Though they are consistently battling break-up rumors, Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling are apparently still going strong, and have been since nearly the moment they began dating.

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According to Independent Woman, Gosling reportedly realized he was in love with Mendes when she stepped up to the plate and took care of the other love of his life -- his 13-year-old dog, George.

Gosling and his dog go way back, and when George was younger, he was often a staple on Gosling's film sets. However, as his age has advanced, Gosling has had to leave him behind when he goes to shoot a movie. Shortly after he and Mendes began dating in 2011, she reportedly proved she was the one for him by saying she would take care of George while he was in Bangkok shooting Only God Forgives.

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"He was going to have his friends watch George, but changed his mind at the last minute," sources said. "That's a huge deal to him. He wouldn't leave that dog with just anyone."

Since then, Gosling has given Mendes total control over George's care whenever he needs to be out of town, and has ensured his precious pooch won't miss him too much when he leaves.

"George used to go everywhere with him, but now he's getting on," the source said. "Ryan's too worried to let him fly long-haul. So he lives with Eva Mendes, and Ryan, who's terrified something might happen to him, Skypes hm."

The couple has been battling split rumors for months, as they have not been seen in public together since May 2013. Rumors have even flown that Gosling was rekindling a romance with his ex-girlfriend, his Notebook co-star Rachel McAdams.

Sources told OK! Magazine  in March that McAdams was trying to win Gosling back, and that Gosling had been somewhat receptive to the idea.

"Rachel has been very low-key about it all," the source said at the time. "She's played it very smart and used the whole 'just friends' angle to get close to Ryan again, but she 100 percent wants him back. He's not the cheating type, but he hasn't been honest with Eva about how much contact he has with Rachel."

Tags: ryan gosling Eva Mendes