@Meanlucario
What about Spike? indeed.
Haven’t seen him get bullied by anything but other dragons, which was also the only time the ponies ever had something less than kind to say to him. Not even after going on a kaiju rampage through town did he lose their trust. He knows how to conduct himself, people like him, admire him even.
But his kids? They always seem to hold a sword over their interactions with others.
“Treat me with utmost respect, or I’ll show you everything my father refused to be.” And they don’t always need actual bullies to get that attitude. If something was made about Spike being too liberal as a parent resulting in that attitude, I might forgive them, but that’s rarely what happens.
Like this one PinkSpike kid that said to ‘kaiju-up’ at will to handle her bullies.