He broke up because my dog injured his cat, was that fair or not?

[Anonymous]

My boyfriend broke up and called me the worst owner ever after my dog (female, mastiff mix) injured his cat,. It followed my command on the 2nd time though and I got her away from the cat.

That was the first time I've seen her hurting a cat though. She's friendly to people and never had an issues before. That took me by surprised and I was unprepared for that reaction though. Do you think the break-up was fair or not?

Yes

No

Updates

+1 y

What we saw happening to his cat was out of her character. She's calm, docile and friendly but my ex boyfriend now hates her and isn't speaking to me.

[abc3643]

Absolutely, it's fair.
Regardless of his emotions or invective, the fact that you have an animal that is potentially lethal to his animals is reason enough to split-up. He is protecting his family. You are not all that special (other than owning a potential killer); he can find another female every bit as good as you and who doesn't have a potentially lethal animal.

[Asker]

I didn't realize this was going to happen and honestly I'm still startled by the event. I had her as a puppy and she's been both socialized with people (toddlers and kids of all ages too) and animals too. She was trained to be a family dog and I always walk her with a leash. So far, I did everything a responsible owner does, did everything in my power to raise her good.
I can't think of any reason why she reacted badly to his cat.

[abc3643]

Well, that's just it.
You did great for her socialization with HUMANS, but there are always animals that can trigger a dog. That's a different sort of training that needs to be done.

My wife has been taking our young border collies to a woman who gives sheep herding lessons. The important thing is to get them to not want to kill the sheep and do exactly as told when told.

I am not telling you to do that since you don't really have a herding breed.

It is unfortunate what happened, but, I suspect this guy was never going to be for you anyway. Find yourself a guy who is very good with dogs. It's one reason why my wife married me. (We have 7 dogs, 2 cats, and a horse.)

[AviatorTom]

His cat is important to him. It's fair to break up.

[Asker]

Understandable. I'm still shocked by the event though. My dog and his cat used to get along fine for the longest. I don't know what happened with my dog nor why she reacted like that and attacked suddenly.

[Anonymous]

How did the dog and cat come to be in the same place? How have they interacted with each other before?

[Asker]

They were introduced a long while back and had already known each other so they weren't strangers. So we left them in the same room for a couple minutes, turned our backs and did some household chores when it happened. It was all of a sudden.

[Asker]

I'm stil startled by all this and the break-up. Everything was ok until that happened.

[Opinion Owner]

How is the cat?

[Asker]

The cat is still recovering

[DaBiggestBird]

Yeah it kind of is, especially if the cat was their human first. Imagine getting beat up at school and your parents dont care, that’s basically this. I don’t think he had to depart from you but it’s not ridiculous that he did.

[Asker]

Yeah it was his very first pet. Honestly, I'm still startled by what happened and don't have the slightest idea what caused my dog to react like that towards his cat. It wasn't their first meeting. They had already been in contact with each other for the longest and supposedly were friends. I don't know what happened.

[DaBiggestBird]

Sounds like your dog got jealous or something.

[SawerBrown]

If you value a relationship eith him and want your relationship back it's dimple get rid of the dog which may be the best thing to do before it hurts a child.

[Asker]

My dog doesn't have problems with children. I had her since she was a puppy. She's been socialized with toddlers and children of all ages from the longest and trained to be a family dog. When walking her outside, she's always been on her leash. I did everything I could.
What just happened with his cat actually startled me. I can't think of anything I've done wrong in her upbringing.

[SawerBrown]

I've had friends with fogs like yours that were trained and calm and great gor years then suddenly snapped and attacked their owners kids. No warning just went back to inbred instincts.

[Asker]

That's scary. I don't know what to tell you. Were those dogs from a reputable breeder? My dog is a mix between mastiff (its mother) and bull terrier (its father). Both parents had a calm temperament and were docile in nature. I took all precautions needed. I can't do anything more but trust that I took all measurements neeed that a responsible owner should.

[Asker]

Its mother wasn't actually a complete mastiff but rather also a mix between mastiff and pit but looked more like a mastiff.

[DextroShade]

Your inability to keep your big dog under control injured his cat. Did you even apologize to him or did you just make excuses?

[Asker]

Honestly the incident really startled me. That wasn't the 1st nor 2nd time both my dog and his cat were introduced to each other. They had been hanging with each other for the longest and I thought they were friends. My dog had never acted like that before. I didn't know she was going to attack his cat suddenly. It happened so fast when we turned our backs for a bit and left them to interact like usual. I did apologized though but he hates my dog by now and would wish I got rid of it. I can't get rid of my dog, she's like my child to me.

[Asker]

I tried to be the most loving and responsible dog owner possible. My dog has been socialized and trained to be around others (babies, toddlers, older children, old people, etc) and animals since she was a puppy. I always walk her on a leash when going outside, got her from a good breeder. I tried my best. I don't know what happened.

[boggboss]

It is fair enough you dog hurt somthing he loved

[Asker]

I'm just as shocked it happened and destroyed my good 3 year-old relationship. It's like everything blew up in my face.
What just happened shocked me too. My dog is a socialized and trained her. She's friendly with people and other animals. So I can't explain why it happened, perhaps a dog naturally sees cats as preys and her instincts took over I guess.

[boggboss]

Who knows either way what's done is done it would be unfair to expect him to stay if he is now worried about somthing like this happening

[BoopBoopBeep]

Is the cat okay now?

[Asker]

Yes the cat is recovering and doing better but is obviously traumatized.

[boobliker]

did your cat say sorry no way did it

[Asker]

I'm not the cat owner. My ex boyfriend is.