When it comes to rude comments directed to your dog, or in general about anything, simply asking the speaker "Why would you say that?" or "Why do you say that?" generally shuts people down pretty fast.
Along those same lines, a really effective come back for innapropriate questions is, "Why do you ask?"
However, your father-in-law sounds like a verbally abusive a$$ who has his son totally bullied. If your husband is passive or unwilling to put a stop to his father's atrocious behavior, some counseling might be in order to determine why. When the "fat ass" comment was made, your DH should have made it painfully clear that if FIL ever talked to you like that again, it would be the last time FIL ever saw either of you. It really is DH's responsibility to confront FIL. This situation could escalate and cause really hard feelings in your marriage. |