Today we’re going to look at pets and your marriage. Do you have a pet? What place does you pet or pets play n your marriage? Who made the decision to get the pet? Was it a joint decision or did one person inherit the pet when they married? Or is it a case of his and hers pets?
Recently I heard of a woman who went out one day and bought home two dogs, without consulting her husband. To make matters worse the husband was not greatly enamored of dogs. Needless to say, her decision to acquire the dogs without consulting her husband created a huge ruckus. I can’t say I blame him.
When Mick and I thought about getting a second dog is was a joint decision, as was the timing of it. He also wanted a small dog that could come in and sit on laps. while we’re watching TV. I wasn’t convinced about this at first. But now couldn’t imagine it any other way. Certain rules were set up about where our dog can be and where she can’t. She sits on our laps while watching TV in the tiled family room, she come into my study and sits I under the desk when I’m working or in his study She cannot come into the bedrooms or the carpeted lounge room. .
It’s interesting to watch how her behavior changes according to whose lap she’s sitting on. She curls up and sleeps on his lap. When she sits on mine she licks my hands, which she never does to him.
Nurses tell us when a person’s spouse dies, the remaining person will adopt a pet if they don’t already have one. They want the companionship of something to hold and cuddle and talk to.
Unfortunately some people let their pets take over the place their spouse should occupy even when they’re alive. They cuddle it, spoil it, talk to it, treat it like a child and let it sleep in or in the bed, and generally pay more attention to the pet than they do to their spouse. That doesn’t sound healthy to me and could lead to a jealous reaction from the spouse.
Recently I saw another cross terrier dog being given away free. I would happily have rung up to claim it and brought it home. But Mick was adamant two dogs is enough. So I gave in. After all, marriage is about compromise. Both of us have to be happy with the decision and yes, most of the time he’s right anyway, two dogs are enough.
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