I have just returned from a walk with my Lab puppy, it was a route that we do not take very often, but our mission was to pick up the kids from their grandmother. On our return journey I was aware of a man with 3 dogs all of different breeds walking some distance behind us, what I was not aware of from a distance was that they were not on lead (we were in a very built up area)I thought that they may catch us up and was prepared for a response if they did, but what happened next has left me very upset and shocked.
They had caught us up very quickly, one of the dogs rushed up from behind he was HUGE! a X of some sort, the man shouted don,t worry he,s all right, then another dog ran and lunged at Chester my pup, as I turned the man was talking on a mobile phone, he screamed at his dogs to get off, at this point I think my children were very worried,the dogs returned to the man, and he KICKED the dog that went for chester, it yelped in pain, at which point the man shouted SORRY, I was speechless( SORRY that he kicked his dog or sorry that his dog bit mine? )and looked at him in horror, he just walked away and resumed his conversation on his mobile!
Chester has only a minor injury from his encounter, but up until now all our experiences with other dogs have been good, I hope that he will still be o.k but am worried what affect this may have on him.
I am also concerned that this man owns 3 dogs and that he treats them this way, and that he seems to think there is no need to have them on a lead, there were lots of children about, surley he should have been more responsible.
I keep thinking if I did anything wrong, but my dog was under control, I was almost in tears the rest of the way home, thinking about him kicking that poor dog I am so upset I just needed to tell someone.

Awwww Skatee, sorry you had such a bad experience. But unfortunatly these people are about all be it in the minority - thank god. Give your puppy a hug from me, I'm glad he's okay. I hope you feel better now, especially as you had the opportunity to get it off your chest. Had a similar experience myself in the past, I don't think there is much you can do (unless someone can tell us otherwise) I gave the man in question a piece of my mind, which did'nt help either.

Lets hope tomorrow is a better day.
Hope you and pups are okay now.

Lynda

Skatee, read the thread under idle chat "This really annoys me". This is all about dogs off lead and going for other dogs and is quite interesting as it is similar to your experience.
Lorna :)

Thanks Lorna,
I hadn't seen that thread, interesting reading, and thanks Lynda for listening, I've calmed down a bit now, pup seems to have taken it in his stride, still can't get over that man kicking his dog though!

Cheer up Skatee;) I saw this on a GSD rescue site that I've been on- he's obviously not a nice man:(

"He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with Man, we can judge the heart of a Man by his treatment of animals"

By Immanuel Kent

I thought it quite fit the situation, the thing that I find most distressing is the fact that this fella just carried on with his phone conversation as if kicking the poor thing was the only way to go about things. I do hope your pup hasn't any 'mental scars' from the incident. How's he been when you've been out since- okay I hope:)

Stacey x x x

I watched a programme on sky about the american bulldog ,I think they trained them like pitbulls
holding on to ropes on tree's stamina work pulling carts .But the dog' was not aggressive nice looking dog's .But can see your point could worry you if they just charged up to your children and dog.Must blame the owner a dog can go for another dog for any reason .

Pat x