I despair at times!

On our walk this afternoon I met a woman with her dog. Medium sized dog of slight build.

I have seen her in the mornings when I've been going to work walking along the road with the dog and giving it a damn good yank every now and again. I felt sorry for it, I hate seeing doing being treated in this way.

So, when I spotted her this afternoon I watched her as she was approaching. My two were off lead. As per, she was giving it a yank now and again and as we approached she yanked the poor thing and smacked it right on the face. It only wanted to see my dogs and when it and Roxy said hello nicely she yanked it back again, right to her side and smacked it on the face again, and kept it by her side.

I asked her, nicely enough, was her dog not good with other dogs. She said that her dog was a pup who was full of nonsense and carry on (it was an older pup, possibly around 10 months). I said that most pups were and that's them just being pups - not being bad, but she should really let her socialise with other dogs and that smacking it on the face, keeping the lead tense all the time (especially around other dogs) and yanking it's lead all the time may cause her to be fearful/aggressive towards other dogs in the long run if she is not allowed to mingle a bit with new dogs. I told her my dogs were good with other dogs. She let her dog sniff Roxy for a few seconds, tails wagged and all was good, then the pup was pulled back to her side.

She said the dog was in season (in the middle of a busy park in the afternoon!), but I said it was ok as my dogs were both bitches and are fine with other dogs. Still she kept the dog right tight beside her.

She said that if the dog doesn't do as she's told she'll get reprimanded, and it seemed to me she was being reprimanded for mixing with other dogs.

Now, I'm all for training dogs (obviously!) but this dog doesn't seem to be allowed to mingle with other dogs and, basically, be a normal dog. I bet that dog would've played quite happily with Roxy if it was given the chance to. Afterall, training could have resumed on after a socialisation session, as socialisation with other dogs is part of training! Right?

Sorry if some of you feel I was out of order, but I really felt sorry for the poor dog. I just wish she'd give it a bit of a break!

my word - she hit it in the face?
You should be a diplomat for trying to explain that she should socialise her dog, I don't think you were out of order at all.

Poor little dog.

She doesn't sound as if she even likes it , poor little thing

Thank you. Glad you don't think so.

Yes, the poor things was slapped several times. It disturbed me a bit. I struggle to stop thinking about things like that.

That's what I thought too, poor wee thing. What enjoyment can you get from treating a dog like that? It's a dog not a monster on the end of the lead, I felt like telling her.

I don't like the sound of this at all, you don't go around hitting dogs in the face, if she does this in front of other people, what the hell does she do when no one is around.It doesn't sound like she likes the dog, and I know you won't have the answer but why is it in season, shes not planning on breeding it I hope.I feel really concerned for this poor dog, but I don't know what can be done,I guess its difficult for anyone to get involved.Maybe you could ask her if shes considered taking it to training classes, it sounds like she could do with the training more than the dog !

I don't think I would have been anywhere near as polite as you.......

Dozy woman, and poor, poor dog. I may have smacked her in the face, just so she knew how it felt.....

If I see someone hit a dog outside (which isn't often at all) I always wonder what goes on behind closed doors and it haunts me forever.

Like you, I hope to god she's not going to breed from her. Poor thing. The owner obviously doesn't have a clue. If she carries on the way she's doing she's going to end up turning her dog against other dogs as it's really being taught that other dogs are a bad thing for which she gets smacked on the fact for! Not good at all.

If she wants it to walk nicely on lead when there are other dogs about she'd be much safer and better off using treats/toys and herself as tools for distracting the dog and keeping it by her side as closely as she can without yanking the dog. I suggested this to her and she said she knows what she's doing and it's her pup. I said that she obviously doesn't know what she's doing otherwise she wouldn't be hitting it on the face everytime it mixed with another dog!

Some people just beggar belief.

Believe me, Vicki, I was tempted to bloody well whack her one on the face! But I resisted temptation.

I said to her that she could be preparing her dog to perhaps become aggressive - particularly dog aggressive. I know that's dramatic but it is a possibility if she carries on doing what she is. She said her dog won't, and I said to her how does she know that for sure - her reply "she won't". Honestly, I could've slapped her one there and then to try and knock some sense in to her!

if shes like that with her dog. hope she dont have children. some ppl dont deserve dogs or cats.
today there was this woman at the bootsle. she had an adroable retreiver. lovely dog. she was wearing high heels and turned suddenly and trod on the poor dogs foot. she didnt even stroke him or nothing. there was afew ppl there ready to tread on her.