The rate of pet owners (or sometimes referred to as “pet parents”) has jumped significantly over the last few decades, with 66% of American households in 2024 owning a pet. Dogs, specifically, have become essential parts of many families. For many couples, a dog seems like the next logical step in growing their family, but is getting a dog together actually good for your relationship?
For some, a dog brings them closer together, but the added responsibilities can create potential conflicts for others who are unprepared. So, let’s make sure you’re ready to add a furry new family member and use it to strengthen your relationship.
Pros of dog ownership in a relationship
Let’s start with the good stuff–the benefits of getting a dog for your relationship–from relationship growth to strengthening commitment, there are plenty of advantages to getting a dog for your relationship.
Relationship Growth
Getting a dog can help with relationship growth. Here’s how:
- More time together: Daily walks, taking your dog to a dog park, or just cuddling on a couch.
- Structured routine: Dogs require care every day. While that can be a lot, it also comes with a sense of purpose and structure that can benefit emotional well-being.
- Promotes communication: You and your partner must communicate daily about pet responsibilities and decisions about the dog. It allows you both to talk to each other, practice making decisions, and keep each other informed.
- Practice being a “parent:” While being a parent to a human child is different from being a parent to a furry pup, having a dog does provide couples with the chance to practice caregiving together. What is it like to care for a living thing together with your schedules? How do you problem-solve and deal with wake-up calls in the middle of the night? Can you support each other?
Emotional Well-Being
Getting a dog can help an individual’s well-being, which ultimately affects the relationship.
- Increased well-being: Dogs can help their owners feel accepted, purposeful, and able to achieve more.
- Hedonic well-being: Or, in layman’s terms, dogs can also help their owners enjoy themselves more.
- Better social interactions: Dog activities like walking and playing can motivate owners to have more positive interpersonal relationships and encourage social interaction.
- Stress relief: Did you know that just petting a dog decreases cortisol (the stress hormone) and increases oxytocin (the “love” hormone), helping you and your partner feel more relaxed?
- Emotional support: Known as man’s best friend, dogs provide a sense of unconditional love and loyalty. This support can help get you both through hard times, and also help after (normal) conflicts between each other.
- Mood boost: A dog’s playful nature and companionship can help provide a needed mood boost in daily life, helping couples stay positive (especially with each other!).
Physical Health
Your physical health can improve when you get a dog. Dogs need their walks; no matter what you may have going on, having a dog will help get you moving more. Having a dog makes it more likely that you’ll both reach your daily physical activity recommendations. Not only that, but walking and playing with your dog outside allows you and your partner more chances to enjoy nature together, which is linked to improved mental health and relationship satisfaction.
Strengthens Commitment
Getting a dog with your partner helps strengthen the commitment you made to one another. Owning a dog is a long-term commitment, often ten or more years. Taking on this responsibility together can reflect and symbolize your continued commitment to each other. For many couples, getting a dog fosters a strong sense of togetherness and builds a family together. It can help you prepare or better understand what you both want your family to look like.
Drawbacks of dog ownership in a relationship
So, let’s explore the other side of the coin. What should you keep in mind? What are the not-so-great things a dog can bring to a relationship? From adding burdens to impact on personal time, there are a few disadvantages for getting a dog.
Added Burdens
Getting a dog is a lot of work and can burden you individually, but also your relationship.
- Time: Dogs take up a lot of time. Walks, feedings, training, and vet visits. Are you used to being able to travel at a moment’s notice? Not with a dog… you’ll have to do a bit of planning and keep in mind another’s need, one that is dependent on you.
- Unequal care: A dog can add stress to a couple’s schedule, and one partner may unwittingly end up shouldering more of the responsibility. If that continues, it can cause tension and resentment in the relationship.
- Money: Owning a dog can be expensive. Vet visits, food, grooming, supplies, toys, boarding/dog walking services… all these things can add up quickly and strain a couple’s budget. Disagreements over financial priorities can be stressful, and if not addressed quickly and effectively, they can eat away at a couple’s foundation.
- Less spontaneity: This is a plus and a drawback depending on the couple and your stage of life. Adding a fur baby to your family will limit your ability to travel or at least travel at a moment’s notice; for some, it can feel restrictive for one or both partners.
Potential Conflicts
Dogs can create conflicts in relationships. If a couple isn’t in alignment when they first get a dog, it can cause friction. Maybe one partner is over the moon about getting a dog, but the other sees it as an unneeded burden. This can build into resentment and frustration if it’s not addressed.
There are also dog-related challenges. Chewed up shoes. Potty accidents. Barking at inopportune times. It’s stressful for anyone, and can make the home life a bit more difficult, especially if a couple disagrees on how to handle these challenges.
Impact on Personal Time/Space
Dogs, especially puppies, often need constant attention. The amount of alone time you’ll get as a couple will be less, at least at the beginning stages of dog ownership. It may take a while to find the right balance between caring for your dog and maintaining time specifically for each other.
So, is a dog right for us?
So, now that you’ve explored how a dog may impact a relationship, it’s time to consider factors specific to your relationship. This will be beneficial to help decide if it’s the right step for you and your partner.
Be Honest – Does A Dog Fit Your Current Lifestyle?
How would you consider your current lifestyle and your time commitment? Do you both have time to care for a dog? Is your home (the actual physical space) suitable for a dog? Dogs need space to move, play, and exercise, and that may be in your home or nearby.
Also, consider things like noise; if you’re in a space where noise will significantly bother others and cause you/your partner stress, it’s an important consideration. Are you ready financially? Not only for the routine costs, but also for expensive emergency expenses (like when your pup ingests something they’re not supposed to…).
Think about the Right Dog for You (Both)
Not all dogs are created equal. From Chihuahua to Great Dane, there are tons of different dogs to choose from, so make sure you choose the one that makes sense for you both. Here are some things to consider:
- Energy levels: Some breeds are more energetic than others, while others are more chill. Choose a dog that fits your (as a couple) personality, lifestyle, and activity level.
- Temperament: Some breeds are highly social and need more attention, while others are more independent (cat-like Shibas, anyone?). Which will bring you joy and feel manageable?
- Size: Size matters. Large dogs will need more space, training, and exercise, while smaller dogs may be more manageable in certain living situations or styles (like being able to easily travel with you).
- Health: Are you or your partner allergic to dogs or certain dandruff? Nowadays, that won’t keep you from still owning a furry companion, but it does dictate specific breeds.
- Other pets: Consider other pets or kiddos. What are their temperaments and personalities, and what would mesh best?
Relationship prep work for getting a dog
Have you decided that a dog is a “hell, yeah!” for your relationship? Congrats! Now, do some prep work to make it as smooth a transition as possible.
Discuss Expectations
Be clear that you both are in agreement to bring a dog into your lives. You may not have the same excitement levels, but you both have to be in agreement that this is the decision you are making. And definitely make sure you’re both on the same page about what kind of dog you’re looking for (Poodle, Great Dane, etc.). Agree on the responsibilities. How will you split them up, and how will you check in to make needed changes? Don’t forget things like: who’s taking the dog out at 3 am when he’s sick or barking? Talk about how to bring up challenges. As you all settle into dog-parent life, there will be challenges you did not expect. So, set up a general plan of how you’ll each bring up problems or challenges to solve together.
Logistics
There are so many logistics involved in getting a dog. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Be realistic and talk about what to expect in terms of time, energy, and financial investment.
- Research and spend some time with different breeds.
- Get all the needed supplies before bringing home your new family member.
- Research things like pet insurance, your nearest vet, immunizations, and spaying/neutering.
- If you’re married or about to get married, explore how to protect your pet in a prenup.
Final thoughts on whether getting a dog is good for your relationship
For many couples, getting a dog can be a positive experience that strengthens their relationship. But don’t assume that just happens because a dog arrives – it takes time, work, and continued commitment. While a dog can bring joy, companionship, and improved emotional health, it’s important to recognize the challenges and work as a team to manage them.
Ultimately, whether getting a dog is good for your relationship depends on your ability to navigate both the joys and stresses of pet ownership together. If you’re both ready for the responsibility and eager to share the experience, a dog can become a loving and loyal addition to your growing family.
Dr. Vivian Oberling is a licensed clinical psychologist with degrees from UCLA, Harvard, and Stanford. In her private telehealth practice, she works with adults navigating anxiety, identity shifts, and relationship dynamics—whether they’re dating, partnered, or parenting. She also provides executive coaching and behavioral health advisory support to tech startups and legal tools reshaping how we think about love, marriage, and psychological safety. Dr. Oberling combines 10+ years of clinical expertise with modern, real-world insight to help people move through uncertainty with clarity and connection.
0 Comments