Is yelling at a dog abuse?

#MiddleburyCT #Dog

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Every morning, my next-door neighbor walks her dog past my house. Every morning, she berates her dog, calling him an idiot and a bad dog, especially after picking up his poo. I cannot see the dog doing anything wrong, so I don’t know why she’s constantly yelling at him. I know it’s affecting him, though – he has his tail between his legs most of the time. Is there anything I can do for that dog? – Bill in Oshkosh, Wisconsin

DEAR BILL: That’s hard to watch – emotional abuse can be as damaging to an animal as physical abuse.

Strong verbal correction is OK in obedience training when you need a dog to stop doing something immediately. But it should be limited to a firm “No!” and a quick tug on the leash if necessary – followed by proper corrective training.

When an owner simply berates the dog and takes out their anger verbally on them, it isn’t training. It doesn’t correct their behavior. Behavioral issues often get worse, not better. And the mixed signals and negative feedback that the dog constantly receives can cause trust issues that never fully go away.

What can you do as an outside observer? Rescues or animal control likely won’t intervene in a simple case of yelling at a dog.

If you feel safe talking to the owner, try starting a conversation with them. You may be able to glean more info about why they are yelling at the dog, and you might be able to give training advice.

However, you should also observe and document the situation. Write down the dog’s physical condition and behavior and note if they deteriorate. If you see physical abuse from the owner, note the date, time and place and, contact animal control.

Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.

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