I dont post on here often, tend to just lurk and read other peoples posts. I chip in occasionally though.
Just thought id share an experience i had today whilst out on a nice walk along canal.
I was having a nice walk with my springer this afternoon along local canal. (its nice now he doesnt chase after every runner or cyclist in sight)
After a few minutes of walking there was a man with a young boxer walking towards me with the dog on flexi lead. I called George back and put his lead on just to be on safe side. As we were walking past the man and his dog, the boxer tried to sniff mine no problem i thought. The man then reacted by hitting his dog in the face with the flexi lead! I told him there was no need to do that. To which he replied ' he's got to learn'. I said 'learn what, not to interact with other dogs'  to which he replied 'F OFF' and walked off. This is getting long winded. I turned round and saw him jerking the dogs choke chain, and saw the poor lad cowering. My heart nearly broke. poor thing. I doubt he was even a year old, all he wanted to do was have a sniff.
It makes you wonder sometimes why people have dogs. I know unwanted behaviour needs to be corrected and i have had to be firm with my boy, but i would never resort to hitting him in the face with a heavy plastic flexi lead.
Thought id vent anyway, as it upset me a bit. Im sure you all have had similar experiences.

Actually this sort of behaviour seems to be getting more common no doubt fueled by the GP watching certain TV programmes showing heavy handed trainers and thinking its the only way to have a well behaved dog.

> fueled by the GP watching certain TV programmes showing heavy handed trainers and thinking its the only way to have a well behaved dog.

Your probably right.

I think it annoyed me more so because i have spent the last 18 months trying to undo behaviour caused by poor socialisation and negative interaction by my boys previous owners.
If this dog is treated like this reguarly there is no way he is going to be a confident well rounded dog.
I just really do not understand some peoples motivation for getting a dog.

>> fueled by the GP watching certain TV programmes showing heavy handed trainers and thinking its the only way to have a well behaved dog.
> Your probably right.
>

It is so sad that there are still people that agree with dominance training.  :-(

Oh Boy :( I nearly got into a physical altercation with this woman i was unfortunate to walk past. She was sitting on the grass with her cocker spaniel, and as we walked past,maybe 30 feet away,her dog started barking at us.No problem,but she yanked on her dogs ear twice so hard that he let out an ear piercing squeal.I called out not to her punish him because of us walking past..I felt responsible for it! She told us to F off.I replied again to not abuse her dog,she got up and started yelling expletives at me,i yelled a few back :-o Then i walked away,had i stayed i have no doubt a physical fight would have ensued!
Some people are just plain ignorant and cruel and don't deserve the devotion of a dog :(