Need serious input!

[dr2little]

I know its abuse. I just don't know how to handle it, or just how much of Holly's behavior is from him or other external factors. I WILL be approaching them about hte punch. I CAN NOT let that one go without me bringing it up. I am just so upset because they were so serious about treating her right and getting her out of the abusive situation the mom kept her in.... and here they are abusing her themselves.

I'm so heartbroken right now. Holly is a sweet little girl. She had come so far.... and to see her tonight just shocked me.

I'd be careful how you approach the punch, while it would be hard not to directly address the incident it may push them away and distroy any hope of helping this poor dog. Do you offer private training? When I have a class member who I suspect is using physical punishment I find that they relax and come clean on their own turf much more than if I were to take them aside after class. I do offer a no charge private session for these cases as I think that I may loose an opportunity to have a positive effect on the dog otherwise. Just a thought...
Oh, I never introduced myself...I'm new here! I'm proudly owned by 5 dogs and am a behaviorist in Alberta Canada (owner of Diamond in the "Ruff" Inc.)

[BC_MoM]

Whether he's frustrated or not, it gives him NO reason to harm a dog (or ANY animal) in ANY way!!

I would call the Humane Society or Animal Control. This pup needs to stop being abused.

Sure, the parents may be training her and trying their best, but they are (possibly) still abusing her.

[luvofallhorses]

Whether he's frustrated or not, it gives him NO reason to harm a dog (or ANY animal) in ANY way!!

I would call the Humane Society or Animal Control. This pup needs to stop being abused.

Sure, the parents may be training her and trying their best, but they are (possibly) still abusing her.

I agree.

[lisahumphreys882]

I think that even if a Holly has only been abused once or twice...especially to those levels (firstly by the way the mom treated her and secondly by being punched in the face) she may very well react the way she did(or still does) despite being sweet before. As the others suggested, you should definitely bring the abuse up with the husband because we all know that that is cruel for someone to hit a dog. So sorry for all the stress you have to deal with. Hope this situation turns for the better!

[Giselle]

I think that even if a Holly has only been abused once or twice...especially to those levels (firstly by the way the mom treated her and secondly by being punched in the face) she may very well react the way she did(or still does) despite being sweet before. As the others suggested, you should definitely bring the abuse up with the husband because we all know that that is cruel for someone to hit a dog. So sorry for all the stress you have to deal with. Hope this situation turns for the better!

I agree with this. I truly don't believe the weather or hormones can cause a dog to snap *continuously* and consistently over a very short time period (the class is only, what, an hour long?). She obviously sustained some serious abuse during the period before the move and after the move because she's gone back into her hand-shy state of mind. IMO, 1) she's probably receiving very little positive human interaction at home and 2) the little interaction she does receive tends to air on the negative side - crating for prolonged periods of times, screaming, yelling (kicking the crate even?). If she barks like a maniac in class, I have to wonder if she barks when she's being crated...

My guess is that Holly was abused during the move because of her owner's stress. I have no doubt in my mind that if the man had the audacity to punch Holly in open public, he had the will to punch her and neglect her at home. I'm not saying that he's "evil" or anything, but the stress of moving and losing a home is overwhelming. I pity the man He must not enjoy hurting Holly like that since they obviously have the commitment to devote several hours and a large sum of money on the pup. I think the root of the problem must lie further down than just a failed move. Does this man *like* living with his mother? Is Holly getting abused by the mother again or is she just not receving any attention at all?

I'd call the couple aside after a lesson and calmly find out what's really going on. Be compassionate and helpful and I think they'd love to continue extensive personal training. Oh dear, good luck! :/

[chocolatepuppy]

my coworker approached me after they left. She said she saw the husband PUNCH Holly in the FACE!!!!!!

She should have been on the phone to animal control before that guy ever got out of the parking lot. If he did it in the store , he does it all the time. Holly will soon be an unpredictable dog, bite someone and be pts if he continues to treat her like this.

[Pam]

Kim, could you say that the action was captured on a store surveillance videotape that someone was playing over at the end of the night? You could use that as the reason you would like to spend some time with these people *one on one* and strongly stress to him how terribly wrong his behavior was and offer alternatives. This might make him a little less hostile than if he thought he was being attacked by a particular store employee.

You must just feel awful. I would too and would have probably laid in bed last night and worried about that poor dog and her future. Poor Holly, she deserves better than that. Please update us and let us know how this goes. *sigh*

[Pawsitive Thinking]

I've had such a great relationship with this couple and the dog has been a sweetheart til now. She honestly seems to have developed a second personality. Anyone have any ideas what might be the real root of the situation?

I would ask them the exact same question adding something like "apart from the move can you think of anything else that may have caused this.....has anyone new been introduced to her...could someone be hitting her without your knowledge.....dogs respond to praise not punishment etc etc" that type of thing. Try dropping less than subtle hints that you've got a good idea why Holly is reacting like she is...

My other idea was to pin him up against the wall, punch him in the face and ask him how he likes it..................

[shihtzulover850]

also I would recommend positive attention to her try to calm her as best as posssible.