I (23f) have a pretty big dog. He’s a Pitt boxer mix so he’s a good deal of work and energy, but also the sweetest pup. My family got him when I was in high school, and he always jumped from person to person in my household when he was initially being raised, but we all loved having him (family of 6 including me and my parents). As I went to college, things became a little more complicated because my parents became separated. We gave him to my uncle for a year, and then he wasn’t able to continue caring for him and gave him back. At this point, I’m still in school out of state but he’s being cared for by my brother (25m), mostly because he has the energy and strength to walk him (if you have a dog who pulls you understand what I mean). Then, my brother moved in with his girlfriend, also out of state, this past summer. No worries, because I was due to graduate and come home this winter, so it was just a matter of my parents taking care of him until I got home. Suddenly, halfway through the fall, my father brings up that he is looking for a home for the dog, as he can’t watch him anymore. I beg him to wait until I get home in a few weeks to take him off his hands. He refuses, as the dog “causes problems” at my mother’s house (which is where I stay), but the only problem he seems to come up with is shedding. He doesn’t shed much as a short hair dog, so I tell him I can handle cleaning after him. We disagree and go back and forth over this, but eventually I let it go and call his bluff, because it seemed he was just struggling with other things and the dog was something he could control. Fast forward to tonight – I’m graduated and home from college for about a month now. He’s been well taken care of and living well with me at my mother’s, with my dad also being in the house. They get in an argument I’m assuming (12:30am), and I hear him trying to leave the house. He calls the dog to come with him, and I get honestly triggered by the suggestion and tell him he cannot take the dog. We go back and forth, I get upset and he tells me that I’m drunk (I had friends over, but they left hours ago and I was completely sobered up, just upset) and this was his dog and he lived with him and was going home with him. He told me I could come visit him (1 hr away, I don’t have a car) I refused, leashed the dog and left for a long walk until my I saw his location had left the house. While I understand he may just want some emotional support because of what is going on with my mom, it seems to be a pattern that whenever they argue he wants to claim MINE MINE MINE, when a second ago he couldn’t take care of him and wanted to give him away? Am I wrong for leaving?
NTA. A dog is a living creature, not a piece of luggage he can grab when he is storming out at 12:30 AM.
He literally tried to give the dog away a few weeks ago because of “shedding.” You cannot trust that he actually wants to care for the dog; he just wanted to take something away from the house to “win” the argument with your mother. You protected the dog from being dragged into an unstable situation.
100% agree
Nta. I see your dad’s point but he’s putting your dog, not his dog, in a kennel. Also, he said that would take the dog but then backs out is a bit of ahole move. I understand the clean up part with the dog sheding but who is going to hold the bill for the kennel while OP is in collage seeing kennels are not cheap anymore.
Not sure where you got the idea of a kennel? The dog is here and doing just fine
I guess I impulsively thought your dad would put your pup in a kennel even though a kennel wasn’t mentioned in your story.
NTA. I do get where you’re coming from with your thoughts of him wanting a friend but you don’t get to just pick and chose when you want to love someone, including pets.
NTA for not allowing your dad to change your dog’s living arrangement AGAIN without a discussion. 5 different homes is a lot for a dog…
Aside from the judgement- it sounds like in the past this has been a family dog where you haven’t been the primary carer- which has now changed. Now you are fully taking responsibility for the dog you need to train it. From your description you have a powerful energetic dog- they need to be under your control for their own safety and for others. Your dog shouldn’t be pulling so much that it is challenging to walk them.
Most dogs love positive training and getting to use their brains. There are some great YouTube channels on positive reinforcement training. Really recommend you check them out
Woah woah woah. Who says this is your dog? This dog was purchased by your parents! He isn’t *your dog!* Did you pay this dog’s veterinary bills? Did you pay for his medication? Did you pay for his food? Did you give this dog every bath and walk? Is your name on his records and license?
No? Then do not call this dog *yours.*
YTA.