Boyfriend adopts adorable 2-month-old golden retriever puppy, then gets bored and ignores her, leading girlfriend to question their entire relationship: '[He] threw her away like an old toy'

Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager

Aug 16, 2026 2:45 PM EDT

A puppy is a 10+ year commitment, and if you're not ready for that, don't adopt or buy one. You'll be saving yourself and the dog a whole lot of trouble in the long run.

Just like marriage, adopting a pet should be forever. Or, as long as it can pawssibly be with the limitations of the doggo's lifespan. If you adopt a senior dog, it could be a matter of months, but if you adopt a puppy, that's a 10-15 year responsibility. One that should be filled with love, lots of kisses, cuddles, discipline, adventures, and memories together. Not one that only lasts for a month, until you get bored of taking care of the thing you quite literally agreed to care for for the rest of its life.

Puppies are a lot of work, I'll be the first one to admit it. There's even a phase that most people go through after adopting a puppy called the "Puppy Blues", where you regret the whole thing because your adorable little puppy won't stop biting you, you're exhausted from trying to potty train it or cleaning up its accidents, the constant stimulation it requires, and how it can turn your life upside down. I went through it, and it was no joke. But if you stick it out, and keep to training, you will get a mature, loving, and well-behaved dog that will be your canine companion for life.

None of that is even a pawssibility, though, if you basically abandon your golden retriever puppy after 1 month. Technically, he wasn't abandoned, just ignored, but the reality is that her "dad" stopped caring for her because he got bored, and now his girlfriend is having to pick up all the slack.

There are periods in every relationship where one person takes on more responsibility than the other, but this doesn't feel like that. It feels like throwing away a toy that's no longer interesting, and as a partner, we have to wonder, will he do that with our future children? Will he do that with me when my novelty wears off?

Read through the full story below, and let us know in the comments what you would do!

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This is Lucky. She's the sweetest little girl and I love her to d th. Last month, my boyfriend of 2 years adopted her from a friend of a friend. He spent the entire month taking care of her and ignoring basically everything else, including friends, video games, and hiking, among other favorite activities of his. The last two

weeks, he has paid no attention to Lucky at all. I've been feeding her, letting her out to the bathroom, walking her, playing with her, and generally being a perfect puppy mom. Unfortunately, I'm not the favorite.

Lucky keeps trying to go seek out my boyfriend, and will want him almost exclusively. That's not the part I'm mad about. The part that gets me is that he hasn't given her a lick of attention in almost two weeks! He hasn't filled her bowl once, or played with her for more than 30 seconds!

The thing I don't understand most about this is how he has the ability to resist such a cute puppy. When my dog was a puppy, I catered to her every whim. She would look at me with those big eyes and those giant, floppy ears, and my heart would just melt. Getting the puppy blues is one thing, but completely ignoring her and not caring anymore? That's crazy talk.

Whenever Lucky goes to find him, he just kind of brushes her away. I feel like he simply was bored one day, and then threw her away like an old toy. I really think its getting to her. She's been super mopey, and she doesn't want to play with me anymore, despite being a hyperactive little speed demon. I've tried having serious conversations with him, but he acts

like ignoring the little fluffball he adopted isn't a big deal. I don't know what to do. Lucky isn't being her usual playful self, and I don't have all the time in my day to take care of a 2 month old hyper puppy! I don't know what to do. Lucky has imprinted on my boyfriend, and I really truly don't want to make him get rid of her,

because I feel like all three of us used to have a really tight bond over this one little puppy, and Lucky would be (maybe already is) abandoned by the guy she loves most. Please help. Am I overreacting?

Edit: Someone brought to my attention that the plants that Lucky is playing in are Vinca Major, which are toxic to dogs, cats, and humans. I had no knowledge of this, and I will be careful to keep an extra eye on her in the future. She is perfectly fine, and not exhibiting any symptoms, as she hasn't ingested any. Thank you guys so much for the concern.

Bluebird_5991 NOR, but this should be your eye opener to what kind of person he is. Leave him and bring the dog with you and be happy with her instead, she looks amazing! Or re home her it that is what is best, but your boyfriend is a horrible person...

My dad used to tell me something when I was younger that I've carried with me into adulthood. It's a quote from Maya Angelou: “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.”

b tnutt256 NOR. A puppy isn't a toy, isn't a plaything, isn't something that you have for a month and decide you don't want anymore. She is a living, breathing thing. A puppy is a 10+ year commitment. She deserves to be loved and cared for, by someone who WANTS her.

Please rehome her or bring her to a shelter if your boyfriend is going to neglect her and you have no interest in raising a puppy. Also, please never have kids with this guy. He will get bored of your children the same way.

Cheezburger Image 10655839744 — *Boyfriend holding his head in annoyance with young daughter*
*_{Recreated scenario included to enhance reader understanding.}*

username _0000 She's two months old? So adopted at one month?!?! 4 weeks?!?

That is way too young and that dog is going to be difficult. It missed out on learning how to be a dog. You shouldn't adopt dogs younger than 8 weeks (ideally 12). It may seem ok now, but dogs need a lot of socialization with other dogs.

Your boyfriend is irresponsible and aj . I know Reddit has that stereotype about saying everyone should leave everyone. But I wouldn't stay with someone who's that irresponsible and mean to a puppy.

Contact a rescue group and find the dog a new home, if you don't have the time for it. Tell them how old the dog was when you got it and they may want to foster is with other dogs to try and undo some of the mess ya'all created by taking it too early.

Important_Contest353 yikes. don't have kids with this man unless you want them to be constantly ignored by dad.

ulnek If you can take her please do. Also note that when your novelty wears off, your bf will be on to someone new. Might want to do yourself a favor with that one.

Tight-Artichoke 1789 So you're breaking up with the BF and taking the dog right? ... right? If you don't, at the very least do NOT let this man get you preg nt.

Lopsided_Drawer6363 NOR I've been in your same situation. Boyfriend wanted a high energy, working type dog. Sweared he was going to enroll the dog in agility training, obedience. He never did. For 15 years we lived with a dog who needed much, much more activities than what we could give him.

I loved that dog with all my heart, but he was never "my" dog. I tried my best to give him some sort of mental stimulation, some basic obedience training. But bottom line, for 15 years nor me or the dog were happy.

luella27 Rehome the dog...and the boyfriend.

Knotty_Vegetables OMG! NOR!! He needs to rehome her. A dog is a big responsibility.

Eukaliptusy NOR. Keep the dog, dump the boyfriend, until then use double contraception otherwise this will be your child's experience one day. (And I'm not even a dog person. I don't even like dogs)

RevolutionaryEgg1312 Leave the man, take the dog. He honestly sounds useless. NOR. Dogs are a commitment for their entire life, that not just training feeding and walks, it's regular vet checks, insurance and other care. If that's not all in place, make sure it is ASAP.

No-Weird85iver Thank you for stepping up for her. NOR but have you confronted him to see what's going on?

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Boyfriend adopts adorable 2-month-old golden retriever puppy, then gets bored and ignores her, leading girlfriend to question their entire relationship: '[He] threw her away like an old toy'

A puppy is a 10+ year commitment, and if you're not ready for that, don't adopt or buy one. You'll be saving yourself and the dog a whole lot of trouble in the long run.

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