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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this a reasonable reaction?

66 replies

Downbadcryingatthegym · 27/07/2024 08:39

We have a young dog who is pretty annoying at times. She just jumped up at my boyfriend and he proceeded to leave the room and slammed the door so hard that the wall shook. It made me feel very uneasy even though I know it's not about me. I know if I bring it up he will make it about the dog being badly behaved and that he is justified, it will probably start an argument.Am I being unreasonable to think this is an unacceptable response?

OP posts:
Downbadcryingatthegym · 27/07/2024 12:15

SeeSeeRider · 27/07/2024 12:10

It speaks up for people who don't fawn all over bloody dogs, and gives them confidence.

Lol ok 😂

OP posts:
ShouldhavebeencalledAppollo · 27/07/2024 12:17

SeeSeeRider · 27/07/2024 12:10

It speaks up for people who don't fawn all over bloody dogs, and gives them confidence.

What?

Why do people who don’t like dogs need confidence to speak up on the Ops thread about her individual situation?

FOJN · 27/07/2024 12:17

Downbadcryingatthegym · 27/07/2024 09:30

Sorry to be clearer when I said pinning down i mean he will get her to lie down and hold her shoulders until she calms down. I have told him not to do this but then he goes off at me instead. We have been trying to stamp out the jumping up by ignoring turning away etc and she had improved but gets over excited at times. I just don't know if it's reasonable that I feel intimidated and wonder if it does the same to the dog.

Intimidating you is the intention. He's telling you he will create an uncomfortable atmosphere whenever he is unhappy and you'd better not mention it or else. Of course it will affect the dog, not only because they can pick up on hostility towards them but because your dog will pick up on your mood.

Training dogs requires patience but if you can stay calm, be consistent and use proven techniques it works. IME once you've established a positive reinforcement system of training you only need to deny them rewards for them to understand what not to do.

otravezempezamos · 27/07/2024 12:18

He is rough and bad tempered with a baby animal. Why isn’t he an ex?

Cotonsugar · 27/07/2024 12:22

Pinning a dog down is so wrong, no wonder the dog jumps up at him. A partner who slams doors like a stroppy child also a no no.

Toenailz · 27/07/2024 12:46

How old is the dog, and how big is it? Has the jumping up caused injuries before? Does the dog sometimes nip when jumping up?

If you've never had a big dog jump up and cause you a facial injury, it's really easy to say no one should lose their temper. Is it a dog that's jumping up is hazardous? Ie: it does it when you are trying to walk, carry something, anything?

I've also met a dog (small) that would repeatedly attempt to jump at your face (and wasn't far off succeeding) for several minutes after you entered the household. I'm talking a dog that was just bouncing up and down with no break inbetween - you couldn't step forwards for fear of hurting the dog as it was in the bloody way. Utterly ridiculous, but also completely owners fault as no training and ignoring the bad behaviour wasn't working months in...

For your original post, you're totally being unreasonable. He left the situation. He wasn't able to control his personal space or manage the behaviour of your dog, so he simply left - that's the 100% correct thing to do when losing your temper - and everyone has a temper, and everyone loses it at some point. It's how you behave in that moment of loss of control that's key - and he walked away. I couldn't get worked up by slamming a door because a dogs jumping at my face. Don't be so dramatic.

The pinning down - again, context, and from your update it sounds like you made it sound far worse in your original post. Nobody should be pinning a dog down. Your update make it sounds like he's asking the dog to lie down and gently holding her by the shoulder to direct some calmness. You'll get plenty of people freaking out about this, but if that's genuinely how it happens he's not hurting the dog - no different to using your hands to move a dog out the way. IF he's forcibly pinning her down though, yeah that's wrong and either way whether forcibly or not, it's not working, is it?

If it's a joint dog he needs to engage in actual training methods, as do you. People freak out about negative reinforcement all the time - but a negative reinforcement can simply be giving the dog a time out. Two birds one stone - it's a negative consequence of a behaviour, and secondly, the time out gives the dog the ability to chill its beans - without even needing to touch it, much less pin it down.

You need to assess the context of when and why the behaviour occurs. Training a dog not to jump up really should NOT be taking a long time, regardless of how incessant the dog is with it. It's really easy, even when you get the dogs as adult rescues.

I think this is a case of him not coping with the behaviour here, and I can't say I blame him. I cannot abide dogs that jump up (and I'm a dog owner). It's terrible behaviour. That being said, there's a lot of context missing. You both need to be on the same page with training and completely consistent. Not pinning the dog down, not ignoring it, you need to deal with it now, because it's clearly causing problems, and you both need to put actual effort into the training and dealing with it effectively, but sensibly. Time out sounds the best idea, gives everybody a break. Sometimes, you need personal space and a break from a dog.

TinyYellow · 27/07/2024 12:48

If he was that pissed off it’s best that he walked away and took it out on the door rather than by shouting or anything else. His response seems disproportionate, but yappy jumpy dogs can be annoying.

Downbadcryingatthegym · 27/07/2024 12:54

Toenailz · 27/07/2024 12:46

How old is the dog, and how big is it? Has the jumping up caused injuries before? Does the dog sometimes nip when jumping up?

If you've never had a big dog jump up and cause you a facial injury, it's really easy to say no one should lose their temper. Is it a dog that's jumping up is hazardous? Ie: it does it when you are trying to walk, carry something, anything?

I've also met a dog (small) that would repeatedly attempt to jump at your face (and wasn't far off succeeding) for several minutes after you entered the household. I'm talking a dog that was just bouncing up and down with no break inbetween - you couldn't step forwards for fear of hurting the dog as it was in the bloody way. Utterly ridiculous, but also completely owners fault as no training and ignoring the bad behaviour wasn't working months in...

For your original post, you're totally being unreasonable. He left the situation. He wasn't able to control his personal space or manage the behaviour of your dog, so he simply left - that's the 100% correct thing to do when losing your temper - and everyone has a temper, and everyone loses it at some point. It's how you behave in that moment of loss of control that's key - and he walked away. I couldn't get worked up by slamming a door because a dogs jumping at my face. Don't be so dramatic.

The pinning down - again, context, and from your update it sounds like you made it sound far worse in your original post. Nobody should be pinning a dog down. Your update make it sounds like he's asking the dog to lie down and gently holding her by the shoulder to direct some calmness. You'll get plenty of people freaking out about this, but if that's genuinely how it happens he's not hurting the dog - no different to using your hands to move a dog out the way. IF he's forcibly pinning her down though, yeah that's wrong and either way whether forcibly or not, it's not working, is it?

If it's a joint dog he needs to engage in actual training methods, as do you. People freak out about negative reinforcement all the time - but a negative reinforcement can simply be giving the dog a time out. Two birds one stone - it's a negative consequence of a behaviour, and secondly, the time out gives the dog the ability to chill its beans - without even needing to touch it, much less pin it down.

You need to assess the context of when and why the behaviour occurs. Training a dog not to jump up really should NOT be taking a long time, regardless of how incessant the dog is with it. It's really easy, even when you get the dogs as adult rescues.

I think this is a case of him not coping with the behaviour here, and I can't say I blame him. I cannot abide dogs that jump up (and I'm a dog owner). It's terrible behaviour. That being said, there's a lot of context missing. You both need to be on the same page with training and completely consistent. Not pinning the dog down, not ignoring it, you need to deal with it now, because it's clearly causing problems, and you both need to put actual effort into the training and dealing with it effectively, but sensibly. Time out sounds the best idea, gives everybody a break. Sometimes, you need personal space and a break from a dog.

I do agree with all your points and agree he should walk away but it's his temper and the force of it. He's also not gently holding her when he pins her down so I don't think I am over exaggerating. I'm not saying her behaviour isn't wrong, because it is but he has no patience and his approach is to scream at her, slam things or pin her to the floor which doesn't help as only gets her more worked up. She is a lab so not a small dog and I think yes I probably do need to take her to a trainer but it is a joint dog and the problem is probably inconsistency too as I am not willing to use negative reinforcement the way that he insists we do.

OP posts:
Lindjam · 27/07/2024 13:03

Given your update, please get yourself and your dog somewhere safe, away from this horrible man.

AtrociousCircumstance · 27/07/2024 13:07

Why. The. Fuck. Are you with this man.

How can you justify it? He’s an abuser. End the relationship and take the dog with you and if he kicks off about that contact the RSPCA.

Howdoesitworkagain · 27/07/2024 13:12

Leave him. This isn’t just about the dog is it. This is a man who can’t control his emotions, relies on physically overpowering the thing that’s annoying him, and intimidates you. Do you see where this is going, after the dog?

ginasevern · 27/07/2024 13:32

Candlelights1 · 27/07/2024 10:42

Stop ignoring your gut.
He is a violent angry man.
Get out while you can.

OP, get rid of this man. It's only a matter of time before he harms the poor defenceless dog and he is likely to hurt you too. Deep down you already know this otherwise you wouldn't be posting about it, so please take the very sensible advice you've been given. Before it's too late.

LookItsMeAgain · 27/07/2024 14:15

Animals are far more intuitive about things like this. Your dog is using the only mechanism available to it in telling you that your partner is verging very very close to being abusive.
You don't train a dog of any size by 'pinning it down'. Ever.
Positive reinforcement is the way to go.

If you bring up how he treats the dog, he turns it back on you does he? That's also a red flag for me right there. Not accepting responsibility that his behaviour could and should be corrected.

I'd leave him. Oh and don't have kids with him. If he behaves like this around pets, he'll be worse around kids.

Lastly - in relation to your actual question, no it is NOT a reasonable reaction. Not at all.

Bonjovispjs · 27/07/2024 14:42

Why the fuck are you still with this animal abuser?

Normallynumb · 27/07/2024 15:38

He's a violent man
Pinning the dog down and slamming the door shows he won't control his temper( bet he can everywhere else)
It might be you he's pinning down next
He'd never enter my home again

Normallynumb · 27/07/2024 15:40

I missed that you live together sorry
Rehome the partner and I'm serious

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