'AITA for leaving my girlfriend after she got a dog and expected me to be it's dad?'

"AITA for leaving my girlfriend because she got a dog?"

sherzad71 writes:

Hello, I'm 25M, and my girlfriend is 23F. We've been together for over a year, and we generally have a great relationship. She's funny and kind. Yesterday, when I got home, there was a Golden Retriever in our house.

When I asked my girlfriend whose dog it was, she smiled and said, "Ours." I wasn't sure if she was joking or being serious, so I kept asking whose dog it was. She kept smiling and saying, "Ours," and then proceeded to say the dog's name (I don't really remember what she said her name was since a lot was going through my mind). She even told the dog to say "hi, dad."

I told her that she couldn't be serious right now, and she replied, "Why?" with a big smile. I didn't say anything else and just left the house and went to a hotel. At the beginning of our relationship, I had told her that I don't like dogs and can't be in the same room with one.

Even when I see one in public, I put a good distance between me and the person walking the dog. I told her if she ever wanted a pet, she would have to get a cat or something else that is not a dog.

While at the hotel, my girlfriend called me a couple of times, but I didn't answer. Then she texted me, saying that I was overreacting and that my fear of dogs is ridiculous. She said I should at least give it a try and live with a dog for a while, and that she and the dog would help me overcome my fear.

But I never asked to overcome it, and honestly, it never bothered me as long as there were no dogs in my house. I never got bothered by one in public because I always put a good distance between me and dogs. I have never even petted a dog before and never will.

I ignored her messages and just went to sleep, as I wanted to decide what to do when my head was clearer. I don't want to be the guy who says it's either me or the dog. She clearly likes dogs, and I don't, so I was thinking of just breaking up with her, even though she has been amazing throughout the year. AITA for wanting to break up with her over this?

The comment section was abuzz:

mousketer3r says:

NTA, even if you didn't have a fear of dogs at all she had no right to make such a huge decision for your household without even talking to you about it? This adds a huge layer of responsibility to you both.

And since she knew it was a hard limit for you and did it anyway, I don't see where she found the audacity. You're not making her chose between you and the dog, you're asking her respect your long established boundary and fix the mistake she made.

ProtozoaPatriot says:

NTA. Even if you love dogs, she needed to discuss this with you before getting one.

Visual-Lobster6625 says:

NTA - I'm a dog lover, but if my husband said that he absolutely was terrified of dogs I wouldn't bring one home. It's not even about the dog at this point, it's the fact that she completely disregarded your feelings/boundaries and basically expects you to suck it up.

Investigator516 says:

She chose the dog. Easiest way to break it off with you. Sorry dude.

What do you think?