I have written before about an owner of a Lab and a Flat Coat, the Labrador has very little recall. I meet him out all the time minus the Labrador and often help him in his search. I met him today, twice. He was very angry as the Labrador had run off, so I helped him search. We found him so all was OK, I looked round to see he still hadn't put him on lead so they were heading down the track when off he went again in the same direction he had been found. I just walked on did my complete walk so I was gone around 1 1/2 hours and there he was still standing waiting for his dog, again. He was by this time extremely angry so I waited to make sure he didn't hurt his dog. He said "when he comes back he is going to get a thrashing" "no don't do that you are not teaching him anything only to be frightened of you, it's cruel", "he does know because when I see him he drops to the ground", "yes that's because he is frightened of you, you are not teaching him fear" I tried to explain that his dog is having the time of his life racing round the countryside, but unfortunately it fell on deaf ears. We continued to walk and search when there he was, I stepped infront of the owner, praised/cuddled his dog, gave him some treats and took his collar gently and asked him to put the lead on, at that point I didn't care what he thought of me I was protecting his dog from him. He continued to curse about his dog so I was scared for him. He looked down at his anxious dog and told him how lucky he was because I was there to protect him His answer to "training" his absconding dog is to keep him on lead for 3 weeks and all be well. Again, I tried to explain that he should train him on a long lead treating/praising every return, every "look at me", he just grinned at me like I was the fool. We continued to walk through the paddock, down the track where he was putting the other dog on lead, he dropped the Labrador's lead and a scared little dog crept towards me, I cuddled him, his eyes so worried and off they went I don't even want to think about what happened when they got home I don't think I can deal with the person any more, I have tried and tried to make him see sense, I have shown him with his own dogs what he can do with a ball and treats but he refuses to listen and continues to make the situation so much worse. I really don't know what else to do, I fear for this dog and find every experience so very upsetting xx
It's a shame he won't let you help. Does he realise you've been through absconding with Charlie and (after a lot of hard work, I know) had a successful outcome?
Yes Joy, I have told him about our journey with Charlie but he thinks because his dog is 5 years old it's too late, I did tell him it's never too late, we are always training our dogs, every day. x
Helen, you are a star. That was very brave of you, standing up for what you know to be right in the face of an angry man. Well done for trying, and for giving some chink of comfort to his dog. I feel your despair, you are doing all you can and more.
Poor dog. At least you tried. If you know we're he lives and you do see him beating his dog you can go to the rspca. Ive not really had much success with them but who knows it's horrible feeling so powerless in the face of such abuse
I feel so sorry for some dogs. Some people don't deserve them and he sounds like one of them! Well done for trying to help x
Five years old is too late ? What absolute rubbish , just an excuse for " cant be bothered " . Millie was a mature girlie when we adopted her, no training, no socialisation , it can be done ! Well done to you Helen , but sadly some people cant be helped xx
So well done @charlie to not only stand up to this stupid, angry man but to try and show him a better, kinder way to treat his dog. Training is a lifelong adventure with our dogs, it's never too early or too late to start.
This breaks me heart. I had a similar situation the other day at the dog park. A man and woman were together with their three dogs. They had two pugs and a pitbull. They were constantly shouting and yelling at their dogs for barking. I felt especially sorry for the pitbull. Every time he would go up to another dog this man would shout and yell and chase him away. Axel and I were on the far side of the park by ourselves playing fetch when the pitbull spotted Axel running to me and followed him. Tail wagging being very friendly. So I threw the ball again for them and off they went and they came back. Once the man spotted his dog with me he called him and the dog obviously scared didn't chase the ball this time but instead went between my legs and leaned all of his body weight into me. The man had to come up and leash him at which point I was petting the dog saying 'good boy, such a good boy' and he dragged him away from me. I cried on the way home wishing there was something I could have done. I wish I could have taken him home. Wonderful job for you to be able to have stood up the way you had. I wish I had been more brave like you. I just don't understand how people like this have dogs, they obviously don't love them so why have them
Sometimes when we speak truth; or putting it another way "goodness", it can enter the hardest of hearts and perhaps your words reached him or have begun to work on him. We are all on a journey and you never know how your courage and goodness have influenced this man. He wouldn't have been so upset if he didn't love his dog, so perhaps maybe his perception will change if ever so slightly. So glad you spoke up. Let's all send him a good vibe.
I'm really impressed that you tried to explain that there is a better way to train his dog. I see people using a lot of physical punishment with their dogs, and wish I had the courage to intervene! I really hope he considers what you said and changes how he treats his dog!
This is true, he does love his dogs, I he feeds them a great raw diet but his training lacks 100% and his answer is to get angry and lash out at his dog on his return I had an SOS text from the owner this morning that his dog had escaped from the back yard having howled all night (he is intact) they let him into the garden and off he went. I couldn't stand to think of him out alone so off I went to help search. His wife was on her own, so I met her only to see she was dressed in her Sunday best, skinny jeans, canvas pumps with white trim and not a speck of mud on her unlike me in my dog walking clobber, covered in mud. So apparently she had been out in the fields searching for him, I think not so I wasn't best pleased. I went straight to the place I had found him yesterday and there he was, Hattie went to play with him but he ran off. I phoned her and she found him in a non muddy place around some houses. I am DONE with this irresponsible family I am the fool xx
You're are not a fool, you are a kind and extremely caring person The world needs more people like you x
Not a fool. As Elizabeth says, kind and caring. And always being non-judgemental and giving people the benefit of the doubt. Sorry you are feeling so sad, but don't change, Helen xx
It is very frustrating to try to help people who won't be helped. And hard on you when you know the dog is being mistreated. Are there other people around who feel the same way you do and who also can being him the same message? Kinda bombard him with it constantly? Maybe it would start to seep in...
It's really hard Lisa, as I know how much he does love his dogs but I have tried sooooo many times, unfortunately other people in the village have no time for him because of his attitude to his absconding dog so they won't say anything, only behind his back. This man basically wants the Labrador, house and country life but without the hard work involved with training the poor dog. He has said that keeping him on lead or retrieving with him is not an enjoyable walk I would give my right arm for Charlie to want to retrieve and stick by my side I worry about the Labrador because if he starts to worry sheep or runs across the road that's it. I have hit a brick wall x
Maybe you need to really let him have it. The way he lets his dog have it. We have a beautiful young chocolate lab female that is an absolute fatty. We are a tight knit group of dog handlers in our quarter. We have a dog park and we meet up there for play. We know for a fact that she gets very little exercise and too much food. She can't even jump up a fallen tree to join the other dogs and can't run around for more than a few seconds without having to recover. She is so sweet and we all love her. Everyone bitches about her handlers behind their backs, but no one says anything to their faces- including me. It's none of our business and we want to keep our community peaceful, and if we judge too harsh, the family will not even bring her to the park. Last week I couldn't believe my ears when the wife of a blind man with a male senior guide lab that is massive but well proportioned, asked the family how much she weighed. They said 35 kg. The lady blurted out that this was unacceptable and what were they going to do about it, and that their 9 year guide lab weighed that much. She got so angry and read them the REIT act. She did this on behalf of the young dog and her anger was indignation. I think it went over well because she asked them so many questions about what they would do when she is 9 years old and can't walk anymore due to bad joints etc. She told them how much an operation cost. Now reading your post I think a light went on. We have to step up and be brave on behalf of the lovely helpless animals. Thank you for caring and perhaps ask this man the same question about cars or the sheep.
