In what he'd initially assumed was a jokey conversation about a terrible wolf tattoo they'd seen online, a man told his wife he would happily get their beloved dog's face tattooed on his skin. Little did he know this remark would ultimately lead to a disagreement.
The couple, who don't have any tattoos and don't have any particular interest in getting any, have been together for nine years and married for four. They're also the proud owners of a particularly majestic crossbreed dog, whose husky/malamute heritage gives him a wolflike appearance.
While they were both messing around on their phones, the wife showed him a meme that poked fun at a bad wolf tattoo. In jest, he remarked that he would get a tat of their own dog's face, but she didn't take this well at all, wondering why he wouldn't just get her name instead.
Taking to Reddit, where she goes by the username u/massive_cactus, the perplexed dog owner recalled: "She asked why I would get a tattoo of our dog instead of her name.
"I answered that I like wolves and that our dog looks like one plus I don't have any intention of having anyone's name or face on my skin. I asked her why would I? I thought we were still joking but she got upset."
Reaching out to fellow Reddit users for advice, he continued: "She has all the right to feel upset but was I in the wrong? Tattoos have never been important in our lives nor do I think they will be but if for some reason they become important I think I have a say on what I can do with my body.
"I honestly don't know what to do when someone gets upset around me even though I think I didn't offend them."
One person commented: "I doubt you meant it but I would guess what your wife heard was 'I love our dog more than you'. Yes, it is silly for her to get upset about it, but it's fairly common when feeling down. Talk to her, something was upsetting her and she felt insecure."
Another advised: "Your wife feels like you have put your dog over her, and she probably feels like you love your dog more than you. But this was just about not having any names or faces tattooed on yourself - not about you not loving your wife.
"However, you need to make sure she knows the whole getting a tattoo thing was a joke - maybe she thinks it wasn't."
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