Is spanking a dog abuse?

additude

No, I don't think that sounds like abuse. It sounds like disciplin. Your neighbor needs to mind her own business.

Sounds like your neighbor might be used to verbally abusing young people like she did w/you and your sister.

dhdaddy2003

throw the dead rabbit's head into the neighbor's yard and forget the whole thing.

chachacatz

No, this is saving your dogs life, doing nothing would have been abuse!

merrybodner

There's a big difference between spanking a dog to make it let go of something and beating a dog. Your sister did the right thing. Tell her not to worry about it -- and keep dead rabbits out of the yard.

Lorraine W

hitting the butt is okay as long as its not hard

MeanKitty

I doubt she will get into trouble. Maybe the next time she can just use the hose and spray him?

mediterranean.chick

Thats absulutly rediculas.
I'm totally on your side.
Tell that woman she has got it wrong and explain the situation.
As long as there was a good enough reason..then no.

crappiefishergirl

Some dogs are just hard headed. I had one once. Hitting is not necessary if the dog is well trained. Sounds like your sister needs to train the dog to release what is in it's mouth. You do this by placing something near him that he will pick up (like a toy), then you tell him to "drop it" or "release" at the same time pull down on the jaw or put your finger in his mouth near the joint of the jaw. It would take long for him to understand what you mean.

another way to do it is to teach the dog to fetch, then have the dog drop the ball when he comes to you. When he drops it, you say "drop it" or release". then after a few trials of that, have the dog sit and take something on his own into his mouth. Tell the dog to drop it or release. Keep repeating until he does it and say "good dog" and provide a little pat or scratch behind the ear.

These are things that I have tried with success with the dogs I have owned. Go to the library or a book store and check out a book on dog training. Watch the Dog Whisperer on National Geographic, or call your vet to see if there are dog trainers in the area that could help (this will cost a bit though, but well worth the price for a well-behaved, healthy, and happy dog and owner!)

saulg21

Your sister is lucky the dog didn't bite her back. Just like cats,dogs can be territorial. Don't worry about him. Animals know what's dead and whats good or bad for them.

Angela C

I have given my dogs and my kids a few pats on the behind when necessary, tell the neighbor to mind her own business!

angel

it all depends on how hard she hit the dog and as long as it is not in the face i tap mine when she is bad not enough for her to cry tho just to know she did somehting wrong

volleyball55morrow

don't worry she was only protecting her dog, just explain to the officer. but spanking is not a good way to teach dogs no

blueeyes

She did what was needed in this emergency situation.....No, I dont believe in beating an animal but, this was an isolated occasion...usually a newspaper swat on the nose or butt is sufficient......dont worry about the police, they will understand....and tell the neighbor to mind her own business......

Amirra

I don't think so - as long as she wasn't winding up and hitting him really hard, there's nothing wrong with that. Tell the neighbor to mind her own business.

Mai

If it comes down to it, I'd say get a note from the vet explaining whats going on. But legally, I am not even sure if "spanking" a dog is considered abusive.

bethany b

I didn't see what happened...but I will assume that she didn't repeatedly hit her dog and only used her hand. The "spank" most likely hurt her hand more than it hurt the dog. But hopefully it also let the dog know that what he was doing was not right.
I personally do not spank my dog...but then again...my dog does not have a life threatening disease and I have not been put in a situation where my dog could lose her life if she did not listen to me.
As far as it being abuse...I don't think that your sister would have her dog taken from her or arrested because of what happened.
But if her dog is not entirely under voice control maybe it would be a good idea to spend some more time with him and train him to be more responsive to what your sister is telling him since his disease is life threatening. He needs to know to listen to her the first time she tells him something. (once again I am uncertain of the situation so she may already be working with him regularly!)

Jesse spo

no its just teaching it not do what you trying to tell it not too.

Grampa B

The laws are different in different places but that is not the point. The problem is dogs and other animals dont think like we do and they dont associate the beating with the crime. Your friend would have done better by checking the yard before the dog comes out or carry a favorite treat in her pocket in case something like this happens. That way there is a trade. I hope this helps. Grampa B

I love my baby boy!

Laws vary by region, so it really depends on your local law. However, if the dog shows no signs of abuse, the police officer (if they even go out on the call), is probably not going to do anything. Your sister should tell her neighbor to mind her own business. It's not like she's leaving the dog outside all the time or abusing it. My dogs get "spanked" when they deserve it. It's not a big deal, as long as it isn't just because.

mageta8

You know this is a sensitive subject because whatever someone says you're going to get someone else say the opposite. I personally think that what your sis did was appropriate. I've smacked my cat's butt when he peed on the carpet and rubbed his nose in it and he hasn't done it again. I'm sure I'll get someone telling me what I did was wrong. I put money on it these people have never owned a pet before! Please don't worry, I guarantee if her neighbor did call the cops, the cops will side with you!

poopsie

your neighbor needs to mind her own business, the rabbit head could have harmed or even killed your dog, had he tried to swallow it whole. some times we have to do what we have to do. a rolled up newspaper works good

wawawebis

I think the police would listen to your reasoning and understand she was just trying to protect him. Abuse often is violence that is repeated over and over, and inflicted just because the person is mean. Your sister obviously loves her dog and was taking care of him in a scary situation. Sometimes animal protectors are zealous. We can only hope she would do the same for a human child.

Katharine E

You have to behave how every other reasonable pet owner would behave. If my dog had a dead rabbit in it's mouth I would of behaved in a similar manner. Try being proactive and contact Animal Control and discuss the matter with a member of their team. They will be able to discuss the law with you. Additionally, did the dog recieve any injury from the "spanking"? I doubt it, and without an injury their is no harm. Your neighbor sounds like a lunatic. Take my advice and contact the local authorities prior to her, better to get the jump and explain the situation prior to the police knocking on your door.

I would work on obediance training with this dog and not allow the animal to be in a situation where the dog could get a hold of a wild animal dead body. With treats and repetative praise and reward the command "Drop It" can be easily taught. Practice with a stuffed animal and a treat.

Good luck.

akitamommy2

Yes it is abuse and good that the neighbor saw it happen. There is NO REASON a dog should ever be hit, if it needs behavior management, get it some training. If you are going to let it outside then it has to be monitored so it does not get into things that could kill it, therefore you may be a slave to the leash to make sure you can pull it away from whatever it may go after. If this were a child and it got into something it shouldn't that could be life threatening, would your sister have spanked it endlessly too?....no, the neighbor is not the stupid one here...need a clue to who that may be?

I think there are a few people on here that need to hook up with a GOOD dog trainer and ask them if it is EVER okay to hit a dog..I CANNOT believe what I am reading here.

Brandon M

No, tell the neighbor to mind her business or you will show her what abuse is. Just as it is with children, having a stern voice is not always enough to make a dog listen. Also, its not like she was beating it because she had a bad day or was drunk or something. There is a diff. between abuse and discipline

gr8ful_one

if the dog was injured by the "spanking" then yes you've got trouble...you can be fined and go to jail if the abuse is documented but a spank on the backside to rid the dog of the rabbit does not sound like abuse so don't panic...the animal people do listen to explainations and you were trying to help the dog no harm him.

Next time get the hose and water will do the trick harmlessly....with no hits.

cecilframpton

That's not abuse, your sister has nothing to worry about.

Your sister's neighbor needs to get a life. I probably hit my dogs harder when I am playing with them than your sister did. Most likely the cops, should they come out, will be pissed at the neighbor for wasting their time as simply correcting a dog is not abuse.

deepblue

no ..you did it for the right reason..

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