If this was YOU on Wednesday, then I’m really sorry.

[flowergirl24]

Two days ago I was walking in a seaside town in Devon, with two dogs and two children. After a stressful time at work, we wanted to have a few days off. Our break turned pretty hellish with children not sleeping at all and lots going wrong. On this last day, my Labrador tried to attack another dog, knocked over my 2 year old child while doing it and I lost it. I smacked him and shouted at him. It was kind of the last straw. Two women passing by stopped and had a go at me, saying I should never treat an animal like that. My husband told them to back off. He later said that he saw the one crying on the other’s shoulder (they looked like grown up mother and daughter) so they were clearly very upset by the incident. If this was YOU, or you know who this was, then I want to say sorry. I’m ashamed at my behaviour. Hoping to get some help for me to deal with my anger and I’ve already booked some specialist dog training to help with that situation.

I think you think a lot.

She snapped, just shut up eh?

If you are perfect then please continue.

I’m hiding this thread, it’s sickening how some folks justify animal cruelty.

I’m assuming you’ve never witnessed or been made aware of actual animal cruelty if you think that someone smacking their dog (and a biggish dog too, not a delicate little chihuahua) for trying to attack another dog with enough force to knock over a toddler is animal cruelty.

@LochJessMonster totally agree.

@PickwickThePlockingDodo

Is this the first time you've hit your dog, OP? Only I thought labs were peaceful soppy dogs not generally known for attacking other dogs.

Glad you're going to get help with your anger management.

Both of my dogs have been attacked by Labradors. They have quite the reputation for dog on dog aggression.

I'm so sorry you are feeling so awful. You made a mistake. You are rectifying the situation. Try not to be too hard on yourself.

@KeepingPlain - I'm not surprised by that, labs can get very over-excited and I've met a number of labs whose owners have very little control of them. No dog is completely safe around a small child, and a dog that lacks control and snarls, bites or barges is a concern.

However in this instance clearly compounded by two women sticking their noses in where they had no business. Honestly people need to grow up.

It's not like you can sit the dog in the naughty corner until it apologises and you can then explain the error of its ways. If a dog attacks another dog and then barges a small child, that behaviour needs to be controlled.

I hope, OP, you are successful in taking steps to sort your dog out, hopefully you won't see a recurrence of that kind of uncontrolled behaviour and/or you will be better able to bring the dog into line in figure.

I do t think you should beat yourself up op. If your dog was attacking another dog then it's right you tried to stop it.

I smack my cats if they attack (not playing) one of the others. They are spoiled rotten and loved but I don't allow them to attack each other.

And the women who cried need to get a grip. Telling someone off where I grew up would likely result in a punch on the nose! If you DH didn't swear or threaten them they were overreacting.

Hi OP, well done for getting help for you and your dog!

If you hire a dog behaviourist, look for one that is a member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC). Please steer clear off anyone who still believes in dominance/pack theory or who uses aversive methods, such as leash corrections and choke or prong collars. Whilst you’re waiting to see the behaviourist, it might be an idea to walk your dog in areas where you are unlikely to come across other dogs.

The next time your dog goes for another dog, it might be helpful for you to remember how you felt when you lashed out at him. You were acting out of frustration and raw emotion, just like he probably is when he is lashing out at another dog.

Good luck and be kind to yourself!

The fur-mommy movement is why we have so many out of control dogs. OP smacked her dog as it was attacking another dog and could have injured a child in the process ffs!! People are more concerned about the dog than the kid!

I love dogs, my dogs are my world but the “fur baby” shite is ridiculous and is ruining dogs. If the OP kicked the shit out of the dog for pissing on the carpet then yeah ... she’d be abusive. She smacked the dog (and a strong, sturdy dog at that) as it was being aggressive.

So to all you “horrified” and “heartbroken” people commenting ... what would YOU have done? Let the dog continue attacking the other one no doubt as god forbid we ever discipline our dogs.

(A Labrador attacked my dog and left a scar down her back, I regret not hitting it).

OP, sending you a hug, ignore the people who are having a massive go.
You sound like you were stressed out of your bollox and just lost it. If it was your hand your hit your lab with I'd be surprised if you actually managed to cause it any physical pain, they are not small or delicate creatures.

@LochJessMonster

I think dog training is a good idea. I think a grown woman sobbing on someone’s shoulder is an overreaction. I think anger management is an overreaction. I think ‘animal abuse’ is an overreaction. I think most of these posts are an overreaction.

Me too.

Smacking the dog is likely to make it more likely to attack again in future but this was hardly a well planned out training technique

Sometimes I think people forget that humans are animals too. They are subject to all the same hormonal and physiological repsonses.

Sometimes life gets on top of a dog and he snaps.

Sometimes life gets on top of a person and they snap.

In both cases the answer is not punishment. Punishment is only ever for the 'benefit' of the person/animal doling it out; not the receiver.

It is looking at ways to improve the dog/person's skills or support to cope with that level of circumstance. Or avoid it. Training to give the OP insight into dog reactivity (if that's what this is) and ways to help manage it, sound like a great idea.

I do wonder what the expectation would be if the OPs lab had been attacking a small dog. You hear these horror stories of big dogs tearing small dogs apart and the owner of the bigger dog just standing idly by watching. Is that preferable?

We have a dog who can be very trying on occasions, particularly if he sees one of a handful of other dogs whom he dislikes intensely. He goes from being a placid, well-behaved dog to an utter maniac in these situations, pulling and barking to get to the other dog and generally being very hard work indeed. I find it very embarrassing and have been known to smack him on the bottom. I'm not saying it's the correct response, but sometimes they can tip you over the edge.

Smacking the dog aside. You really need to sort out your dogs behaviour otherwise one day it won't be another dog, it will be your toddler being attacked.

We had a behaviorist for our chihuahua (who is an arsehole) and it was money well spent.

p.s. 'Your End of the Lead: Changing how you think and act to help your reactive dog' by Janet Finlay is a really easy and accesible book that looks at ways to help you understand and change how you react when your dog does. Well worth a read for anyone struggling with a reactive dog.

Boris seems to care more about people buying pastries at Pret than the health of the population so no, YANBU!

The women were potty. Ridiculous to get so upset.

Don't blame you for losing it with the dog, it could have been a lot worse. I'd have it PTS in our place, it's untrustworthy around a toddler.

Why do you have a dog which tries to attack people?

Smacking pets is WRONG. Discipline doesn't require physical violence. I can't believe people are OK with smacking dogs and cats.

Perhaps I’ll just keep posting this until a hand-wringer answers me

do wonder what the expectation would be if the OPs lab had been attacking a small dog. You hear these horror stories of big dogs tearing small dogs apart and the owner of the bigger dog just standing idly by watching. Is that preferable?

justanother you've set the bar depressingly low there. Picking the worst between two poor situations doesn't make the other one acceptable.

@KaptainKaveman

Why do you have a dog which tries to attack people?

The most MN response ever 😂

I mean, why do you think? She looked for one specially in the newspaper? Posting questions with obvious answers doesn’t make you look clever, but is absolutely rife on this site. It’s a way of making a dig or being really judgy but watering it down with a question mark. Just say what you want to without making it a totally senseless question. “Your dog is not well-trained and you should sort it” is what you meant.

@justanotherneighinparadise

Perhaps I’ll just keep posting this until a hand-wringer answers me

do wonder what the expectation would be if the OPs lab had been attacking a small dog. You hear these horror stories of big dogs tearing small dogs apart and the owner of the bigger dog just standing idly by watching. Is that preferable?

Ok, I'll bite. I'm not a hand wringer and I have defended/tried to help the OP (as above) but her story does not confirm whether or not the hit was during the attack or after so I'm not sure your hypothetical question has particular relevance.

@KaptainKaveman

Why do you have a dog which tries to attack people?

Also - the dog didn’t try to attack a person. It went for another dog. Honestly. At least read the OP before trying to make her feel bad.