We were on a family vacation and brought our senior Mastiff/Rottweiler with us. He’s a big, gentle dog who loves kids and even tolerates playful behavior from toddlers without a fuss. My 29-year-old nephew, who’s a grown man with a job and his own dog, kicked my dog. I saw him do it from a distance, and my dog didn’t see it coming. I was furious and couldn’t stop it at the time. Later, I confronted my nephew in a loud and angry way, using strong language and telling him if he ever did it again, I’d hurt him.
Now, I’m dealing with fallout from the family. They’re defending him, saying he didn’t mean it and was just angry, but I think he’s in the wrong. I don’t want this to drive a wedge between us or make things worse, especially since his wife has already caused family issues. What should I do, or what should I have done? Thanks.