A MAN wrestled a powerful doberman pinscher to the ground to stop it mauling his pet Yorkshire terrier in the grounds of a private hospital.

The tiny terrier, named Beauty, was grabbed in the doberman’s jaws and shaken “like a rag doll” before shocked David Howard was able to prise it away.

“I just got it in a headlock and dragged it down to the ground,” said the 62-year-old from Poole’s Ringwood Road.

He’d been taking Beauty for a quick walk near the car park at private New Hall Hospital, near Salisbury, on Wednesday, August 15 while accompanying his partner, Debbie, to an appointment.

“We got there ten minutes early so we were just giving Beauty a chance to stretch her legs,” he explained: “Suddenly I hear this guy shouting ‘grab your dog’ and before I could do anything this doberman came charging towards us, grabbed our dog in its jaws and proceeded to shake her like a rag doll.

“Debbie started screaming and I dropped down and lunged at it – I managed to get it in a headlock and drag it down.”

After the ordeal, which left Beauty needing emergency treatment including stitches to a large wound in her flank, Mr Howard confronted the doberman’s owner and got his contact details.

He’s since reported the incident to Wiltshire Police who have told him they’ll investigate.

Mr Howard said: “The reason I want people to know about this is there are far too many of these incidents happening.

“The chap actually had a lead in his hand.

“If that dog had been under control this wouldn’t have happened. I just wanted to bring this into the open.”