utterly shocked at peoples behaviour

[Joules]

That is a horrible story - what an awful man    What is the matter with people    I just think it is an inadequate sort of person that treats an animal this way   

[minimoo]

im afraid im not ashamed to shout and make a huge scene, luckily it hasnt happened often ,but i did see one man a while ago beat his little jack russel , he had 2 and he really thumped the one because it didnt do as it was told, i hey its only a little dog , do you beat women up like that, and walked off , i dont give a damn what the pepole think but i do worry that they will take it out on the poor dog, but at least he will think twice about it being acceptable to beat it in public  , luckily my friend who i walk with is as bad as me for speaking her mind 

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

I dont understand why more isnt done to people that hit dogs. anyone hitting anything except in self defence should be illegal.

[charmaine]

I completely understand how you feel.  I had a similar thing happen to me with my 6 month old puppy. This man thought my dog was going to attack his child who was about 5 years old and ten times the size of my puppy.  I know he used that as defence of his aggressive behaviour.  His son will no doubt grow up to think it is OK to act in a violent manner.  I couldn't believe it when I had to face him again on my walk, after confronting him (Through my tears and rage) about his behaviour he told me he owned a Bull Terrier, I can only imagine how he treats that dog.  Whilst I am on the subject of children, I can't believe how many parents over protect their children when animals are around - How on earth are humans going share this earth with other creatures when they have been brought up to be afraid of even a puppy! 

[merry]

  Whilst I am on the subject of children, I can't believe how many parents over protect their children when animals are around - How on earth are humans going share this earth with other creatures when they have been brought up to be afraid of even a puppy! 

I don't want to take over this thread or anything, but when we got Merry we took my friends daughter to have a look at the puppies.  She is a bit frightened of dogs so she kept her distance, but both parents of the puppies were there and the dad was great, he came bounding over to her for a cuddle and she backed away, so he walked away from her and then backed in towards her and let her stroke his back end, which she did, and wasn't threatened by him - isn't that amazing, hasn't Merry got a clever dad

[anthony mazzeri]

and saw a man had been watching us. He asked me if we wer working jack and said his friend had a ftch.

The guy's a psycho. Doesn't have a dog himself, but watches and approaches a woman with a puppy to start up a conversation about a 'friend' with a similar dog.

In light of that, consider Jack saved you from this man by annoying him into inadvertently revealing his true violent nature. Jack deserves a big pork pie reward.

PS. With luck, these people exude some pheromone or somesuch when they are on the hunt which Jack will hopefully always now remember and recognise as a bad thing and will warn you far in advance when next you come across such a person approaching on a dark night or even in broad daylight.

Edited to add: I just re-read your post. At night. Down a lane. Watching you from behind. Were alarm bells not ringing in your head? I'd recommend reporting the incident and his description to your local police. This man may have approached other women using other ruses.

[Cob-Web]

and saw a man had been watching us. He asked me if we wer working jack and said his friend had a ftch.

The guy's a psycho. Doesn't have a dog himself, but watches and approaches a woman with a puppy to start up a conversation about a 'friend' with a similar dog.

In light of that, consider Jack saved you from this man by annoying him into inadvertently revealing his true violent nature. Jack deserves a big pork pie reward.

PS. With luck, these people exude some pheromone or somesuch when they are on the hunt which Jack will hopefully always now remember and recognise as a bad thing and will warn you far in advance when next you come across such a person approaching on a dark night or even in broad daylight.

Edited to add: I just re-read your post. At night. Down a lane. Watching you from behind. Were alarm bells not ringing in your head? I'd recommend reporting the incident and his description to your local police. This man may have approached other women using other ruses.

This is very alarmist, if I may say so; while it pays to be vigilant, it is far more likely that this man was merely ill-informed regarding reputable dog breeding than a violent sexual predator looking for his next victim    Personal safety is generally a matter of common sense; but if women reported every little incident that could be interpreted as something sinister/suspicious, then we would be on the phone to the local police every day 

[ludo]

  Whilst I am on the subject of children, I can't believe how many parents over protect their children when animals are around - How on earth are humans going share this earth with other creatures when they have been brought up to be afraid of even a puppy! 

I know you are talking about puppies but I have to say I don't blame parents for being careful with their children; that isn't the same as being over protective - that is their responsibility  if they see a dog they think is a bit iffy (including over exuberant puppies) or if their child is frightened of the dog then the child has to come first ... in my view it is better to be safe than sorry where a child is concerned unless you know the dog really well and have taught the child how to interact with the dog and supervise at all times ...

Don't shoot me down in flames it's just another point of view to chuck into the pot 

[Cob-Web]

I know you are talking about puppies but I have to say I don't blame parents for being careful with their children; that isn't the same as being over protective - that is their responsibility  if they see a dog they think is a bit iffy (including over exuberant puppies) or if their child is frightened of the dog then the child has to come first ... in my view it is better to be safe than sorry where a child is concerned unless you know the dog really well and have taught the child how to interact with the dog and supervise at all times ...

Don't shoot me down in flames it's just another point of view to chuck into the pot 

I agree    Before we got Molo, my daughter lil'bit (aged 3) was nervous of dogs, and there was no way I was going to risk allowing her to learn how to behave with unknown dogs (even puppies) belonging to people I didn't know, in a public place.  There are a lot of irresponsible owners out there who have unrealistic expectations of their dogs, and assume/expect them to tolerate the behaviour of unknown children.

I learnt the hard way that even the gentlest dog which is not regularly socialised with children can be overwhelmed and react to a perceived threat; my previous dog nipped a child that I allowed to pet her; it never occurred to me at the time that there would be a problem, but she was not familiar with children, and was out of her comfort zone 

I remember taking lil'bit to the Forest a few weeks before we got Molo, and two great big pointers came bouncing towards us. I scooped lil'bit up into my arms, and got a mouthful from their owners "they're not vicious......they're very gentle" etc etc.
I pointed out that my reason for scooping lil'bit out of reach was not to protect her, but to protect the dogs from my child, who was not dog-savvy and was not experienced in behaving appropriately around dogs 

I would not expect any parent to permit their child to interact with my dogs - but I always offer; some say yes, some say no, and that's fine with me 

[anthony mazzeri]

This is very alarmist, if I may say so; while it pays to be vigilant, it is far more likely that this man was merely ill-informed regarding reputable dog breeding than a violent sexual predator looking for his next victim    Personal safety is generally a matter of common sense; but if women reported every little incident that could be interpreted as something sinister/suspicious, then we would be on the phone to the local police every day 

It is indeed alarmist, which I am not by nature. But let the police decide that. That's why they exist. They may have access to more information about this man which we do not and so can make a better informed decision as to whether he's truly harmless or not.

[Crazy Cocker Gang]

to be honest if me or my boy friend saw someone with a cocker pup we would probably stand and watch and start a conversation with the owners. were cocker mad and i couldnt let another owner walk past me wothout having a cuddle off their dog and a chat. 

[Henshallboys]

I have just read this thread and I agree with everyone about the behaviour of the man but he would probably think he had done nothing wrong.....which is even worse !!!

I saw something 20 years ago when I was working in central London that has stayed with me and still upsets me when I think about it.   I was waiting for a bus along with a quite a few other people and in the que was a blind man and his gorgeous black lab which stepped forward towards the wrong bus......he then proceeded to beat it violently with his stick......no one including myself said anything but it was awful to see.  Now with age and maturity behind me I would do something about it.

 

[*jean*]

I have just read this thread and I agree with everyone about the behaviour of the man but he would probably think he had done nothing wrong.....which is even worse !!!

I saw something 20 years ago when I was working in central London that has stayed with me and still upsets me when I think about it.   I was waiting for a bus along with a quite a few other people and in the que was a blind man and his gorgeous black lab which stepped forward towards the wrong bus......he then proceeded to beat it violently with his stick......no one including myself said anything but it was awful to see.  Now with age and maturity behind me I would do something about it.

 

On hindsight we are all wise. dont beat yourself up you were only young yourself! 

[crunchie]

There is an elderly couple who live up the road from me.  They are very much of the old school with regard to dog training and were involved in running training classes.  They have got an elderly alsation and just after Christmas she told me they were getting another alsation.  This is a rescue dog that had been living rough for about 6 weeks in one of the local towns and was about 9 months old.  This dog is absolutely gorgeous and has obviously had a bit of a rough time and is a bit boisterous and unruly.  They have had her for about 6 months now and I think she is getting worse and I think it is because of the way they treat her.  She has nipped a guy who works in the village and has a tendency to rush at dogs she sees out and about.  Their reaction is to be really rough with her and hit her.  I saw him this morning.  They were passing a couple with a dog and their young alsation started barking at it.  His reaction was to start slapping her round the head.  It was awful to see, she was really cowering.  She didn't bark when she passed us, despite Pringle yapping at her.  Another neighbour has seen him kicking her to make her sit.  It is so difficult as he is a neighbour.  I might be too soft but I think poor girl has probably had a tough start in life and needs a bit of TLC, not more abuse.

[Rats and Dogs]

Walking away was probably wise. You have done the right thing in warning other dog owners and making people aware of what this man is like.

However, I would have been unable to restrain myself. A man tried to hit Gari last year for barking at his dog, without thinking I found myself running after him shouting at him, until my friend called me back. I am quite quiet, but I was so angry that I didn't stop to think, and looking back on it I think he could easily have turned around and hit me too.