Everyone has their own reason for getting a new pet. Some people want new life in the house. Others just love dogs. There are many amazing reasons to get a new pet for yourself, as all animals – but especially dogs – bring so much lifelong joy.
Still, with that in mind, there are certainly “bad” reasons to get a pet. One reason NOT to get a dog is because you feel that it will help you grow your relationship. Dogs are not props for relationship healing, and in the long term, getting a dog should only be because you, specifically, love dogs.
Why Getting a Dog for a Struggling Relationship Can Be Harmful
We’ve all heard stories of spouses and partners surprising their loved ones with dogs. But while dogs can sometimes be a “gift,” they’re also not really a gift. They’re living animals that require 10 to 15 years of daily commitment. Any decision to get a new dog should only be made if you’re certain that you, specifically, are willing and able to spend the next decade+ caring for it.
Some people get dogs because their relationship is struggling, and they feel like getting a dog will give them a mutual love that will help their relationship heal. But as sweet as this may feel, it can also be a mistake:
- When a relationship is struggling, it can be hard for you both to care for your dog the way it needs to be cared for. It may even become a source of conflict and stress, especially if you need to train it together.
- When a relationship ends, you both have to figure out who will care for the pet afterward. There are often situations where both partners do or do not want the pet. This makes your dog either another source of conflict, or you end up giving the dog up for adoption.
- Dogs can sense stress and tension. Your dog may misbehave when it senses that tension. While all couples go through tensions that their dogs will still sense at times, it can be difficult to add a stressed dog to an already complicated relationship.
Lastly, dogs cannot heal relationships. Dogs are amazing. They can bring life and grow a relationship with ease. But they’re still a living being to care for, and that means that dogs are more work – work that may not be easy for you both to handle when you’re in the process of trying to grow.
If you want a dog as a couple, focus on your relationship first, and then get a dog. Dogs that are brought into a loving home are more likely to thrive and help your relationship grow. If you need help training your dog, reach out to Chicago Dog Trainer, today.
