Police say Victor Lopez, 38, kicked the family's two-pound Yorkie about 15 feet onto a concrete slab as punishment for urinating on the carpet on Sunday morning.
His four children, ages 6 to 16, reportedly witnessed the attack. According to the Los Angeles Times, family members told police the dog did not move after hitting the concrete.
The dog, named Woody, later died of apparent head trauma.
The newspaper reports that family members told police it was not the first time Lopez had kicked the dog in anger.
Lopez is free after posting $25,000 bail.
