What you need to do is make him think its his idea to get one
How about driving past an animal shelter coincidentally one day and just pop in for a look, and see how you go about 'adopting' a dog?

Looks like she's already tried that with no luck

Katey, it's a difficult one this. Some good advice has been given already, and some heartwarming info from Gillie and Mary shows what can be done with OHs who think they don't like/want dogs. Rather than speculate on his reasons, I think you need to talk to your OH and find out just what his objection to dogs is, and from there go on to discuss between you how you can begin to overcome his objections. If they can't be overcome then I think you have a very difficult decision to make, because from what you've said having a dog is very important to you. (and rightly so!) You will have to decide for yourself whether or not what you have with your partner is worth being without dogs, or whether you would prefer to have dogs and find a different partner who is more receptive to your needs.

(I have to add that I'm with Jackson on this one - dogs are such a part of my life that I could never imagine myself living with someone who didn't like or want dogs!)

My OH is called Steve too so it must be a "Steve thing" lol

I find myself quite often telling Steve off for not following through on the commands he gives the dogs and just giving up at the first hurdle . I must admit he has got better with them and they listen to him sometimes now rather than not at all. He'll always be the "push over" in our house though, I just have to bite my tongue more because Steve really hates it if he asks Logan to do something and if he doesn't I tend to jump in and tell Logan to do whatever it is, which I don't think was helping Steve's cause in gaining respect

It also makes me laugh, particularly with Logan rather than Piper, but a lot of the time if Steve tells Logan to do something Logan looks at me as though to say "is it OK to do what dad has told me mum?" before he does whatever it is.

If all else fails Steve just says to them "your mum's coming" and they act as good as gold

Oh I really couldn't imagine my world without dogs, and I'd defo bin Steve if he hadn't let me have my babies

thanks for all of your posts everybody- it has given me some hope that these stubborn men can be turned! my grandad is desperate for another boxer, but my gran rules the roost and tells him no way are they having another! my grandad sits there in front of the tv with his boxer calendar and his boxer mug full of tea, sitting on his boxer place mat, mumbling "look- there's a boxer on tv.. look...!" with my gran giving him a disapproving look- that's not going to be me!!

S/O actually took me to a dogs home as a surprise, because he thought i'd enjoy a day out looking at the dogs and he secretely admitted that he quite liked one of the dogs there, the best i got out of him was "'s okay". when we had cats (we now have only one) i purposely let him take most of the care of them, and he did enjoy it. i know what you mean about this begrudging attitude to dogs- i saw him looking at one particular dog at the home, for about 5 mins. when i asked him if he liked it, he said it was "probably the best one there." begrudgingly. he said another one i liked was "ok." i got him to do a "best dog for you" quiz... see? i'm trying!

he says hes "trying" to like dogs, but i can't see what there is to dislike! i think one of his concerns is that we won't be able to look after it- he knows nothing about dogs- i had to tell him what a GSD was! and he keeps saying " it says experienced owner wanted, we can't have it, see, you know what to do but i don't!" i've been trying to get him interested in greyhounds, as his main concerns- i.e barking, aggressive behaviour, smell, shedding, mess, etc, are taken care of on that score. incidentally, i'm trying to suggest to him a nice first time dog for him, what do you think? he says he prefers medium sized dogs, " if he had to." and i think he'd prefer something quite placid, any ideas?

Its exactly the same in our house! lol
OH always tells me its "because I havent trained her properly!!!!"

He is also not a dog fan but I got Cola while he was away and was really pleased when he came home (after the initial shock!) as he knows shes good company for me and also protection in the home when hes not here.

Oh lets hope you can get him to change his mind. If you so desperately want one, it would be a shame for you to miss out.

(howabout changing your man?) LOL

__________________

Build your own Blingee

Of course we've trained them properly To obey the most important person in the house

To OP - I know there are thousands of rescue dogs needing homes, but if he does have certain issues with dogs, have you thought of getting a puppy to start with? Even the toughest of men can't resist a puppy, plus he will be comfortable with the fact that he knows the complete history of the dog. Also plenty of pups in rescue.

i've tried asking him, but i can't help thinking his objections are through ignorance. he says his main reasons are " he doesn't like them" this is broken down into "they lick you and slobber" "they bark" "they smell" "they are a tie" " they make a mess"- i've tried to counter it with " hes not licking you- he's giving you a kiss!!" he wasn't impressed... however, he did put his hand in the cage for one dog and i was shocked to see he let it lick him and it mouthed him a little bit. i was happy until he spoilt it by wiping his hand on my coat afterwards going, "there you go, if you think drool is cute..yuk!"

the other day though.. and i think this was my biggest breakthrough- his mum was talking about a dog barking and she said " she actually praises it when it does its business! its disgusting! dirty thing like that in the house, its all muddy!" and he actually said "mum, you've always been like that, with you talking like that to me, its no wonder i don't like dogs!" soo.. i think on some psychological level at least, he's realised his parents attitude to dogs has rubbed off on him! something i exploit when i say " you sound like your mum" mwah hah hah! i don't know, i believe it's a parental thing. i have a friend who loathes dogs- when my border terrier cross- who was THE sweetest dog in the world, came in she'd go "aarrghhh! get it away!!" - same thing- her parents loathe dogs too

I must say i used to have a lovely tidy house, its very untidy now , but then who cares my mum always used to say the house will be standing when your not, enjoy life, you can get dogs that dont shed but i cant remember what they are called, (Can you try just saying ok i wont have one i will do without just to keep you happy ) but i will be really unhappy ) wicked i know but men can be so horrible at times when life should be equal why do they always think they are the boss, sometimes if you play down a little they start to feel guilty i have had to learn this ( been married three times ) sorry to any nice men here, hope you get what you want in the end