. We now have 3 dogs. DH would adopt every dog in the shelter if he had his way. Seriously, watching that Puppy Bowl show is almost painful in my house. "But look how cute....why can't we get another dog?"

 

[bballmom56]

DH and I are both animal lovers and that would have been a requirement for me. We have had our share of all types of animals over the years, but have downsized for now to 1 dog, 3 cats, and 1 horse (plus 2 that board here). Most of our animals have been strays or rescues.

 

[tomthebarncat]

and he loves cats too! considering he grew up on one of the largest commercial farms in Michigan, where they killed animals for a living!.

 

[Pakey]

My husband is not an animal lover and for the first 20-plus years of our marriage, it was absolutely out of the question that I could have a dog. When I was diagnosed with advanced stage cancer 4 years ago, he let me get 2 dogs.

One of these two dogs absolutely worships him and wants nothing to do with me. He is good to the dogs but doesn't really like having them.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

My DH loves animals and grew up with dogs while I only had cats.
We've had cats for the last 22 years. Four years ago we got a dog and he's glued to my DH.

We have long days and waited to get a dog until our 2 DD weren't in daycare so they can take care of him after school.

 

[cheermom1]

My dh is the ANIMAL lover ..he has 2 snakes and a huge fish tank that is his...he tried to get a dog for him but they seem to like me more
we have 1 cat at the moment..sh is the one always bring home something...heck he would have one of those huge birds if let him..but the problem with that is that we just don't have room, he can't seem to get that in his head!!! With 5 kids 2 dogs, 2 snakes, the huge fish tank and the 1 cat in a 1200 sq. ft. house???? (we really don't have room for the snakes and fish but I try my best to make room I don't want him to feel he can't have anything)

I wasn't too big on having so many animals, I can do a dog or a cat..but like I said I do it for him..

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Dh and I both love dogs. AND we even agree on the breed. SO two pluses

 

[pixiewings71]

Yes, DBF loves dogs, cats not so much but he lets me have them. We have 2 cats and 2 dogs.