AITA For Wanting To Sell My Girlfriend's Dog After It Bit Me | Reddit Post

by Holly

2025-05-12 18:07

In a recent Reddit post, a user sought advice on whether they were in the wrong for wanting to sell their girlfriend's dog after it bit them. The OP, who recently moved in with their girlfriend, had an altercation with the dog when trying to enforce a no-furniture rule they had set.

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The dog ended up biting them, causing a minor injury. The OP's reaction led to a heated argument with their girlfriend, who refused to give up the dog.

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The situation escalated when the OP attempted to sell the dog behind their girlfriend's back, leading to further conflict and potentially jeopardizing their relationship. As the Reddit community weighed in, many commenters unanimously agreed that the OP was at fault for mishandling the situation.

They criticized the OP for trying to control the dog and enforce rules in a space that wasn't solely theirs. The consensus was that the OP's actions, including attempting to sell the dog without consent and belittling their girlfriend's attachment to her pet, were inappropriate and disrespectful.

Commenters highlighted the importance of understanding and respecting existing relationships, as well as the need to approach conflicts with empathy and consideration for all parties involved.

Original Post

Okay so for context I (m33) have been dating my gf (f29) for almost a year and recently moved in with her like 2 months ago. Everything was fine until last week when her dog (a pitbull mix idk I don’t really care about breeds) bit me on the wrist after I tried to drag him off the couch.
He growled at me so I grabbed his collar to pull him off (he’s not allowed on furniture, I made that clear when I moved in) and he just turned and bit me. Not super deep but it bled and now I got this nasty scab and it’s still sore.
I yelled and kicked the coffee table and the dog ran off and she came running and got all mad at ME like I provoked him or something. I told her that was BS and that the dog is dangerous and we needed to get rid of him, like, either to the pound or sell him to someone who knows how to control animals.

She freaked out and said he’s never bitten anyone in 5 years and that *I* scared him. She wouldn’t stop crying and made this huge scene like I’d asked her to s***t the thing or whatever.
I said it’s just a dog, she can get another one later when we have a house and a yard. She refused, locked herself in the bedroom with the dog (???) and I had to sleep on the couch for 2 nights.
I tried to make it right by calling a buddy of mine who works with a breeder and asking if he knew anyone who might take the dog for like $200. I figured I’d just make the decision and deal with her being mad later since she was acting all emotional and not rational.

Well she found out cause I guess he texted her instead of me (thanks bro) and now she’s furious, like full-on packing her stuff mad. I told her she was overreacting and this was a HEALTH issue (I could’ve gotten infected or worse!) and that if she was really serious about me she’d pick my safety over a mutt.
Now she won’t talk to me and told me to stay at my mom’s while she “thinks things over.” She’s posted some passive-aggressive story about betrayal and “protecting those who can’t speak” and our friends are blowing up my phone saying I was outta line. Idk.
I still feel like I did what any sane person would do. A dog bites you, you don’t just ignore it.

I didn’t even HURT the dog. I just tried to move him off furniture that he shouldn't even be on!
Am I really the bad guy for trying to sell a dog that BIT me? AITA?
Edit: Okay. So.

I’ve read through the comments, had some time to sit with this, and yeah—I see now that I was a complete AH here. No sugarcoating it.
First off, I want to start by owning the fact that I came into *her* home, *her* space, and tried to enforce rules like it was automatically mine too. That was disrespectful.
The dog lived there before me. The couch wasn’t mine.

And me deciding that the dog “isn’t allowed on furniture” like I was laying down law in a place I just moved into? That was arrogant.
Second—and this is big—I *absolutely* mishandled the situation with her dog. Grabbing a dog by the collar, especially one that’s growling?
That’s on me. That’s not “controlling the situation,” that’s provoking fear and setting myself up to get bitten.

I acted like I knew what I was doing around animals when I clearly didn’t. I didn't even ask how she normally handles that stuff.
I just went full bulldozer mode. And yeah, trying to sell *her* dog behind her back?
That was beyond messed up. I was frustrated and scared after getting bitten, yeah—but that doesn’t justify violating someone’s trust like that.

That dog isn’t just “a mutt,” it’s her *family.* I didn’t get that at the time, but I do now. If someone tried to sell my car without asking, I’d flip—and that’s just a car.
A dog is a living creature, one she’s clearly bonded with for years. And I tried to handle it like it was a Craigslist transaction.
Also, calling her “emotional” and “irrational” when she was reacting to me threatening something she loves? That was cruel.

I dismissed her feelings when really I should’ve been asking how to make it right. I didn’t even check in on the dog.
Just went into crisis control like I was in charge of fixing something that I *caused.* So yeah. I get why she’s furious.
I’d be too. I came in hot, didn’t listen, tried to dominate the situation, and then doubled down when called out.

Total AH behavior. I’m not here to make excuses.
I just wanted to say that I *do* get it now. And if she’s reading this—I’m sorry.
Deeply. For the fear I caused, the betrayal, and not treating your dog like the living, trusting being he is.

You were protecting someone who *couldn’t* speak, and I was treating him like a problem to be solved, not like a soul that needed care. I don’t know if we’re going to make it through this, but I hope you and your pup are okay.
I was wrong. And I’m sorry.