Went for a walk last night and saw a person who goes to training school.  I was appauled to see that the person hit their dog right across the head because it didn't obey a command immediately.  I am quite good friends with the trainor, do you think I should say something about what I saw?  I felt sick when I saw the person do it.  Our policy is any form of physical punishment is completely unacceptable. Any views?

I would definitely say something.  Otherwise it would be like condoning what you saw.

That's what I thought.  Really it would be out of my hands then if the trainor took over and said something, if not to the person direct but to the group as a whole about punishment.

..Yes you should most definately have a word to the trainer apart from anything else it will affect the results of the training! If it had been me (bossyboots) I would have marched over and said something to the person anyway!!! He has probably spoilt his chances of training the dog now  and I would have told him so !!

Are you asking if you should say something to the trainer or the owner?

IMHO I would have approached the owner at the time of the incident in a non-confrontational way and ask why they felt they had to abuse their animal in this manner.

Not sure what approaching the trainer would achieve as, although I don't doubt the veracity of what you saw, I would try and put myself on both the shoes of the owner and the trainer.

If I was the owner I would prefer if someone had an issue with me to settle it with me, in person.

If I was the trainer, I could not act on the "hearsay" of someone else as it would hardly be fair would it? 

You could of course speak to the owner and inform them that you feel you must apprise the trainer of what you saw and then the ball is in both the owner's and trainer's court. 

Just curious as to why you did not act at the time

They were quite a way away from me for a start and we were going in the opposite direction and they were going the other way.  I'm no linford christie as it was a fair length to run!  I suppose I was shocked too and just thought that the best thing to do would be to possibly have a word with the trainor as they are very approachable and would take notice of what I was to say.  I would not have been able to keep cool enough to say anything in a tactful manner and would probably have returned the slap to the person!  In any event the moment has gone and now I was just wondering whether a word with the trainor would help.

p.s the person is not in my class in training school.

Hmmm, I can see why you did not approach the person at the time of the event, however I would not go behind someone's back but have a quiet word with them first, just in case they were in a moment of crisis or something.  (I am not excusing her behaviour, however most of us have acted out of character sometimes and done something we were ashamed of..................?)
After all, how would you feel if the positions were reversed? 

As a trainer I would feel the only way to go forward was to have a discussion with both you and the owner there simultaneously so that all the cards were on the table and so the owner did not think that the trainer was acting purely on what could be malicious gossip.

(I am not accusing you of being either but just trying to turn the tables and play devil's advocate here.)

Just a thought.

..but surely Tohme if Labmad does not tell the trainer the trainer will never know it happened and the poor dogs mistreatment will surely affect its training. I would tell the person I was going to tell the trainer and the reason why!!

er isn't that what I suggested

I don't see the person though cos they are not in my class??

It didn't look like a moment of crisis either it was more a I TOLD YOU TO DO SOMETHING AND YOU DIDN'T SLAP ACROSS THE HEAD!

..and having had a quiet word what if the person did not want to tell/you to tell the trainer? The trainer could not discuss it with both unless they knew.. :-) You would still have to tell the trainer yourself in effect go behind the persons back :-)

...also if I was a trainer I would want to know! The treatment of that dog could effect the results achieved and therefore my reputation as a trainer. ?? What a shame for the poor dog, some dogs like some children are more slow to learn and a moments lost patience can put either back months. I would explain that to the person..nicely of course :-)

hi! well id have a word with your trainer,not say anything to the owner, then if the trainer decides to say anything im sure it will be done in a professional manner! (not that LM would  not be diplomatic,im sure!) but may just get a load of abuse whereas the owner may well listen abit more to the trainer.

would have been fair enough to say something at the time, but i wouldnt be happy confronting someone after a few days!!!!!

Yes I think the trainor will handle it much better than me. I wouldn't have been able to contain myself I know I wouldn't and now I don't want to risk a big scene erupting in our otherwise friendly club.

i would do the same!

out of interest,is this a long standing club member? or a new one?
as you are in different classes do you know if the dog generally behaves or not?

fairly new but I do believe that she used to do C with her dogs years ago! God knows how if she trains like that!

I think her dog is just boisterous but not badly behaved from what I know.

Oh!!! will pm you!!!

Michelle is right.  The trainer will be probably be diplomatic and professional and have dealt with this situation before. ;)

I too would speak to the trainer :)

I have on occasion spoken to owners who hit their dogs often, and honestly most tend to be abusive even if you approach in a polite manner, because they don't see anything wrong in what they are doing. I would want to know if  i was the trainer, because yes, it would affect the dog's progress in class and the owner may be having trouble and want some advice.

Lindsay
X

Theres no way i would be sneaky about mit,i would confront them there and then,after all if we cant stand up in life for what we believe in then what can we do??You say you were too far away for you to catch up with them,well they couldnt of been that far away for you to have seen them hit their dog,sorry my instincts would have taken over and i would have gone over to them(trying to be calm of course)and told them in no uncertain terms how cruel for one but more so how irresponsible of them to use "corporal punishment"to suppossedly train their dog.

Whatsmore i would also of made them feel inadequate in a round about sort of way by suggesting that if that is all they can resort too,to get their dog to behave then really the dog is superior to them,not needing to resort to such measures but still doing the desired "act"/"behaviour",it would certainly give them food for thought,if nothing else.

I was in a dilemma similar to yours.
As I left my pup class I saw one of the guys with a very excitable springer pup drive away....with the springer  pup on his lap in the drivers seat!!!!!! I could not believe how dangerous this was, as the pup was bouncing about frantically, he could barely steer.
The following week I stood up at the end of the class and made a little general speech to everyone. I said that i had seen "someone" doing this dangerous thing, and said how shocked I was. The others all agreed with me. The bloke wasnt identified, but he still got to see that I wasnt the only one who thought it was an incredibly stupid thing to do. This was probably more effective than if i had approached him myself.
Following this, the trainer took up the subject, and we all discussed the safe methods of transporting dogs in cars.  By dealing with it in that general  way, i got my message over, and both the bloke and the rest  of the group got to learn a few things. The trainer used it as a positive learning experience.
If you tell the bloke yourself he will probably ignore you and convince himself that YOU are the one who is wrong.
By telling your trainer, he/she could diplomatically use this general anonymous method to highlight this is unacceptable behaviour, offering alternative appropriate solutions to dealing with a dog that isnt obeying. By  knowing the identity of the culprit the trainer may be able to watch the interaction between this owner and the dog, and take that person aside if necessary.

I saw a person lift a collie with it ears and kick it.I knew the person and he used to take the dog out for someone who I knew very well.
When I got home I was upset .No dog should have that done to them.
I phoned the owner and told her.She replied the dog goes mad waging his tail when this person picks him up.
A collie will if it thinks it is going a walk.
I told her if I saw it again I would report it to RSPCA.
I asked friends if they had seen the bloke hit the dog and some told me they had.
I saw him kick the dog again I didn't hesitate I reported it and did not hide the fact I had.
I would do it again.
If we can't stick up for Aanimals who can.
Chow