We had a really horrible experience this morning.  We were walking our two dogs in the woods where we always walk and we saw a man coming towards us with a gorgeous young springer.  Because Lucy is still nervous of bouncy dogs we called her back and put her on the lead.  The man tried to call the springer back to him but it took no notice and just kept bouncing around - friendly but not really under control.  The man then completely lost it, started shouting and swearing at his dog and then grabbed it by the collar and literally threw it about 5 foot in the air and tried to kick it when it landed, thankfully not making much contact.  The dog ran off (understandably) and the man ran after it still shouting and swearing.  We were so gobsmacked we didn't say or do anything, but I am really worried about the poor dog and am wondering, if we see them again, whether we should say or do anything.  We have seen them once before recently and he was also cross with the dog on that occasion, but nothing like today.  What would you do?

That is absolutely awful. I feel so sorry for the poor dog. No wonder it didn't want to come back.

I would call the RSPCA about him if you can find out where he lives.

Some people are just discusting. Not really sure what else you can do. If he is that aggressive to his dog i would be worried what he would be like to you.

I agree with Anna, you are in a woods with no other back up, different to being on a busy street etc. there are times to be brave yourself and act on instinct and times when it is unadvisable to do so.  If this man thinks it ok to treat his dog this way,  he would think nothing of becoming aggressive to anyone who interfered or tried to tell him he was wrong.

However, the RSPCA or Dog Warden definitely need a call, the poor little dog is being badly abused, does this guy not realise his dog would never want to recall to him, what dog wants a beating!

I would have your phone on the ready, if possible can you follow him home, (not alone) or get his car reg no?

If you have your phone on you, could you perhaps try and get a sneaky picture of him or his car to pass onto the RSPCA or dog warden? Please dont put yourself in danger though whatever you do. I really feel for you, you must be so upset. Please keep us updated on what you do or what happens if you see him again. Keep Safe x

Great idea about trying to get a picture of his car - I just need to sneak back to the car park ahead of him to catch a look of which is his car.  I was all for dognapping the poor dog but my husband has persuaded me that would not be wise!  I am so worried about the poor dog - it looked such a sweet thing.  How can people be so cruel?

This is a really difficult one - I probably would have engaged my mouth before my brain and done completely the wrong thing.  But being able to think about it and in addition to the suggestions you already had - I would definitely try to walk the same way and bump into him again to see if you can find anything out.  If possible see if you can engage in casual conversation - you might be able to recommend some training tips.  Obviously though if he doesnt seem like he would welcome conversation stay well away and definitely dont show out that you disapprove of how he behaves.  I cant imagine why if somebody really dislikes their dog to the extent that they do this why do they even bother to have or walk one - why not give it to a rescue and let it go to somebody who would love it!  Hopefully if nothing else you might learn enough to say to the RSPCA that he walks a particular route at a set time...........  I hope if you do see him again you are able to find something out to help the poor dog.

a similar thing happened to me about a year ago, a dog (spaniel)passed  very obediently with its owner and  when we were a bit away it broke back to come and find us, the owner shouted and chased it and when he caught it he "hung" it from its collar then threw it to the floor. I wasnt near enough to say anything and i dont think i would have dared anyway. its very difficult but if i saw it again i would attempt to follow him to find out whrer he lived, although what  good it would do i dont know.havnt seen them since anyway, but i do sympathise with how you feel its horrible.

If he usually walks the poor dog at the same time, then would a description and details to the RSPCA or dog warden enable them to perhaps catch him being so cruel, or at least warn him ?
I can well understand your wanting to run off with the poor little thing.

I don't think he is a regular walker at the same time - we've only seen him twice.  However, I will definitely keep my eyes open for him again and see what info, if any, I can find.  I might also ask some of the other walkers we pass whether they have come across him.

Can't get the poor dog out of my mind

I cant imagine why if somebody really dislikes their dog to the extent that they do this why do they even bother to have or walk one - why not

I suspect the answer to that question is one of two reasons.

Firstly, I doubt, the owner had looked properly into the characteristics of the Springer, and perhaps bought one because it looked nice, and now has a hyperactive baby on his hands which he has no idea how to control, and no doubt is blaming the dog for just acting like a Springer.

Secondly, well as we can tell, he has no idea how to train! And even if he did probably couldn't be bothered to spend time and effort on praise and reward training.

It is probably a classic case of expecting a pup/dog to know how to behave, and not realise it takes time, effort and a lot of training.

So the poor pup is now being treated as a naughty child and being given a good whipping and shouting at to behave, which of course does not work.

Our friends have a brown lab, and when he was a puppy he was ALL teeth....anyway after a particularly rough game with his owner he was getting really nippy - totally normal puppy behaviour and being wound up by his owner - and his owner hit him. I was mortified - this tiny little puppy and this big man just smacked him.....this was in my living room and I just couldn't keep my mouth shut. I sharply told him not to hit him, that it was like hitting a baby, and it was his own fault for winding the pup up. The owner was very embarrassed and forever trying to make out that this didn't happen all the time. How that dog isn't hand-shy I'll never know.

So basically, I can't keep my trap shut at the best of times - especially if I've got my husband standing behind me ;) - so it's altogether possible I would have said something, based on the fact that people like that are bullies, and bullies always pick on someone/thing they think they can dominate. It's a different story when someone their own size has a go back.

The problem is a lot of us that have had abusive language etc. thrown back at us have now bitten our tongues and have stopped saying anything when we see this sort of thing. Hence people get away with it. Very sad times we live in. :-(

It's sad that it's come to not being able to fight your corner sometimes. We have some nasty kids around our area - only one or two- but we had a metal grill thrown through our front window the other day (nealrly smashed the TV) and sometimes we get youths banging on the front door! I have to stop myself springing out the front door and chase after them - especially not to get my husband involved as when there's a gang you just can't risk getting into a verbal fight with them.

However a few weeks back I had a women, literally, screaming and shouting, threatening me with effing this and effing that the other day because I had my dog off lead!!! I politely, and firmly (and no mirroring her language) told her to stop sceaming at me, that she had no right to use that sort of language towards me and that her tirrade was utterly unecessary. She soon shut up.

I rather suspect that my heart would have ruled my head on this one because anyone prepared to treat their dog so harshly suggests their response could be unpredictable. It sounds like a particularly horrible attack so if there is any evidence you can collect without putting yourself at risk, I'd be inclined to collect it.

Of Springers, not long ago I witnessed an incident with a young 'un who was swimming round and round a pond at the nature reserve being pursued by his owner and the swan whose nest the dog was attempting to raid. The dog's owner was getting increasingly frantic and just managed not to lose his cool but, after finally capturing the wayward Springer he admitted that there were moments when he was so frantic that he could have quite easily have lost it and hit the dog. Not that he ever hit his dogs, I hasten to add! He was an experienced dog owner but had never had a Springer before and said that they were a lovely breed but not necessarily an "easy" one.

So in the wrong hands I can see how much damage could be done.

this makes me wonder just how many dogs are suffering under these sort of people today, i bet theres more than what we think...such a shame :(

It pains me to think about it :(

so it's altogether possible I would have said something, based on the fact that people like that are bullies, and bullies always pick on someone/thing they think they can dominate. >It's a different story when someone their own size has a go back.<

Totally agree,especially with that last sentence!

When it comes to me witnessing a dog getting mistreated,fears for my own safety completely fly out the window,and my only thoughts are helping the dog and berating the owner! If i see a dog being mistreated then i feel it is my duty to step in there and then,i cant help myself,i would do the same if i saw an innocent child being beaten,wouldnt you? In my eyes a dog is no different...

I've seen owners calling their dogs 20 times and then when the dog finally comes back they get a whack for it,i make sure and make the owner feel as stupid as their actions are,they just cant argue back with the facts,especially when you ask them if they would come running to me, if everytime they did i would slap them across the face :rolleyes:

The last time i intervened was when a dog escaped from his front garden,the owner ran after him got him and then  kicked him HARD all the way back into the garden.I screamed for him to Stop!! Which he did,as i threatened to call the police if he laid another finger on his dog. People who do this are weak and rarely ever act like this to people their own size,they can tell me to mind my own business all they like,but when it comes to innocents like kids and dogs it is our duty to speak up for them and not turn our backs,especially if it is happening right there and then infront of us. I ended up calling the RSPCA on the guy who kicked his dog,and it ended up that they had had compaints before about his treatment toward him and he ended up being taken from him.Who knows,had i not stepped in would that dog have continued to receive a beating? I find the consequences of not stepping in harder to take then the possible consequences of turning a blind eye.

Well done KTee :)  If only there were more people like you around :)

I do sometimes feel that I need to stand up to those who can't themsleves....I once witnessed a little boy getting an almighty punch to the side of the head from his father before he promptly disappeared into an allotments. It was so shocking I felt I had no other choice but to report it but didn't know where to start so I called the school by which I saw the incident. After some discusssion it came to light they knew of this familiy and this this info would help. I had to speak to the police etc but although I coudn't change what had happended to this poor soul it made gave me a little more comfort in knowing that I could have helped this little boy be a bit more protected. (well I hoped.)

It's a very sad state that people (myself included) can be too frightened to speak out because of the perceived consequences - mostly reinforced by the  medias sensationalist over reporting of isolated and rare incidences I feel - and this is compounded with a lack of knowing exactly what to do when they do see something so awful.