Who Gets the Dog In a Breakup?

Breakups are always tricky — especially when there’s a furry friend to consider. Any pet parent wants to do what’s best for their pet, which doesn’t change when a human relationship ends. But if both owners want to take their dog with them, who gets the dog? Let’s look at what can play into the decision.

dog will be viewed as the primary pet owner. Such terms can often seem unfairly weighted, and it’s never something that’s mentioned in the fine print. To give you peace of mind, it doesn’t always have to go that way. If you believe the dog should be yours, but you didn’t pay for it, there are explanations to be made where another arrangement can work well. It could mean reimbursement for the person who paid or a range of other compromises.

routine care. A dog’s sign of being well-cared for will likely show up as who they are most affectionate with. Dogs have strong personality traits and will show their pet owners who they favor the most. Try and get this to work in your favor, especially if your dog has a unique appearance showing which pet owners they prefer.

You can also look at who has put money towards the dog while you have had it, such as footing the vet bill or taking out pet insurance. iSelect, a comparison site for all the types of pet insurance Australia offers, shows how much consideration goes into insuring your pet. If you can prove that you put in this work to find the right pet insurance company for the two pet owners, that can only work in your favor.

This depends on what kind of circumstances you’ve ended your relationship with, but it’s worth considering what this could look like down the line once the dust has settled. Even if it’s something simple like doing shared visits or hanging out on your dog’s birthday, try to consider it a compromise.

staying in the home the dog is used to? Trying to reduce the amount of disruption to the dog’s life and routine is critical here. If you are moving to a tiny flat with no garden, bringing your German Shepherd or Great Dane with you makes no sense. Create a hospitable environment for your furry friend as you plan for your new chapter. Your financial situation can also include: are you sure you can support your dog and any potential insurance plans, diagnostic tests, or vet bills?

don’t make it any more problematic than it needs to be for your precious pet. After all, they will be around you for the rest of their lives.