KAYE Townsend is a qualified, BACP registered, person-centred counsellor with a private practice in Flackwell Heath, Bucks. She is currently writing a self-help book, write articles for various publications & work as a volunteer counsellor for a local charity.

Here she answers letters in her Bucks Free Press agony aunt column.

Dear Kaye, I have been seeing a lovely lady for 2 years now & we have been discussing the idea of moving in together. Sounds perfect except for her problem with my dog.

She hates his moulting & the general mess of having a large dog. She has suggested that I re-home him. He’s been my best friend for the last 5 years, I can’t choose between them, Is this a ridiculous ultimatum? How can I have both?

Richard, Loudwater.

Dear Richard, You need to find a way to compromise on this situation. I have 3 dogs & I would never expect anyone else to love them as I do but I would also never accept that I had to re-home them just because a partner didn’t like dogs.

Perhaps you could offer to pay for a regular cleaner, encourage the dog to start sleeping in the kitchen, employ a dog walker & book regular trips to dog a groomer. I’m afraid if this isn’t a big enough compromise for your “lovely lady”, I would suggest re-homing her!

Good luck Richard, I hope things work out, Kaye.

Dog Walkers:

Happy Days Dog Walking – 01949 449236

Waggles Dog Walking – 07989 451453

Dog Groomers:

Wagtails – 01628 810498

Raynhill Dog Grooming – 01494 815351