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what to do over perceived cruelty
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Visiting the park yesterday saw a female owner smack n her dog as she tried to get him out of the car. He's a very aggressive terrier who promptly went for our girl. Very embarrassed owner was obviously distressed and hit dog again. A little later I saw the dog cowering and her hitting his head with the lead. My partner didn't see that and said leave it as she is having a hard time with the dog and had spoken to him before. But I felt dreadful not saying anything. She,s not a young woman and wears a nurse's uniform. I have some sympathy with anyone who finds a new dog hard work...mine nearly went to Dog's Trust the other night..she' s an adorable pain in the proverbial... but I would never thump her and the partner is reluctant even to do what the breeder said - a light tap on the nose. We do raise our voices with a stern tone as I know shouting is counterproductive but that's it. This other dog is obviously more than just boisterous and mischievous like ours. It is aggressive and I don't know the history but surely whether new from puppy or rescue, owners should know when to seek help or give up and rehome.
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I would of said something, only because I cant stand animals being mistreated. She should know better in a nurses uniform, they are meant to be caring people.
Smacking a dog is never OK, not even on the bum.
There was a recent case where a child was severely bitten by a dog because it associated the child's hand with being hit, which is what the adult owners were doing, Unlike children who can associate being smacked with bad behaviour, a dog will not make the same connection.
If you see her again, perhaps you could very non-confrontationally (because people are more likely to take on board stuff that is presented in a non-judgemental way) say that smacking doesn't work because the dog doesn't associate the pain with misbehaving and it can actually make them more aggressive.
It's not a problem I've ever had to solve but you could suggest to her a different sort of lead, perhaps? Or to do everything very calmly and slowly rather than rush and wind up the dog more? I'm sure there is a way for people to calm down uptight terriers but I don't know how much you could tell her in a brief conversation.
I think a smack is too far, but you need to think about what will happen to this dog. If it's that aggressive, chances of it being rehomed are slim.
Think I'd go with a gentle chat, maybe a bit of empathy (nurses work LONG hours and it must be hard to deal with a tricky dog at the end of a long day!) or even give her the card of good local behaviourist.
It's lovely that people care
Vets and nurses would disagree. At a vets surgery recently and a dog was jumping up at me and the nurse said give him a smack on the bum. so I think the professional know what they are on about.
Vets and nurses are animal health professionals, not trainers or behaviour specialists. Physical discipline is NOT ok. Ever. What do you think you're teaching your dog?
If you knew where she lived you could contact the dog warden or RSPCA to see if they could go round and have a word with her. All violence will do is breed violence. Other than that all you could do is try to be friendly and say you found in the past that smacking never works, only makes things worse. In my experience being confrontational doesn't usually work and can result in it being taken out on the dog. My friend (female) got threatened for challenging a man who was hitting his dog.
Well most dog owners I know give there dog a smack when the power of the voice is not working. Like jumping up at the dinner table, my dog didn't listen when I verbally told him twice. He got a small smack on the bum and listened. I have a very powerful dog so he needs to be disciplined to be told he is doing wrong.
And we have behaviour specialist here thank you. I think I'm teaching my dog, you didn't listen the first or second time so you have to listen now. Have you even got a dog? I'm guessing if you have its probably a little terrier that can easily be picked up if naughty. Some dogs you cant. A lady in my office gives her lab a smack on the nose when not listening. Its not illegal to smack dogs. Your going on like I beat my dog. If he wasn't disciplined he would constantly think he is in control, which is where it goes wrong with there behaviour.
BIB is a ridiculous example because that is not a valid reason.
The fact you know many people that smack their dogs doesn't make it right. I guess you think rubbing a dogs nose in it's toilet if it makes a mess indoors is ok too.....
Many health care assistants wear uniform and many get mistaken for nurses, even within the hospital environment. They seldom correct these misconceptions with patients and their families. In some clinical areas there are more HCAs than qualified nurses.
Most nurses are caring people (they're hardly in the job for the financial reward) but I agree that doesn't necessarily extend to caring for animals. However, most of my close colleagues are pet owners of one sort or another and we have learned a lot from each other over many years.
well its my opinion. Just because YOU think its wrong doesn't make it wrong either.
No I don't do that to him, never have. So carry on ASSUMING things.
I've got a staff cross mastiff which they can be a bit out of control IF you let them.
Jumping up can be cured without smacking as can any other behaviour.
Weak, thick people beat their dogs, because they cannot outsmart them >:(
add lazy into that as well......
Physically disciplining a dog does nothing but promote fear which = aggression.
I'm a professional and say that your vet nurse was wrong. No physical punishment is acceptable for any animal. There's no ifs and buts.
New research has proven that dogs treated badly produces aggressive dogs. Which is what I've been saying for years.