You fell in love and moved in together and even decided to upgrade the family with a beloved and loyal dog, but over time the relationship ran aground and you parted ways.
Now the question of caring for the family member is on all fours: how will you train the dog to part and what is best for him in this situation, especially when you both want to continue raising the dog.
This is where much more complex considerations come into play, related to animal welfare and quality of life.
On the occasion of International Dog Day, we have written for you a number of principles that should be considered in such a situation.
Sign a document.
Dogs // Photo: Getty Images, Getty Images
Think about what is best for the dog
So you two are very attached to the family dog and consider him a family member and want to continue to raise him.
But here one should know that not every dog responds in the same way to a parting, and not every animal can get used to living in two houses at the same time.
If your dog has a good adaptability and is easily accustomed to separation, and if you have decided to live in nearby homes, you can arrange shifts to take the animal for walks and adapt for him life in two apartments at the same time.
But if you moved to a city or place far away from your ex-spouse, it would be torture for a dog to drive him for hours.
In such a case, it would be better to make another division in which the dog will live in each of the houses for a longer period, in order to prevent him from suffering and great turmoil in the sea of houses.
Of course, if you recognize that the dog is having difficulty living in two homes, one of the spouses will have to sadly give up his part in raising him, for the sake of his quality of life.
Shepherd Dog Signs // Photo: Getty Images, Getty Images
Consider who can invest more in a dog financially
Like children, dogs need a considerable financial investment: food, doctors, toys and a home to live in.
Therefore, when you separate forces, you should find out which of the two of you can invest more financially in the dog and give him the welfare he needs.
True, it is not easy sometimes to give up an equal division in shifts, but even a dog needs care and investment.
Therefore if one spouse is less at home because of his or her work or can spend less time on it, this consideration must be taken into account in discussions about the dog’s well-being.
Think of the best interests of the dog,
What to do in a medical case?
A dog, like humans, sometimes needs surgery and significant medical operations that require the signature of its owner.
So when you break up, decide who will sign the treatment and who will be responsible for the ancillary payments and insurance of this type of medical activity.
Write the agreements about the dog in the contract
Ex-relationships are often awkward and charged.
Therefore, if you have a contract signed for the agreements regarding the care of the dog, you will be spared in the future arguments and struggles around various decisions that will have to be made.
As a rule, oral agreements are always the basis for mutual forgetfulness and frustration, so the most important rule is always to write things down.
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