I feel like the third person in this marriage when my wife puts her dog before me

DEAR DEIDRE: EVER since my wife and I got a dog, our sex life has gone down the pan.

I just want to feel close to her again, but every night she insists that the dog sleeps in our bed.

It makes it impossible for me to get near her and I’m starting to get fed up.

I’m 30, she’s 28 and we’ve been married for three years.

We’d never had a problem with intimacy and used to have sex as many as four to five times a week.

However, it all changed the moment we brought home our little dachshund.

My wife began to insist that he sleeps with us because he would cry when we left him downstairs.

Every problem gets a personal reply from one of our trained counsellors.

Fill out and submit our easy-to-use and and the Dear Deidre team will get back to you.

You can also send a private message on the Facebook page.

Ten months later the dog has his designated place between us in bed. Sex has become a rarity.

I’ve tried to talk to her but she won’t listen. It’s really starting to get me down.

DEIDRE SAYS: Being forced to sleep with your dog every night isn’t fair, especially if you feel you have no say in the matter.

Intimacy plays a huge role in relationships so it’s understandable that this is getting you down.

Try talking to her again.

Explain this is becoming a serious issue and that you’re worried about the impact it’s having on your relationship.

My support packs Standing Up For Yourself and Saving Your Sex Life will help.

MORE FROM DEAR DEIDRE