Today I took Candy on to the Downs. She was doing her normal thing running around and looking really cute (of course :wink: ) when this red working cocker came hurtling towards her. I wasn't worried in the least. They were playing and just generally being dogs as far as I could see. I then heard the owner yelling his head off so rather than continuing to walk, I held Candy's collar and waited so that he could get his dog back. When he got to me, he grabbed the dog by its collar, lifted the dog above his head and shook him like mad. He then dashed him to the ground, hit him and then slapped his face over and over again. All the while he was really, really shouting at him. This happened about 2.5 hours ago but as I am typing my hands are still shaking with both rage and shock. :x :shock:
I wouldn't normally do this but I was just so mad I went over to him demanded to know what on earth he was doing. I told him he had to stop hitting the dog right now and calm down. The dog whose name I later found out was Rusty was shaking. I asked him why on earth he thought it would achieve anything by getting so angry and violent towards the dog. He replied that Rusty never comes when he's called. I said it's no wonder if he knows that he's going to get a good hiding!
His wife came up and said that they were at their wits end. Rusty is 1, and is like no other dog they have ever had. She acknowledged that her husband getting angry probably doesn't help but they are really frustrated. They rarely let him off the lead and because he won't come back and then she said that if he's off the lead and sees another dog he gets really excited and runs away to play with it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that normal?
Rusty had run off again and was playing with Candy and the husband said 'Look, see he's gone off again. Can you see what I mean about him. He just doesn't stay' I said what's the problem, he's just playing. He then challenged me to get the dog back. So I called RUSTY RUSTY COME and started waving my arms around. Well to my surprise, Rusty came running over straight to me. I made a real fuss of him and told him he was a good boy and have him a treat. Don't get me wrong, I know that it was more luck than skill but it did make me feel good that he came when he was called.
In all of this Candy was behaving impeccably (thank goodness) and he said why can't Rusty be like her. I told him that all dogs (particularly Cockers) have their moments but it takes lots of hard work and patience but for heavens sake please don't beat him.
I went through all the things I've learned from COL about recall and they said they would try but I'm not sure. :roll: I just wish I could get the image of him losing it with Rusty out of my head. :cry:
The wife said it's the husband that needs training not the dog. I had to agree and I almost said that a course in anger management wouldn't go amiss either but I managed to stop myself just in time!!
Loraine
