AITAH for “training” a guy “like a dog”?
She found herself walking a delicate line between love and instinct, drawn to a man whose beauty masked a wounded soul. His guarded heart, shaped by an uns**ble past, mirrored the fragile creatures she devoted her days to rescuing.
In her quiet moments, she could not help but see him through the lens of her work—each glance, gesture, and hesitation cataloged like the behaviors of the neglected dogs she sought to understand and heal.
Her care blurred the boundaries between human and animal, as she subconsciously applied her shelter strategies to their budding relationship.
The subtle signs of his vulnerability—his quick eating, his need for control, his moments of joy—became cues she recognized and responded to with gentle patience.
Yet, beneath her nurturing efforts lay a poignant question: could love, like trust, be rebuilt one cautious step at a time?
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The original poster (OP) finds herself employing behavioral modification techniques, similar to those used for traumatized animals, on her new romantic partner because his past trauma mirrors patterns she observes in neglected dogs.
While the OP believes these 'training' m**hods are successfully creating comfort and positive results in the relationship, her friend has strongly criticized this approach, a*serting that treating an adult human like a dog is inappropriate and potentially demeaning.
The central question is whether the positive outcomes achieved through these non-traditional behavioral techniques justify their use on a human partner, or if the fundamental difference between human autonomy and animal conditioning necessitates an immediate cessation of these m**hods?
Is the OP prioritizing relationship success over the partner's dignity and the integrity of the human connection?
Strong Takes and Sharper Words from the Crowd:
The thread exploded with reactions. Whether agreeing or disagreeing, everyone had something to say — and they said it loud.