'I decided to teach them a lesson': 36-year-old MIL forces future daughter-in-law to take care of her children and clean up after her surprise dog, so DIL gets even by shaving her precious pooch for “health reasons”

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
May 7, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

You know that nearly every story that starts with "I'm going to teach them a lesson" is going to be a juicy one, animal fam. That's a little pro-tip from us as pawfessional storytellers. We do love the sweet smell of payback in the morning, and especially when it is justified. Now, let's dive in…

There are a few different types of dog owners. First, you have the "precious pooch" owners, who like small breeds and love their dogs to be pawfectly manicured, primped and prepped, and smelling like fresh daisies all the time. Then you have the "big dog" owners, who like to go do outdoorsy things with their dogs and don't care if they're clean, dirty, or smelly. They're dogs, and they think they should be just that. Finally, you have the "pawfessional dog" owners, these are usually owners of border collies who train them to do 1,000 tricks.

So, when this woman decided to get back at her future mother-in-law for dumping responsibilities on her, the DIL decided to give her "precious pooch" a downright ugly haircut. Scroll down to read the full story below!

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  • 01

    [Am I wrong] for giving my mother in-laws dog a bad haircut on purpose?

    'I'm the one taking care of OUR home, HER children and HER dog.
    via dageldog

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    For some context, me (21 F) and my fiancé (20 M) live with my future Mother In-law (36 F) and her kids (10-17) When we moved into our new apartment we all agreed no dogs because we didn't have the money or time to commit to taking care of
    via u/Soft-Comparison-4811
  • 03
    pets. The only pet I currently have is a small leopard gecko that stays in my room and It's not a pet that anyone but me takes care of. My mother in law in December of 2024 got a puppy from her fiancé (48 M) who is on and off living with us due to his job. He got the puppy
    via u/Soft-Comparison-4811
  • 04
    without telling me or my fiancé and now we are stuck taking care of it. I feed him, clean his messes, bathe him and try to groom him when I have time. Due to my MILs job she is never really home. I never agreed to getting this dog because lk I would be stuck taking care of it.
    via u/Soft-Comparison-4811
  • 05
    I just recently started a new job and am not home from 2pm to 10pm. This has started issues because he doesn't get bathed or groomed unless I do it. Nobody helps to take care of him except for when I tell them to or my fiancé feeds him. I
    via u/Soft-Comparison-4811
  • 06
    noticed his legs, bt and body were all matted. My MIL uses all of her money she gets on shopping on Amazon or stuff that isn't really needed. We have a lot of kitchen appliances we don't use due to this. She has only paid for his beds, food and
    via u/Soft-Comparison-4811
  • 07
    vet visits every so often. I have trained him, cleaned him, fed him, and made sure his crated area is clean. I've gotten fed up with being his only caretaker and being the one who was against having a dog. My MIL
    via u/Soft-Comparison-4811
  • 08
    has brought him to a groomer once and that was because I had to find it. She hasn't brought him back since so I decided to teach them a lesson.
    via u/Soft-Comparison-4811

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  • 09
    I cut off all the matting and gave him a bad haircut (shave down). Currently awaiting her reaction when she comes home. But I'm wondering if it was the right call?
    via u/Soft-Comparison-4811
  • 10
    Edit: We pay the bills so we aren't burdening her, and I aswell take care of not just her dog but her children as well. This is the only thing we have been disagreeing about. She only cares if her dog is "fluffy" but doesn't do anything to keep him from inevitably being shaved down.
    via u/Soft-Comparison-4811
  • 11
    Jun
    via Goochie Poochie Grooming from Pexels / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    Sweetcilantro sounds like technically no one agreed to getting the dog lol.
    via u/Sweetcilantro
  • 13
    You shouldn't have done the bad haircut, should have just shaved the dog down (unless that was the bad haircut!) because then if she
    via u/Sweetcilantro
  • 14
    gets angry you can point out that it was done for the dogs health since you future MIL doesn't have the time to properly take care of its coat.
    via u/Sweetcilantro

  • Our mom used to take us (and the dogs) to get a buzz cut every summer. Obviously, we didn't go to the same place to get our hair cut. That would be weird. 

  • 15
    Strange-Buyer-3427 Absolutely right, crazy idea haha
    via u/Strange-Buyer-3427
  • 16
    Chunderpump NTA. The dog doesn't know or care if it looks stupid, so this is a great move as long as it's not in discomfort from the matting. You took care of the poor critter that has no
    via u/Chunderpump
  • 17
    control over its circumstances in a way that should be thoroughly hilarious. Also, your fiance. should be taking your side in this in an active way. That's a red flag that he's not.
    via u/Chunderpump
  • 18
    Cheezburger Image 10501543936
    via pixelshot / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 19
    Nobody I know who got married at that age in the last 40 years has stayed married. If you're getting jerked around now, just know that it will get worse and
    via u/Chunderpump
  • 20
    continue the whole time you're a part of this family. They will not change because people generally don't. You're young and have other options.
    via u/Chunderpump
  • 21
    Substantial_Ball7991 absolutely NTA, they need to help especially as you've got a job and a gecko to take care of!!
    via u/Substantial_Ball7991

  • Listen, if no one has time to take care of this dog, it's better off in a home where people can love it and take care of it. It's time for this family to step up and face reality!

  • 22
    No-Lifeguard9194 Might be time to rehome the dog to someone who really wants it.
    via u/No-Lifeguard9194
  • 23
    No-Nature2803 YTA you are living with your future mother-in-law have you considered what kind of burden that is on her to have to have you and your fiancé living under her roof no privacy no alone time without you guys
    via u/No-Nature2803
  • 24
    there it s ks about the dog situation but yeah you definitely the a hole on this one! that Dog didn't do anything and it was very childish and unproductive.
    via u/No-Nature2803
  • 25
    Hopefully you didn't jeopardize your relationship with your future mother-in-law. Your fiancé might actually think twice about staying with you
    via u/No-Nature2803

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Tags

family drama daughter in law dogs clean lesson pets pooch surprise mother in law health family dog owners animals children
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