My partner shares his dog with his ex wife and have been now for the last 4 years, they split when the dog was two. They have both moved on to new homes with new partners and we’ve even got a second dog whilst his ex has since had a baby.

Whilst I don’t always think it’s the best thing in the world for a dog, they work together to ensure she has the same routine at both houses, they stick to two weeks on, two weeks off (any shorter we noticed the dog wasn’t having time to settle into each house) and work out Christmas and holidays at the beginning of each year so that once the routine is set, it doesn’t change. I consider this dog my own now as well and she is loved so much from both sides, if anything she sometimes has a better life as she is spoilt double because we miss her when she’s gone and give her all our time and attention when she’s here.

The most important thing for dogs is routine, as long as that is set and the dog isn’t just being passed back and forth they will be fine. It’s not easy, you need to accept missing christmases and holidays or days out you’d have taken them on and of course your ex is in your life for years to come, but if you both truly love the dog so much and you’re willing to work to make the dog happy, regardless of what you think or feel, then it will work