Firstly, I want to point out that I didnt post the thread to get sympathy, or to show off how good my dog is or to have it confirmed to me I should leave him. I posted the thread because the whole thing was on my mind. Furthermore, I knew this thread, and me, wouldnt get a favourable response but i'm used to that. I've been on Dogsey long enough to know how people will respond to certain things.

Secondly, I do not live with my OH so my details on here are irrelevant. I have to admit, I wasnt expecting somebody to suggest my details should be used to report my OH though. I take sole responsibility for my dogs, the OH has nothing to do with them. Like I said in my original post, we take our dogs out seperately and since I dont live with him neither, I dont know how he treats her on a day to day basis. I have seen things I dont agree with in the past but not to the extent I saw yesterday, which is why I posted.

Thirdly, I did not leave him completely whistling for his dog. We had taken the 2 pointers out only, I went back to the car to collect my collies and then they all went out. By this time he'd calmed down and was letting his dog do what she wanted again. The rest of the walk was spent with me trying to convince him that if he altered his attitude, his dog wouldnt be such a problem. I've talked to him about this till i'm blue in the face and we've had many disagreements about it but it falls on deaf ears.

Believe it or not, he is a very mild mannered person who fails to see problems as problems, thats why his dog runs amok in the first place but when he does lose his temper, he goes completely overboard, but this happens on very rare occassions. I'm not concerned for my safety at all though. In his defence, he does suffer with severe depression and it's something i've had to deal with, and that includes several attempts at suicide. I dont want to bring his/our personal problems into it but Wilbar brought up mental health.

Mine and his approach to dog ownership is completely different and try as I might, I cant convince him that his approach isnt responsible and clearly doesnt work. He's older than me, has had many more dogs than me so whether he thinks i've got no grounds to preach, I dont know.

I don`t suppose counselling or anger management are things he`d consider?

I have to agree with the above, OK, we are all disgusted with the behaviour of this man, and its seems from many have just simply judged Leanne for standing by and watching.

Leanne if you don't live with your OH you are only seeing the side of him he wants you to see. Abusers of animals are often also abusing their partners and their children. I think you are being wilfully blind to the implications of his behaviour for you in the long term.

As far as his treatment of the dog is concerned you don't have to rant at him, but make it very clear that you will not tolerate him abusing his dog. Then stick to your guns and do the right thing if he does it again. That is the very least you should do.

Sorry I may upset some people here, but Leanne, whilst you and others on here may understand depression, and understandably not wanting to upset the apple cart........the dog doesn't.

So if the dog does something that he doesn;'t like do you really think a beating is ideal.....It will only make the dog do more mistakes.

And I am sorry for this......but to me its not about your OH depression its about what the dog is suffering....and I think thats what you need to remember.

Those dogs need to be placed in safety and then he needs to get treatment.

Sorry but to me the dogs welfare would be my first priority