In this article on our site we are going to answer the question of whether a dog can have two owners We will do it from two perspectives. First of all, from the point of view of the dog itself. We will examine whether these animals are capable of bonding with more than one person or, on the contrary, focus on a single caretaker. Secondly, we will review the legal issue, that is, we will see if the legislation allows more than one person to be recognized as the owner of a dog.
So if your dog lives with several people in the household and you want to know if he may have more than one favorite sitter or you have separated from your partner and you wonder who keeps the dog, keep going! Reading!
Do dogs choose a favorite person?
Dogs are programmed to love people. We are their reference and for them we are associated with positive sensations. Logically, feeding them, caring for them, taking them out for a walk or playing with them makes them love us. It may be thought that out of interest, since their survival depends on us, but they love us beyond material issues.
Anyone who interacts with the dog and treats him with respect can win his love, of course he will establish a more special relationship with the one with whom he spends the most time, activities and attentions. That is to say, if in a household made up of several people only one is the one who feeds him, brushes him and takes him for a walk, of course, he will become his favorite person and main reference, which does not mean that he does not whether or not they obey others.
Dogs can have more than one favorite person if several take care of him to the same extent, even if they carry out different activities. With each one he will establish a different relationship. On the other hand, some breeds have been known to forge attachment to a single caretaker In such cases, they may obey no one but him. Examples are the eurasier or the chow chow.
At what age do dogs recognize their owner?
Dogs are social and sociable, which means that they will naturally bond with the animals and people around them. Thus, this first relationship will be established with their mother and siblings, with whom we will see them interact from birth. When the family breaks up because each puppy moves to a new home, which happens at about two months of age, the little one's family changes from its mother and siblings to their new caregiver(s).
From the first moment, the puppy will be predisposed to form a "pack" with the people with whom it shares a home, that is why it will always demand our attention and, as soon as it adapts to its new home,in a matter of days , you will recognize us as a reference. As we have explained, if in a family it is one of the members who takes care of him, he will be more attached to him, but he will also recognize the other people in the house as part of his family.
Who is the legal owner of a dog?
Regardless of who the dog's favorite handler is or even who they live with, a dog owner is considered the person whose name is on the microchipThe microchip is a device about the size of a grain of rice that the veterinarian inserts under the dog's skin, usually on the left side of the neck. It has a number that is associated with your details and those of your caregiver.
If the dog were to get lost, passing a specific reader through the device, its number would come out and an authorized veterinarian could access the information related to the handler in order to return it. The microchip is mandatory for all dogs, it allows them to be identified, prevents abandonment and indicates who is responsible for it in case of damage to third parties, that is, it indicates who its legal owner is.
But, despite its compulsory nature, dogs can still be found without it. In these cases, the owner is considered to be the holder of your he alth cardor, failing that, whoever can demonstrate, by any means, ownership of it. In any case, appearing on the dog's chip does not imply staying with him, for example, in cases of separation of a couple.
Can you put a dog's chip in the name of two people?
A microchip number is associated with a single dog and with a single caretaker of legal age, therefore, there cannot be a chip in the name of more than one person or a child. This means that, when it comes to responding for the dog, only one person is considered responsible and owner. On the other hand, microchips can be placed in the name of, for example, a protective association.
A single person being considered the legal owner of a dog can be a problem in certain situations, for example, when a couple who share a dog separates. When the two claim it and do not reach an agreement, the case ends up in court. As we will see in the next section, in these situations, a judge could decide that the dog stays with a person other than the one on the microchip.
Who gets the dog in case of divorce?
Spanish legislation does not contemplate custody when it comes to pets. Until now, dogs are considered personal property and not sentient beings. This implies that many judges refuse to decide on their custody, considering things, or deliver them directly to the owner who appears on the chip, even if it is not the person who really takes care of your care.
In this regard, in 2021 a bill has been approved in Congress that, once it comes into force, will entail a modification of various articles of the Civil Code to recognize dogs and other pets as sentient beings. This opens the door to ruling on your custody when a domestic partnership or marriage breaks up. Until then, the owner of the dog is considered to be whoever adopted it before the marriage or during the years of marriage, if they marry under a separate property regime.
Otherwise, the dog is understood equally by both, as part of personal property, and it is best to reach an amicable agreement, thinking of the welfare of the animal. As soon as the changes become effective, a clause specifying the terms of this agreement may be added to the regulatory agreement. If the conflict is not resolved, the idea of the changes is that the judges intervene and decide what is best for the animal, with regardless of who its legal owner is Thus:
- They may grant custody exclusively to one of the parties, even if it does not appear on the chip, the other having the right to a of visits or to receive compensation.
- They may grant custody to both parties equally, establishing a main caregiver and a visiting regime for the other.
Criteria for granting custody of a dog
As the property determined by the microchip will take a backseat in a separation when the changes to the Civil Code come into force, this is what will be most valued when deciding which member of the couple will gets custody of the dog:
- Who is the real caretaker.
- Time available to take care of the animal.
- Suitability of the home for him.
- Financial capacity to cover your expenses.
- Presence of children who have forged a bond with the dog, since it is preferred that the animal always go with them.
In short, all the approved changes seek to prioritize the welfare of minors and the dog to reduce, as far as possible, the impact that upon them shall be separation.
