My dog growls at my husband & he hits her for it so tonight I hit him back
An eight-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, once full of trust and affection, now guards herself fiercely, growling at anyone but her gentle owner who tries to pick her up.
The fragile bond between pet and family is strained, as playful gestures from her husband cross the line into roughness, igniting fear and discomfort in the small 14-pound dog.
Despite clear signals of distress, the husband dismisses her growls and responds with harshness, hitting her snout or head—a daily cycle of pain and misunderstanding.
The owner watches helplessly, heartbroken, as the innocent plea for respect is met with force, threatening the very love that once bound them all together.
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The original poster (OP) is deeply conflicted, feeling a strong protective instinct towards their dog, which led them to physically intervene against their husband's behavior.
The central conflict lies between the OP's es**blished boundary regarding the dog's safety and comfort, and the husband's insistence on interacting with the dog in a manner the dog clearly rejects, culminating in physical punishment by the husband and a physical reaction by the OP.
Was the OP justified in physically protecting their dog from what they perceived as harmful interaction, or did their reaction cross a line by physically engaging with their spouse, even softly?
Does the husband's consistent disregard for the dog's clear communication warrant the OP's swift, protective escalation?
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