Before You Chain Your Dog
Dogs on Chains, why its not a good idea
Dogs who are chained run a much higher
risk of biting and are more likely to be the dogs that run off and don't come
back when called.
Why? Chaining a dog goes against its natural instincts. Dogs were not
meant to be chained. Most become protective of the area around them and in some
cases, down right mean, even to their owners. They feel confined, trapped and it
drives them crazy. They are harder to train and some appear to be literally
un-trainable when really they are just going stir crazy. Most chained dogs will
take off on you any chance they can get off the chain. And why not? Coming back
means they have to go back on the chain and they want to enjoy the freedom if
even for a little while. Not all dogs will be biters and runners if chained,
but all dogs would be happier, with a better temperament, if they were
not chained.
One example of this is the story my neighbor told me about a
Keeshond
she had as a child. Her parents did not have much time for the dog and the kids
were getting older and did not have very much interest in it. As a result the
Keeshond ended up on a clothes-line run, chained up in the backyard. It got to
the point were you could not go near the dog without it growling at you and
trying to bite. After a while the parents decided it was not worth the
liability. They feared the dog was going to eventually really hurt someone. They
found the dog a new home and hoped for the best.
A few months later they received a phone call from the new owners. Fear
shot though the mother as she answered the phone expecting to hear the dog had
bitten someone. Instead they heard how nice and sweet the dog was. Friendly as
can be, loves everyone. The new owners were calling to say just how happy they
were and that they loved their new Keeshond. Turned out the new owners did not
chain the dog. They were in a situation were the dog could be free to walk
around the yard. For those who know the breed, you know that
Keeshonden
are not the type of dog to be mean or to bite. They love everyone and
everything. It was the Chain that drove the dog to this point. The good thing
was it was reversible, the chain was taken away and the dog no longer felt the
need to defend and protect, no longer felt trapped and confined.
Another case is an acquaintance that owned an
English
Bulldog. He had the dog tied up in the back yard. One day the dog got off of
the chain. One of the neighbor kids tried to bring him home. When the boy
grabbed his collar the dog bit the boy in the face. Why? The dog was confused.
He was suddenly free and he did not know how to handle it. Going home meant back
on the chain. The owner of the Bulldog had told the neighbor kids not to go near
the dog if he ever got free and to come and get him instead. Once again, the
English
Bulldog is excellent with children and loves people, but even a Bulldog will
go crazy tied up on a chain all day. In fact, English Bulldogs are one of the
worst breeds to chain. They have a strong desire to be by your side. Chaining
them all the time drives them Crazy. Confined, restricted and trapped, it is not
in a dogs nature to be tied up.
I am not talking about the occasional time when you need to tie your dog
up in the park for a little while. We once went to a picnic with our dogs and
our English Bulldog wanted to "kill" the Rottweiler that was there. We
had to tie our Bulldog to a tree. There will be times where you will need to tie
your dog. I am talking about the Back Yard Dogs. The ones with the dog house and
a chain. The ones that spend the majority of their time and life chained,
sitting and waiting, with nothing else to do but wait and protect.
Other Options
Invisible Fences are
great. You can not see them and the dog has some freedom to walk without
dragging a chain behind them. They are relatively cheap compared to the above
ground fence.
A Regular Fence is
another option. The bigger the area your dog has the happier he will be and in
return, the happier you will be with your dog.
Training Take your
dog to obedience classes or teach him yourself. Teach him to stay around your
house. Depending on the breed and the area you live in, this is not always an
option. Know your breed and decide accordingly.
Outside Kennels I
am somewhat skeptical of outside kennels as the place were your dog spends the
majority of his time. They are much better then chains and if the owners take
the dog out every day to run free or for a walk and play they are okay. But once
again the dog is in a confined, restricted situation. In the end it all depends
on how much time you spend with your dog. If you do not have time to spend with
your dog you probably should not have one. On the other hand, if it comes
between taking your dog to a Kill shelter or chaining him up in your backyard, I
would choose the chain. Electric Fences are highly recommended. You can not see them,
so your yard will look the same and your dog will feel the freedom that
dogs enjoy being able to see around him, yet still having the same
safety as an above ground fence.
