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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think this is not how you treat a puppy.....

22 replies

dogslife2020 · 16/10/2020 13:47

Friends of ours have a puppy, 20 weeks old, I really don't think they are treating it very well.

I want to say something to them but not sure if IABU? I don't really have much experience myself so what do you guys think....

Here are my issues:

Walk it 10 minutes a day.
If it bites at all, when playing, they lock it outside, sometimes for an hour.
If it goes to toilet inside, they lock it outside, sometimes for an hour.
Crated all day and all night accept for about 30 minutes a day, in those 30 minutes could potentially do the above, so out of crate for longer.
Their child aged 10, drags the puppy across the floor by the lead which is attached to her collar, if she doesn't walk/come quick enough (I have told her off twice now for this.).
Their child admits to hating the puppy.
Their child has said the puppy has done something it hasn't to get the puppy put outside.
Their child has thrown the puppy across the room onto a chair/couch etc.

Before, anyone says it is none of my business, I know.... but it's a tiny puppy and I personally don't think they should have one.

YES - Mind your own business.
NO - You need to say something.

OP posts:

LoseLooseLucy · 16/10/2020 13:49

Poor puppy. I’d definitely say something, the puppy can’t speak up for itself can it.

vanillandhoney · 16/10/2020 13:50

Of course it's not okay, but sadly none of that is illegal and I doubt anyone would be interested. The bar for animal neglect is horribly low.

I watched a programme about the RSPCA once and there were reports because a bitch and puppies were left alone in a flat, but because someone was coming once a day to feed them and give them water, nothing could be done about it.

Hopefully they get fed up sooner rather than later and the puppy finds its way to a new home.

MatildaTheCat · 16/10/2020 13:50

How awful. Of course you should say something. Something along the lines of ‘get that poor animal rehomed’.

shitinmyhandsandclap · 16/10/2020 13:50

Can you offer it a home, they obviously don't like it very much, I'd be worried they'd attempt to breed from it like someone I know

DrivingMo · 16/10/2020 13:51

Well, this isn't true.
It's in a crate the whole time except for 30 minutes each day, and yet you're saying they lock it outside for an hour every times it bites or goes in the house. So, is it in the cage outside?
If you have actual concerns then contact Dogs Trust. DO NOT CONTACT THE RSPCA.

Theladyinpurple · 16/10/2020 13:51

This is a disgusting way to treat an animal and is beyond cruel. They don't deserve a dog.

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 16/10/2020 13:52

Speak up for poor puppy but be prepared for a fall out.They are totally mistreating him 😔 Is your friend a reasonable talk-toable sort. I'm guessing not if this is how they are acting. However, if you can approach this carefully you may just get through to her.

sleepwhenidie · 16/10/2020 13:56

This is so awful, poor puppy...can you have a chat along the lines of 'the puppy doesn't seem to be working out so well' and suggest rehoming or returning to breeder? They are also risking real behavioural problems setting in - once that happens the dog will be really hard to rehome . Not fair.

Glitterb · 16/10/2020 13:56

Absolutely say something, there is no way I couldn’t.

The puppy will probably end up snapping at this horrible child at some point and then it will be all blames on the puppy. Idiots like this should not have got a one in the first place, poor thing should not be crated for most of the day!

Original poster

dogslife2020 · 16/10/2020 13:56

I looked on the RSPCA website before posting here and actually I was shocked at what was classed as neglect/abuse.

OP posts:

LoseLooseLucy · 16/10/2020 13:57

The RSPCA are awful though, I’d speak to the owners directly.

Original poster

dogslife2020 · 16/10/2020 13:58

DrivingMo Well, this isn't true.
It's in a crate the whole time except for 30 minutes each day, and yet you're saying they lock it outside for an hour every times it bites or goes in the house.

As I said.... Crated all day and all night accept for about 30 minutes a day, in those 30 minutes could potentially toilet inside or "bite" so out of the crate for longer.

OP posts:

Original poster

dogslife2020 · 16/10/2020 14:01

The puppy is out of the crate for 30 minutes solid playtime. It is taken out of the crate to toilet and put straight back in afterwards accept if it is the scheduled 30 minute solid playtime.

OP posts:

Figgygal · 16/10/2020 14:01

Awful
Why are you friends with these Arseholes?

This is the problem thousands of people have got dogs in lockdown with no idea of how to actually look after one

Original poster

dogslife2020 · 16/10/2020 14:04

Figgygal I absolutely knew they were not the "right" people to get a puppy, but thought I might be wrong. I did try and discourage it before hand but they went ahead anyway. They are not dog people at all.

OP posts:

Notsurewhatsgoingon · 16/10/2020 14:05

Op please do something about this. Even if you have to take the puppy short term until you find it a new home.
This is awful to read.

BovaryX · 16/10/2020 14:08

Why did they get a puppy when they are incapable of looking after it? They are 'punishing' it by locking it outside? They sound vile. Poor creature. They aren't fit to have a goldfish let alone a puppy.

LakieLady · 16/10/2020 14:17

YANBU, the poor dog is being punished for things that are the owners fault because they haven't trained it.

Shutting it out when it's weed in the house is like leaving a baby alone for hours when it's wet its nappy. The key to training puppies is simple: reward the positive, ignore the negative. It's not guaranteed to work, but it'll get the puppy off to a good start and any small issues will be much easier to resolve.

They sound really clueless, at best, and, at worst, downright fucking cruel. They're the sort of people that make me think it should be illegal to give or sell a dog to anyone who isn't licensed to own one, and that people who want dogs should have to successfully complete a course of training to get the required licence.

Sorry to be rude about your friends, but thick cunts like them shouldn't be allowed to own dogs, far less puppies.

I could cry for that poor little creature. Go and steal him, OP, and give him to me.

LakieLady · 16/10/2020 14:19

Maybe just send them a link to this thread, OP!

Sertchgi123 · 16/10/2020 14:20

Call the RSPCA and ask for advice.

D4rwin · 16/10/2020 14:22

Not OK. But then most people seem to treat people and animals as posessions

MrsJunglelow · 16/10/2020 14:24

Walk it 10 minutes a day
Fine, young puppies shouldn’t be walked a lot
If it bites at all, when playing, they lock it outside, sometimes for an hour
Fine for a few mins, not an hour
If it goes to toilet inside, they lock it outside, sometimes for an hour
As above
Crated all day and all night accept for about 30 minutes a day, in those 30 minutes could potentially do the above, so out of crate for longer
Their child aged 10, drags the puppy across the floor by the lead which is attached to her collar, if she doesn't walk/come quick enough (I have told her off twice now for this
Their child admits to hating the puppy
Their child has said the puppy has done something it hasn't to get the puppy put outside
Their child has thrown the puppy across the room onto a chair/couch etc
This is all awful.
I don’t think I could be friends any longer with any one who did/allowed this kind of behaviour.

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