How to Get Your Boyfriend to Like Your Dog

Let’s face it, just because your significant other loves you, doesn’t guarantee they'll love your best friend. If you think your boyfriend (or girlfriend) is worth keeping, there are ways to get them to like your dog, because your dog is certainly not going anywhere. Here are some tactics that should win your S.O. into Fido’s corner in no time.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. When your mate meets your dog for the first time, say something like “Wow, he doesn’t do that with everyone” (Even if you have to lie).

2. Eliminate the jealousy. The old “green-eyed monster” is often a major culprit in animosity toward a lover’s canine. For instance, while petting and stroking your pooch, remember to do the same to your partner. If you’re dining at a steak house and there are leftovers, first see if your partner would like the doggie bag before automatically assuming it’s for Rover.

3. Get your boyfriend (girlfriend) involved with caring for your dog. If you do all the work, he might assume you think he's incapable and come to resent you (and in turn the dog). Once he (she) starts walking, feeding and taking the dog to the vet, a fatherly or motherly instinct is liable to surface and soon they’ll be telling you what to do.

4. See to it that your mate spends one-on-one bonding time with your pooch. On a day when you’re tied up, ask him (her) to take Princess to the dog park. Soon he’ll want to start taking her on his own. Of course, accompany him every once in a while to make sure he’s going for your dog (and not some other dog's bimbo owner).

5. Refer to the dog as “our dog” instead of “my dog.” Make your partner feel like a "parent" instead of someone who is just dating the dog’s mom or dad.

6. Stroke your partner’s ego. When you both arrive home and your dog approaches your partner first, make sure to point it out by saying, “Wow, he went up to you first.”

Tips & Warnings

• Of course this all applies to the early stages of the relationship. After you know the coast is clear, you can always go back to putting Fido first.
• If the above steps don’t work—it may be time to look for a new human.

[Nouvisimo]

on 3/4/2008 Melissa:

Sorry, I haven't checked in for a while. Offering all the usual excuses!!!

Thanks for liking my attitude re: dating those who don't like animals. I usually get attitude for my attitude!! Ha, Ha!!!!

Seriously, and this is a serious issue. I am in a "commited" dating situation and have been in other commited relationships through my adulthood. I have also ALWAYS had both house pets and livestock. It is simply a part of the package. Period.

I am also well traveled (I don't just mean going to San Fransisco for the weekend). In this day and age, if you can't find a pet sitter or can afford one, you have no business traveling. This friend you mentioned only has one dog? Why can't they take him/her? Where does this guy want to take your friend and why is he so irritated/threatend by the dog? I think this question is a VERY good place to start in terms of analyizing th

[Nouvisimo]

on 3/4/2008 Melissa:

Sorry, I haven't checked in for a while. Offering all the usual excuses!!!

Thanks for liking my attitude re: dating those who don't like animals. I usually get attitude for my attitude!! Ha, Ha!!!!

Seriously, and this is a serious issue. I am in a "commited" dating situation and have been in other commited relationships through my adulthood. I have also ALWAYS had both house pets and livestock. It is simply a part of the package. Period.

I am also well traveled (I don't just mean going to San Fransisco for the weekend). In this day and age, if you can't find a pet sitter or can afford one, you have no business traveling. This friend you mentioned only has one dog? Why can't they take him/her? Where does this guy want to take your friend and why is he so irritated/threatend by the dog? I think this question is a VERY good place to start in terms of analyizing th

[sadie1978]

on 2/1/2008 Coming from a person who tried everything above in order to like my boyfriend's dogs, after 3 years of dating and now contemplating a future together, the idea of committing to a life with his animals seems scary. I'm not a fan of them and I've tried for so long. We've both tried, but I can't get over my hang ups. Sometimes it's not as easy as "finding someone who loves animals" - I do love animals. I just don't like living with them :(

[diggitydogg]

on 1/12/2008 You're right, I agree and like your attitude. But there are a lot of people in this situation who aren't casual dating and in a more serious relationship. I know of someone whose a great example. She loves her dog a lot and had her a long time, but she has a boyfriend who isn't a "dog person" and wants her to give the dog up. Partly because he wants her to have the freedom to travel more. She's actually considering it. She is someone I would never have expected to do that.

[Nouvisimo]

on 1/12/2008 OK. First off, maybe you should consider not dating people who don't like animals. It's like kids, either you like them or you don't. You may get used to being around them, but that's not Liking. And it's deffinately not Loving.

The biggest mistake we make in personal relationships is the relentless pursuit of bending people's will to suit our own.

Find someone who loves animals, and quit settling.