When your partner won't speak to you or look at you. Most will stay here for between 1-7 days until their partner has calmed down or got over their
PMS, PMT, general bad mood, or their angry reaction to your unacceptable behaviour (drinking binge etc). Symptoms are :
- Self-Acceptance - that you are on the
way there. You could probably
stop now and be ok, but you
don't want to. For example, if you were drinking for 2 days, you may as well stay out for 3 or 4.
- Denial - Thinking that your
wife or girlfriend will be ok when you finally decide to come
home.
- Bargaining - After you have been ignored for a period of
time (days / hours depending on the severity of the incident), you may try to bargain to get out of the dog-
house early. It is a
normal reaction, but most try to do this too early.
Better to ride it out.
- Spending - Rational thinking on your part that this has gone on long enough and a willingness to spend money on your partner to get over it.
- Relapse - When bargaining and spending are unsuccessful, you may decide to go on another bender, or perform the same bad behaviour.
- Remorse - Feeling that you have done something wrong. Very rare and is only applicable is less than 0.001% of doghouse incidents.
It can be rated on a scale of 1-5.
1 - Cosmetic (1 day stint in doghouse)
2 - Minor (2-3 days)
3 - Major (4-5 days)
4 - Severe(6-7 days)
5 - Epic (Over 7 days) - This is generally considered more than doghouse material and more like a
shithouse
"There comes a point in your life where
women rule the roost. You think you are the boss but you'
re not the boss. The missus had me in the doghouse for going on a two day bender in town just before
Christmas."