Husband won't let me get a dog unless I lose 10 lbs

PFFFT. When people ask me if I "let" my husband do this or that, I like to reply, "I'm his wife, not his warden."

Same here. If you really want a dog, and you're willing to take the lead in taking care of it... he has no business placing a weight loss condition on it. I can just imagine if I wanted to get my hair highlighted or something, and my husband said, "IF you lose ten pounds!"

They'd never find his body.

Absolutely! I would never "take orders" from my husband!

Tell him the dog is going to be your exercise partner.

This. If he's so big on exercise, tell him he can run with the dog as well. I have 2 dogs, though one lives with me and one lives with my aunt (complicated story). I currently live with my uncle and run with his Blue Pitbull, and my Aussie. It's a great incentive to get you moving. Sometimes if I don't feel like running or walking, I do it anyway cause the dogs need it.

he has no business placing a weight loss condition on it.

He didn't place the condition on it - he agreed to a deal that she proposed.

Stick to the deal.

You already tried to get out of the deal that you proposed - he declined and counter-offered with "stick to an exercise plan".

Either lose the 10 lbs or stick to an exercise plan and then get your dog.

While, from your side of this, your husband seems like a piece of work - you should keep deals that you make. And having a dog always involves the whole family so I think he should get some say in it.

Tell him the dog is going to be your exercise partner.

This. If he's so big on exercise, tell him he can run with the dog as well. I have 2 dogs, though one lives with me and one lives with my aunt (complicated story). I currently live with my uncle and run with his Blue Pitbull, and my Aussie. It's a great incentive to get you moving. Sometimes if I don't feel like running or walking, I do it anyway cause the dogs need it.

exactly.
but don't count on your husband helping out at all with the dog, even if it would be beneficial for him to run with it.

Make sure you are prepared to exercise the dog yourself.

Holy crap. I could not be married to your husband. Major control issues. If this was me...I would just get the dog and tell him to shut the **** up and get over it. He has been treating you pretty rudely anyways, so don't feel bad.

My husband got me a dog and she was my exercise partner. Unfortunately she passed away last year from stomach cancer (she was a rescue and was a bred over and over for five years. She was rescued from a puppy mill and all the dogs from the mill have the same condition. When we got her fixed they had found a mass, but then it disappeared. They think it moved. She was a basset hound and was 8 when she passed). ever since, I have been wanting another dog, my husband wants another cat (on top of the 2 kitties we have) so I told him "no more cats until i get a dog" he says "no more dogs, only kitties". :laugh: Our 16 month old doesn't know what to think.

Your husband sounds controlling and honestly sounds like if he doesn't get help then its going to get ugly.

Also, doggies are best friends :happy: I grew up with dogs so I understand how that goes (I had a doberman and a toy poodle. Then after we moved to Ashland, we got a mini toy).

Get the dog, dump the husband. Dogs will love you unconditionally. Although, you are tiny already! I really want to smack him.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^!!! Really a size 4-6 and he thinks you have a weight problem!! :explode: This is a marriage, it's a spousal abuse!!! Dogs don't judge you, Get the dog. The exercise that comes along with it is only a bonus!!

He works out during his lunch hour and lately comes home and rides the exercise bike for another 30 minutes or so. He has all kinds of food restrictions (gluten free, dairy free) that are not based on true allergies. He recently told me that he aims to eat 1200 calories a day

Lol sounds like half of the posts on this forum, does he have an MFP account?

Please don't put a dog in the mix of this co-dependent relationship. You have way bigger issues to worry about and the dog will end up suffering.

LOL I like how you're more concerned about a dog suffering due to the relationship than the child OP mentioned.

Yes, I am. And damn proud of it.

I agree with you.

And maybe I'm missing something but the 'losing 10lbs' part was actually your idea according to your post.

Maybe he just really doesn't want a dog......but of course this is MFP ad everyone is told their husband is an abuser and they should break up their whole family over every single comment or disagreement,

Sounds like you need to lose more than 10 pounds…….How much does your husband weigh?

Ditch the control freak and get a dog. Life’s too short to live by someone else’s rules. I’ve been there, done that and let me tell you once you learn to regain control of your own life, life is awesome. Move forward and don’t look back.

Get the dog, dump the husband. Dogs will love you unconditionally. Although, you are tiny already! I really want to smack him.

Definitely!
I respect my man's opinion, and we try to please each other, but no way in hell would either if us be imposing a condition like that!

^^Agreed.

I work with two animal rescue organizations, so I would first off like to say that you for adopting.fostering or at least wanting to, and not shopping for a dog.

Second, my boyfriend wants to rescue them all, so I'm in the opposite boat. But if I were in your shoes I would really think over this marriage as this is something you are passionate about, and it seems he doesn't care, and you are tiny enough already honey, and if he's being greedy because you wants you to lose weight than he has major issues.

Even at my heaviest my boyfriend NEVER made conditions where I had to lose the weight. NEVER.

Ugh...I'm no counselor, but this really makes me feel icky. I'm so sorry he's putting you in this position, and like just about everyone else said, what he's doing is not healthy for your relationship. You want a dog (I'm guessing) for things like companionship and mutual love. He wants you to lose weight for.....what, exactly? At your starting weight (assuming no extraneous problems) you're healthy already. Whatever his intentions (control?), I don't like where this is headed and feel really strongly that you shouldn't "meet his conditions" for the sake of meeting his conditions.

I have to say I disagree with all the posts saying you should get a dog anyway - I wouldn't bring a pet into this situation if I were you. I think you and your husband need some professional help to work things out first - for the sake of both of you, your child, and any potential furry family members down the road.

Holy crap. I could not be married to your husband. Major control issues. If this was me...I would just get the dog and tell him to shut the **** up and get over it. He has been treating you pretty rudely anyways, so don't feel bad.

This ^^^
You deserve better!

And maybe I'm missing something but the 'losing 10lbs' part was actually your idea according to your post.

Maybe he just really doesn't want a dog......but of course this is MFP ad everyone is told their husband is an abuser and they should break up their whole family over every single comment or disagreement,

true, she made the deal, and should stick to it, but truly she does not NEED to lose the weight and probably only suggested the deal because he treats her like a child so often that her brain is trained to reply like a child. Also because he has conditioned her to thinking she needs to lose the weight.

Normally i would say stick to your word, but in this case i think there is a bit more than that involved.