I am still shaking! I just came from a walk in the woods with Kimmy (6 month old Doberman bitch). We were practicing different commands off leash, then I put her on the the long 5 metre training line and we walked through the forest path back to the road. We met some foresters working, so we stopped to look at them.

Suddenly from the side of the path comes an older man with a border collie cross, off leash. As soon as he saw us, he put her on the leash. He was carrying a long umbrella that he was using as a walking stick.

As he approached us, Kimmy made several steps in the direction of the other dog, and as I was gathering the long line to make it shorter and keep her closer to me, the guy suddenly raised the umbrella high above his head, made two or three fast leaps towards Kimmy - who was standing, wagging her tail, and doing the play bow - and hit her on the head!!!

OMG I couldn't believe my eyes. I quickly grabbed Kimmy to protect her - she had no freaking idea what the hell happened, she looked at me confused - and I yelled at the man: "Why did you hit my dog?!"

He yelled back: "This is not a dog, this is a pest!"

He looked menacing and I felt threatened, so as he took a step towards me, I yelled: "Don't come any closer or I will call the police!" (I had my cell phone with me)

He said, angrily: "Call the police, I don't care."

I hastily retreated from what I felt was a dangerous situation, and he yelled something I didn't understand after me, so I yelled "A$$hole!" back and as I was passing the foresters, who watched the whole scene with stunned amazement, they told me they had no idea why he hit the dog, either.

I came home in tears. So this is why I take the pains to socialize my dog for months on end, for this stupid jerk to hit my dog with no reason, to make her scared of people? I am so angry and upset, thank god I didn't have a gun on me or I would have shot him.

Katie

How terrible :(

Oh Katie - poor you and Kimmy.  I'm sure she will be fine - there are some very mean and nasty people in this world - keep up the socialising.  What an idiot this man sounds - grumpy old git springs to mind!

Have a nice cup of tea and cuddle with Kimmy.

I just can not believe some people who own dogs can you?

As you can see, just because someone is a dog owner doesn't mean he's a dog lover, or that he actually knows iota about dogs, because anyone who knows about dogs would know Kimmy was being friendly and not a threat to anyone!

My guess is that the man is someone local. I hope I will never meet him on our walks again.

Kimmy is now napping on the sofa. I wonder what she thinks...
You know, on one hand, I felt threatened and scared for myself, I would stand no chance to this tall, large man... on the other hand, I was so incredibly angry and upset at him for hitting my puppy...

Katie

You know, on one hand, I felt threatened and scared for myself, I would stand no chance to this tall, large man...

Another good reason to call the police.

My neighbour is a local policeman, I think I will talk to him today and tell him what happened...
Katie

Oh bless - I hope Kimmy and yourself are ok. What a dreadful thing to happen. Give her a cuddle from me and my 3.

Karen x

Oh poor Kimmy, I hope she is ok.  There are unfortuantely some right wierdos out there and some rude ignorant people that think Dobermanns are horrible dogs - I had my first really unpleasant experience with that last week with my girl who is a year old, I've often had the shouldn't that dog be muzzled or people avoiding me just because of her breed.  However no one has ever tried to do anything like that to her,  they wouldn't have to worry about my 'aggressive' dog if they tried something like that but rather an aggressive me - it is disgusting, maybe someone will suggest someone you can report him to, it may be worth giving the police a call just to report the incident.. It's going to be doubly important for you to let Kimmy to meet and greet people now so that she doesn't think all strangers are scary people likely to bash her one.  Hopefully all the hard work you have put in won't be undone by this idiot.  Hope you feel calmer in a bit.

Karen

Awful. :( I bet he's had bad experiences in the past, but that is NO excuse. I wonder if you should actually talk to the police. I can't see they can DO anything, and may not even be interested, but just for your own peace of mind and to be able to say should you ever see him again that you DID call the police. Maybe if you exaggerate things and say you have a valiuable pedigree show dog that could have been damaged for life or whatever, the police will take it seriously. I think if it was me I'd at least try. Or the dog warden, or both.

oh no. how horrid
blloody people

what a terrible experience Katy ..your poor baby!!
he probably uses the stick (brolly) on his own dog sadly..!

I think you should follow this up to.... he is probably known to them by the sound of it.

PS..you'd have thought the workmen would have stuck up for you ..a woman alone being abused by a man with a stick using it as a weapon !

take care

Roni

Katie, I would try to find some older men (if you can!) who are prepared to wield umbrellas and chuck treats at her.  Do you have any grandparents, uncles or dad that could help you?  Try to make them look like the man (give them a hat if he was wearing one) and give them an umbrella.  Start with Kimmy a long way away from them and feed her treats while they just stand there.  Ask them to raise the umbrella and give her treats at the same distance.  Keep feeding her loads of treats.  If she is fine at that distance, move in a bit and continue. 

When you are close enough to the man that he can throw treats, ask him to throw them instead of you feeding them. 

Don't rush things - if Kimmy is afraid at any point, take a step away until you find a distance she is happy at, then proceed inwards more slowly with always lots of treats.

By the way - in the eyes of the law, Kimmy is your property, as your dog.  This man has committed an offence equivalent to putting a dent in your car, and it was witnessed by yourself and the forresters.  You would be quite within your rights to report him to the police and you would have a good case.

Thank you, that sounds like a very sensible (and doable) plan, I will ask my FIL to act as a "stuntman", he is of similar build. I called my husband and told him what happened and he said he will try to find out who it was, and then we will report it at the police.
Katie

I would report it to the police and let them find out who it is.  Don't forget to stress how threatened you, personally, felt not just for your dog :) all woman have a right to feel comfortable out and about.

You are right... I have to wonder if he had the nerve to do the same if instead of me it was a 6 ft. 200 lbs man walking the Doberman...

Katie, You are absolutely right.  Bullies always pick on those who are vulnerable and a woman is usually more vulnerable up against a man (or even a poor excuse for one ;) )  Isabel is right, you were personally threatened, afterall at what point did you realise that it was your dog and not you he was going to attack?  Until he hit your poor dog how could you possibly know he wasn't going to attack you? Hopefully the workmen will still be about to act as witnesses should the police pursue this. 

We live in a day and age where we cannot let this type of behaviour pass us by.

Oh My, that is absolutely terrible, I agree with other posters, the police need to be informed, after all he may not just attack dogs he deams as dangerous, but people too.

How is your dog?  Poor Kimmy, he would not have dare do what he had done if you had been a strapping bloke you can bet your life on it.

Please get your dog out to meet men, and umberella's too this was a terrible unprovoked attack and you don't want her to be scared from it. Nice of the foresters 'not' to help, why do people just stand and watch???

I wish you and your Kimmy happy walks out from now on.  Good strong coffee for the shaking, I would be livid, I bet you feel like going back and thumping him. (But then again, you are not a 6ft 20 stone bloke.)

That's awful! Some people are so nasty and disgusting. He sounds like a very sick man.

Hope you feel better soon..you will both be so shook up afdter that. :(

What an awful man! I think you should phone the police and let them know what happened. {{{{{{HUGS}}}}} to you both. xxx

Awful man,sadly I think us dog lovers when out for a walk with our dogs there is on occasion sombody who causes upset.
I would ring the police.

Love Sheila.
      xx

i would of grabed his brolly and wacked him

I had a woman hit my Kizi at Discover dogs at Crufts this year.  She raised her hadn whilke her companion was talking to Kizi and hit her hard on top of her skull with the flat of her hand.  Poor Kizi's expression was stunned amazement, and it became obvious that the woman was mentally retarded and her companion was very appologetic.

I know it is hard but you need to not react in an over protective fashion when you take Kimmy out again, and up the socialisation, especially with men that may look like the attacker, so that she can put this single incident out of mind.

Thankfully my bitch at 8 years old just carried on as if nothing had happened and spent the rest of the day being a trooper meeting and greeting people to the bitter end.

Definately have a chat with your Neighbour Katie as he's in the local force,and definately report it,too many people shrug these things off and idiots are able to get away with dishing out their own brand of wrath against the world unhampered :(
   You never know he may have 'previous' on this type of behaviour, and its only if people speak up can anything be secured against him.
Good luck with it.
{{Hug for you & a nice chin tickle/tummy rub for Kimmy :)}}

I would report it as you were doing nothing wrong and you yourself felt threatened. Also the foresters saw it all, so for once you have witnesses !

Good luck, and do socialise your lovely girl as much as you can so she forgets this incident. Some good advice above :)

Lindsay
x

This is disgusting, poor you and Kimmy.  I'd have a word with the police then at least you know you've done somthing about this scummy man.

I just can't believe it.  Disgusting.

What a horrible, miserable, sad old git.  Can understand how upset you must feel.  I think I would have grabbed the brolly and whacked him over the head with it.

Hope you and your girl are ok.

What a horrible grumpy old man GRRRRR god it makes you sick disgusting behavior

Poor you and kizzy

Katie, report him to the police. This threatening behavour to you is ABH,
Tell them what happened and have it logged. So if this man aproaches you again, just call the police. People like this do it because they get away with it. It may be you he hits next time.

Thank you, I filed a report with the police and also with the Animal Rights Protection Association.
Katie