Family pets are a great way for young children to learn how to be responsible and have compassion. However, some kids simply don't like animals and may feel scared and nervous in their presence. One father is being blasted online for forcing his son to spend time with a dog he never wanted.
The dad has left Reddit users outraged after sharing his forceful attempts to make his young son and new family pet get on. He has warned the 11-year-old boy that he won't be allowed to go to the "comic book store" if he doesn't learn to love the dog. Now, his wife and children are upset with him, but he's still refusing to step down.
His Reddit post reads: "My wife and I have three sons, Alex, 15, Dylan, 11 and Jake, eight. When I was a kid I always wanted a dog but my parents said no.
"Recently my interest in owning one was sparked again so I asked my family what they thought about getting a dog.
"My wife wasn't enthusiastic about it but she relented after a few weeks of me asking. Alex and Jake were excited to get one but Dylan was immediately opposed to the idea."
The father explained he's always found it difficult to connect with his middle-aged son, who is more subdued than his brothers.
"He remained opposed to the idea of getting a dog but me and my other sons managed to wear him down until he finally relented," the dad wrote.
"However, he said that if we did get a dog, he wasn't going to be interacting with it or taking care of it, that would be completely on me and his brothers.
"I found this ridiculous but I agreed in the moment hoping he would change his mind after meeting the dog.
"The problem is he hasn't changed his mind yet. We've had Zeus for seven months now and Dylan has not warmed up to him in the slightest."
Dylan refuses to play or cuddle the dog and doesn't let Zeus in his room, which his father finds "completely ridiculous".
"Zeus loves Dylan, he follows him around whenever he sees him and jumps on him to get his attention and play but Dylan just isn't receptive to it," he said.
In an attempt to change things, he told Dylan that it was his responsibility to walk the dog every day after school - but Dylan refused.
"I told him that if he didn't start listening then I wouldn't allow him to go to the comic book store anymore and he freaked and told my wife," the dad wrote.
"Now, my wife is upset with me, claiming that I knew what I was getting into with this and I knew that Dylan wouldn't be playing with the dog but his intolerance of the dog is weird and I refuse to entertain it any longer."
Reddit users are calling the dad "insufferable" and "selfish", and warning him that this could impact his relationship with his son.
"You're a manipulative husband and a crappy father who doesn't like it when he can't get his own way," one person wrote.
"This is gonna have repercussions beyond the dog if you don't change course, recognise and apologise to your son," another said.
"Let me get this straight," a third commented. "He didn't want a dog but you got one anyway and when he didn't change his mind you punished him.
"Why not spend some time trying to learn about his interests instead of forcing yours on him? Do you really think if you turn the dog into a punishment that will make him not resent the dog?"
Someone else agreed: "Your kid is not you - he's a whole independent person with his own wants and feelings. He told you he didn't want to interact with the dog. What do you not understand there?"
What would you do in this situation? Let us know in the comments.
