Yeah, I agree that they are trying to do the right thing by the dog and know that the situation is down to their son being mean to the dog. I think a bit more discipline wouldn't go amiss. If I'd have done anything mean to any of our dogs, I wouldn't have been able to sit down for a month afterwards nevermind a week.

Still, many kids are just out of control these days. In the UK, the government have already outlawed smacking that leaves any type of mark like a bit of redness and campaigners are trying to outlaw smacking altogether. Like kids aren't out of control enough these days.....