Is smacking dogs illegal in the U.K?

[Cockapoodled]

I'd like to start by saying I have never intentionally hurt my dog and find the concept of inflicting pain on any pet absolutely abhorrent.
My dog has been trained using positive reinforcement only.
I'm just so sick of seeing people smacking their dogs . I wasn't aware how prevalent it was , until I owned a dog myself .

Is it illegal or not and can it realistically be challenged?

The Animal Welfare Act states that animals must be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease. Training methods used are hugely relevant to this Act – ensure that you are not using equipment or methods that cause pain. Scruffing, hitting, kicking, hanging a dog by the collar etc can lead to prosecution.

Anyone who smacks a dog shouldn't own one.

But somehow whipping horses and hooking fish is OK.

I'm sick of seeing people smacking their dog. People yanking their dog back using the lead or wrapping their fingers under the collar to choke their dog. People letting their kids tug on their dogs tail or wrap their arms around the dogs neck from the back. People screaming at their dog. People kicking their dogs.

But, I am equally sick of; people overfeeding their dogs. People feeding their dogs crap they shouldn't eat. People not exercising their dogs properly. People keeping their dogs crated for hours at a time. People abandoning their dogs all day (often in crates or in tiny rooms) whilst they work.

Physical violence is not the only way that people abuse their dogs - it's just the way that is most noticeable.

Sadly, there are no laws that can be effectively implemented to stop people abusing their animals. We don't have the manpower or the willpower - just look at the number of threads on mumsnet where OPs describe animal abuse but then do nothing but defend the animals owner and other posters do likewise.

I think it depends on the size of dog and the behaviour. If my dog growls at me, he might be given a bit of a tap to reprimand him. Having said that I have a 40kg bull lurcher who respond very quickly to a verbal reprimand.

im currently lying on the sofa with a whippet asleep pinning me down so my discipline methods can’t be too bad.

Even worse is people who use those choke collars. It's horrific. Both things are awful.

As well as killing chickens, cows, pigs, lambs. The Animal Welfare Act is meaningless 🤦🏼‍♀️

@ElephantilonZed the welfare act is actually not useless and plenty of prosecutions couldn't have gone ahead without it. Speaking from someone who worked in the field. Unfortunately you can't make the world vegan, but this thread isn't about that and completely different topic.

It's not illegal but it should be.

This is the information I found about it but the amount of abuse and (that's what I class it as )on daily walks just astonishes me .
It's as if people are actually proud that they hit their dog . I've not seen it with any other animals.

Hate that too .

But that's not a tap is it? I assume you mean you physically cause your dog pain as a punishment.
Also , why is your dog growling at you? A growl is just a grumble and I feel that a dog should have freedom of expression.
An abused spouse would still cuddle up to their capture ; maybe even more so .

If snacking children without leaving a mark is legal I would be shocked to find out smacking dogs was illegal

This.

If I saw it I would be straight over. I haven't but god forbid if I do. Only nasty thick fucking bullies hurt/smack/hit/kick children/animals/people.

I wholeheartedly agree , I guess people in general are really disappointing sometimes.

Is this the case that by definition a choke collar/ slap is illegal and against the welfare act and it is not enforced or its deemed fine?
Does it make any difference ,in terms of if I see anyone whipping or punching a dog , in terms of if I can report it?

I was discussing this with my son this afternoon. Absolutely a dog should have some autonomy. A growl that tells you other don’t want to be touched right now is fine. A growl that tells you they will not get off the sofa now it’s time to go to bed is not and yes it absolutely IS a tap. I do not cause my dogs physical pain. That teaches the dog that I am not to be trusted and, in my view, dogs need to trust their owners. How can you train something that doesn’t trust you?

My personal view is if you have to 'tap' your dog to get it off the sofa, then your dog isn't well trained enough to be on the sofa.

Either way, a good dog owner doesn't need to 'tap' their dog - because their dog does what it is told. Because it is properly trained.

Double posted! Oops