Hello all! Ixxy here, I hope you've all had a good holiday season :)

So, stemming off of the previous journal that FleaBeast has made, we're going to start another discussion. This time our topic is:

What is a healthy Master/pet relationship, how to identify an unhealthy one, how to avoid getting stuck in one, and what to do about it if you do.

We all know that M/p relationships can differ greatly from person to person, and I'm going to try and cover this for every kind. This would be a great thing to read for new people to this whole sort of thing, or if you are thinking of getting into it. So, let's begin!


So what is a healthy M/p relationship? Whether you're in it casually or for the whole shebang, it is important to have a healthy, happy relationship with your Master. What's the sense of being in it if you're not enjoying yourself? Both people should be happy, safe and content. Granted if you just got collared by a new Master, things will be a little odd as you're probably just getting to know them. This is perfectly fine and it happens in every day life. But if you start to feel uncomfortable and you would rather not go any further, end it immediately. There is no sense torturing yourself like that for the satisfaction of another person. Just because you're a pet and the notion is that you're less significant than your Master doesn't mean you need to stick with it and suffer. This kind of thing is a little more important if you have a Master in real life, as your physical safety is a very important factor, especially when starting a new relationship with a stranger. You never know what kind of weirdos can be lurking behind a friendly facade. If you sense something fishy, get out now.
---Now I understand some people like being controlled and sacrificing any and all power to another person, and that is okay if that's what you're into. You can still have a totally happy and wonderful relationship with your Master even if they control every little thing that you do. But remember, you can still set the rules. There is no contract that says once you are collared, you are owned by them forever. All it takes is one little push over the line and you can end it right then and there. Use your intuition to differentiate between it being a "Let's talk this over" situation or an "I need to leave now" one. Always remember, a pet/sub has just as much power as their Master when it comes to things like this.


"How can I tell if I'm in a bad relationship with my Master?" My simplest answer is; If you actually have to sit down and think if your relationship with your Master is a healthy one, it probably isn't. You don't have to be cowering in a corner or fearing for your life and safety to realize the connection between you two is bad. If you feel that your Master is verbally abusive, physically abusive, too controlling, overprotective, jealous, or you just feel uncomfortable around them, then now is the time to consider what you're into. Sometimes these things can be talked out with them, and that's when you need to use your common sense and consider if it is worth talking about it, or if it better for you to just leave. By all means, sit down and have a conversation about the rules again, there may have been some mis-communication. But like I said, if you've got a bad feeling about it, you're probably right.
---Some M/p relationships can contain some attributes of a Dom/sub relationship. Some people like being kicked down a few notches and degraded; sometimes even physically. As long as it is something you enjoy and have agreed to, knock your socks off, but remember, the same rules apply as they did up there.


To avoid getting in a bad relationship with a Master, don't jump right into it. Talk to them for a while, learn what they like and what they're looking for. Talk about non leash related things to see what kind of person they are in general. If they've proved themselves worthy, then go ahead and give it a try. If anything strikes you as odd, then pass. You can always find another one who will be better suited for you.
If you have already started things off and you realize that you just got collared by a complete nutjob, then end it right then and there before it progresses too far. If things go well, they will get the hint and let you go. If you're being pursued by someone who is jealous and overprotective and will not leave you alone even when you stated your feelings about it, then seek assistance. If you met them on FA, talk to an admin and block them. If you met online, block them from your lists/messengers/friends. If you met them in person and you really feel you are in danger, call your local authority. There will be something you can do to get away from someone like that no matter where you are. You will always posess the power to do it.



Remember, your best bet for avoiding getting into a bad M/p relationship is your own intuition. If you feel anything is fishy, move on and keep looking. Being collared can be a great experience and you can meet some amazing people, but it only takes one person to take it too far. Keep your wits about you, and be safe. Happy leashing~