This is an old column, dug out of the archives for your enjoyment. The question comes from a Dear Prudence article on Slate. If you have a question of your own, email ask [at] askapuggle [dot] com.
Dear Prudence Puggle,
Once again, my boyfriend and I had a fight over my dog. I have a mini dachshund-chihuahua mix that is my baby. I’m not weird about it; she doesn’t eat from a dinner plate or accompany me on trips to the mall, but she is allowed to sit on the sofa and sleep at the foot of my bed. My boyfriend is pretty much repulsed by this, and my dog, in return, is terrified of him. Last night, she was sitting by me on the sofa and I petted her head. A few minutes later, I playfully reached out to rub my boyfriend’s head and he got really upset, said my hand smelled like the dog, how disgusting that was, etc. He routinely terrorizes her by growling at her when he comes in the door and pinching her on the nose. He’s 48 and I’m 45, so neither of us is going to change our ways, but I wish he could learn to accept that I love my dog and am not going to change just to satisfy him. This has come to the point of almost breaking us up more than once, even though our relationship is otherwise very good. We can’t even consider living together because of this one issue! What’s the compromise here, so that we’re both happy?—Pooch Lover
Dear Pooch:
First off, know I’ve already made a call to your local SPCA. Do you eat out of a plastic bowl on the floor? Do you make company do the same? Then why should your little fufu dog? Just because we’re canines doesn’t mean we don’t have feelings “Pooch Lover.”
Secondly, who are you dating, Michael Vick? For someone who seems like a garage sale special (48 and dating a woman who’s obsessed with her dog? Pfft. Dingleberry.) he sure is picky. Let me ask you this: How often does Mr. Vick bath? Because whether or not my owner decides to load me into the bathtub, I wash daily. Sure, it’s with my tongue, but what else am I supposed to use? You probably groom your little yappie dog more than he maintains his nose hairs. My advice, go to your local dog park with your Taco Bell dog and look for a real man. But remember, guys with huge dogs are like middle-aged men with sports cars–they have lots of disposable income.
