I know how you feel.
My stepdad (sound familiar eh) didnt like my dog at all at first. Actually he didnt like any big dogs as he comes from family that thinks "big dogs = dirty creatures that should never be allowed indoors". He is a hothead in general and very poor at filtering his words. It bothered me greatly. I didnt live with them when I got my dog but I visited often. His words stung. I was hurt.
It all changed when I once put my foot down. My mother went through a very serious illness and I visited them very often to support her... I had arrived at their place with my dog again this one time for the weekend and my step dad had had a particularly hard day (does not excuse his behavior but maybe just offers some explenation as to why he reacted so strongly). He was particularly nasty/expressive about how "this big mutt should not be indoors". I felt that enough is enough and told him that this will be the last time I will allow him to talk like that about my dog. If he does it again, I will not come to see them again. Yes my mom was sick but my emotions count as well and I dont have to listen to his BS. I said it very calmly and very seriously. He knew I meant it. And he nodded and said it wont happen again.
So what have I learnt from this?
I have not been good with telling people off and esp ppl who have been in a sense an authority figure to me ... Ella has taught me about this a lot.
You need to grow up, and stand up for your values (being responsible for another living being will help greatly with that). If you do, they will respect you and back off. They will even love you more for it.
It`s ironical but today my stepdad is my dog`s biggest fan. He often sends her treats, walks her when I visit and has often asked me if maybe I would leave her to live with them (lol..no). He really is crazy about her. He has gone from "no big dogs in house" to "Ella will sleep in our room when you leave her with us for the weekend".
Just stand up for what you believe in.
My stepdad (sound familiar eh) didnt like my dog at all at first. Actually he didnt like any big dogs as he comes from family that thinks "big dogs = dirty creatures that should never be allowed indoors". He is a hothead in general and very poor at filtering his words. It bothered me greatly. I didnt live with them when I got my dog but I visited often. His words stung. I was hurt.
It all changed when I once put my foot down. My mother went through a very serious illness and I visited them very often to support her... I had arrived at their place with my dog again this one time for the weekend and my step dad had had a particularly hard day (does not excuse his behavior but maybe just offers some explenation as to why he reacted so strongly). He was particularly nasty/expressive about how "this big mutt should not be indoors". I felt that enough is enough and told him that this will be the last time I will allow him to talk like that about my dog. If he does it again, I will not come to see them again. Yes my mom was sick but my emotions count as well and I dont have to listen to his BS. I said it very calmly and very seriously. He knew I meant it. And he nodded and said it wont happen again.
So what have I learnt from this?
I have not been good with telling people off and esp ppl who have been in a sense an authority figure to me ... Ella has taught me about this a lot.
You need to grow up, and stand up for your values (being responsible for another living being will help greatly with that). If you do, they will respect you and back off. They will even love you more for it.
It`s ironical but today my stepdad is my dog`s biggest fan. He often sends her treats, walks her when I visit and has often asked me if maybe I would leave her to live with them (lol..no). He really is crazy about her. He has gone from "no big dogs in house" to "Ella will sleep in our room when you leave her with us for the weekend".
Just stand up for what you believe in.
