Lost my temper with my dog. I am not proud of myself.

[littlewhitebag]

I went out early to walk the dog (lab, age 15 months) as she was pretty frisky this morning. I walk her mainly off lead as we live by a golf course. Her recall isn't fabulous but it has been improving and she will usually respond to a whistle/treats.

It started well but i did notice she was stopping a lot to wee (no idea if it is related). As it was a lovely morning i added a bit on to the end of the walk but i forgot we had been avoiding that area as it is rabbit central. Dog went mad running after the rabbits and would not respond to me calling her or using the whistle. It took me about 30-40 minutes to get her back. I was actually sobbing as i did not think i would ever get her. When she saw me calling she glanced my way then ran off in the opposite direction. I did everything including just sitting down and pretending i wasn't bothered, walking the opposite way etc.

When i got her back i was both relieved and furious. Then i lost it big style. I yelled at her really loudly and hit her about 4 times over her nose with the end of the lead. (fabric type lead). She slunk home with me and would not make eye contact and as soon as we got in she went straight to her bed.

I am very, very upset about this. I would never harm my dog and i hate myself for doing this. I don't know how to make amends and i don't want her to be scared of me now.

What do i need to do now (apart from work harder on her recall)?

Aww lovely dog blue it's nice to know that they do grow up eventually

What a lovely update

Aah blue she's lovely!

Even though this is an old thread, I could relate to it so much, as my Lab is the same age as yours was in the original post. Wow, is his behaviour similar!! I sometimes despair that he will ever stop being so impulsive and running to see people in the distance, but you have given me hope with your update!

I must just keep working on it, and I'm sure with maturity he will lose interest in pursuing everyone for a game...I hope!?

I am sorry this has happened to you
If my dog went off, I don't know what I would do
The way you reacted was simply from fear
It's obvious that you hold your dog dear

Please remember dogs need rewarded for return
No matter how long it took them - that way they will learn
You could try some training classes to work on recall
Your dog will forgive and forget - they're like that, that's all.

It's a tough one. I get the frustration but I'm sorry it doesn't justify hitting your dog. You didn't just do it once you did it 4 times.

I know this is a zombie thread but it still happened.

Wow sparkling what an incredibly helpful post

My "hit" was merely a slap, but to me that's a HIT and Daisy didn't deserve it. Brought me to my knees. Abusing a dog is criminal - and should be. Most kids today should be spanked - now that's out. Dog abuse and child abuse is far, far, far different from what we're talking about in this column. I'm learning how to handle an 18-yr old totally loyal friend and companion and, for me, some days are harder than others. PATIENCE. How much do YOU have? If you hit your wife, your child, once you'll do it again. Daisy depends on everything from me and a slap isn't one of them.

Daisy are you talking to me with your most recent posts (I am the original OP)? That was the one and only time I struck my dog. It was 3 and a half years ago. I adore my dog and she gives back to me in abundance.

I wish people would check out the date on threads before making comments that are no longer relevant to the original post.

Employ a professional trainer before this happens again

I’m not a "mum" & never will be. I signed on just so I could add to this old thread by saying: I got mad at Chiclet (42# pit mix, age 8) for chewing a brand-new briefcase intended as a gift, and hit her - hard, several times. I was instantly sorry & did my best to "apologize." She promptly "forgave" me, but I still haven’t forgiven myself, although she’s been gone 2 years now. So I guess the bottom line is that unlike us, they live in the present and therefore, also unlike us, don’t grieve over the past. I miss her every day.

pitmom I think it would have made more sense to start your own thread

Zombie thread, Op came back 5 years later (still 3years ago) and it turns out dog is absolutely fine and got past the horrific abuse her wicked violent owner inflicted

Bottom line, dogs can be hard work and everyone slips up at some point.

I wacked my dog on the head with a plastic spatula once when he wouldn't stop jumping up at me while I was searing some meat on the stove. I thought I'd wrecked our bond and just felt horrendously guilty. But the dog reacted as if he'd been deservedly chastised, came to me to be petted and forgiven, and actually had more respect for me afterwards. I didn't hurt him, the spatula bounced off his rock hard bonce, but I felt bad for acting in anger. My friend took the drastic action of biting her lurcher once when the lurcher had bitten her. The lurcher never bit her again!