Chaining dogs, your opinion?

[Romy]

We just moved, and I wish our neighbors would tether their lab. They don't have a fenced in yard, it's way out in the country and so they just open the door and let her out to potty and she roams around.

Well, other neighbors came by when we were moving in to warn us about her. Apparently she's menaced people (growled, snapped at and chased folks) and also starts dog fights. I hate the fact that I have to worry about a rogue dog attacking Aurelia and Strider when we're playing out in the yard together. We don't have a fence yet, so I tether him when we're out in the yard together because it gives him more room to sniff and potty than on leash. He has a pasture to do real running in, but we don't turn him loose in there unsupervised.

 

[tessa_s212]

Exactly.

What I, and many others, do have an objection to is abusing and neglecting a dog or any other animal for that matter. The chain is not the issue. The fence the horses are behind is not the issue. It's the HUMAN that is the issue.

Yet it is far easier to pass blame onto an object that cannot defend itself and an object that can be protested and petitioned to make disappear than it is to go after the human truly responsible.

Personally, I find people who go after chaining to be cowards. Taking on a chain is an easy win. Taking on the human responsible for the neglect/abuse of the animal is much harder and requires a much braver person.

And you'll find if you read my original post more clearly, this is exactly the attitude I took of chaining. I do not believe, as I've already stated, that there should be anti-chaining laws. People can responsibly have a well loved, well cared for dog that may happen to spend a large portion of their time on a chain when outdoors. And sometimes, you'll even find dogs that are entirely outdoor, chained dos that are still cared for - such as some very well cared for and kept sled/hobby dogs. But still it stands, that to find such responsible owners that keep their animals chained the majority of the time, is not at all as common as to find those that are just as quick to dump a dog outside on a chain and forget about it.

*Irony attack*

But seriously, I'm curious. Why are you a member of Dogs Deserve Better when you said that you don't support anti-chaining legislation? The entire DDB organization is dedicated to it, and founded on that exact premise. You said you want to increase enforcement of general neglect laws, and that's great. Nobody here would disagree with you. But that's not what DDB is pushing for---at least, not according to their Web site.

Then you will find I am not like your "95%" of DDB representatives. Certainly nothing wrong with that. We are not forced to push or support such legislation. My only concerns are to help abused and neglected chained or penned dogs, and whenever possible to hold those owners accountable.

And to all others making ridiculous statements or making false assumptions that I do not believe people should even allow their dogs on a tether or chain to spend even 5 minutes outdooors... Well, to that I say please read my original post over again. You'll note that I clearly stated I was strongly against chaining 24/7 without proper care, and that I do believe with proper care that it is not abusive nor should be against the law.

I'm a Dogs Deserve Better Representative. I am STRONGLY against chaining 24/7. In 90% of cases when dogs are chained 24/7, their owners just do NOT take them off the leash to properly train them, socialize them, or to give them exercise. And a small dog house might be considered shelter to some, but not me personally. A small shed and at least some form of heating would be adequate, however.

And then, to get into that chaining is a leading factor in viciousness in dogs, as well as dog bites.

I've never yet met a person that chains their dog but still cares for it adequately. And there are a lot of people that chain around here. I have, however, met some dogs that are allowed to be free in a person's own yard, never chained but never indoors, that are cared for adequately. And there is a boy a block down from my mom's house that has two outdoor beagles kept in a small chainlink kennel with just a dog house. I'd prefer that they have MUCH better shelter, considering the weather we can have here, but that boy walks those dogs every single day. More than I can say for most people that shove dogs outside and just forget about them.

It is very rare to come across a person that chains their dog and it lives outdoors that actually truly cares for their dog. (Note how it says it is rare, not impossible, nor do I ever state that tethering or chaining a dog for outdoor activity or exercise is abusive, cruel, or should be against the law. In fact, refering to laws, read below. )

With all that said, I do not support the push of anti-chaining laws, but rather stricter laws against those that neglect chained dogs, such as being out in freezing whether with only a dog house, not fed well enough, or not properly groomed, etc.

 

[tessa_s212]

I have no problem with chains or tethers. I have a problem with cruelty and poor dog ownership. I don't really have a problem with the anti-tether rules that put a 12 hour time limit, or don't let dogs be chained at night, but those are really just enforcement tools against cruelty, and would not be necessary if cruelty laws were enforced.

I have a huge problem with "no chaining ever" or "only 15 minutes" or "must be standing next to dog staring at them if they are chained" laws. Those don't do anything to protect dogs from cruelty . . . they just make it harder to own a dog for people who don't have fences. I'm especially ticked about the one that won't let you tether a dog to an object even if you are standing right next to them. This does nothing to help the dog, does nothing to prevent cruelty, and indeed prevents socialization. I tether Sarama to the front porch while I'm gardening, since there is no fence in the front yard . . . tell me how this makes her agressive or is abusive?

I agree absolutely. Well said.

 

[Dizzy]

Depends how long it's on there for and why it's on there.

I don't really have experience of this, and it's not common here.

 

[tessa_s212]

Many dogs are renowned escape artists that can get out of a fenced back yard even with modifications. Tethering them inside a fenced yard is sometimes the safest and only way to keep them inside the yard short of crating them at all times when unsupervised.

Or you might have the case where there are multiple dogs that can't be alone together and so they are tethered/chained behind a fenced yard so a fight doesn't break out.
I'm not sure why the fact that it's a CHAIN makes that much of a difference.

A dog owned by someone who will neglect it, starve it and abuse it while on a chain isn't going to have a major turnaround because they aren't allowed to keep it on a chain and have to instead abuse neglect and starve it in a whole backyard instead.

It's a tool, and very few tools are inherently evil or can't be used for good. Education on proper treatment of a dog and enforcing existing laws would do much better than making arbitrary laws that harm more good owners than not

Very well said.

 

[ACooper]

One other thing I would like to add. A chain is DEFINITELY not the only way to neglect a dog (I am sure we can all agree on that) there are many ways to do so.

I have neighbors who have a beautiful yellow lab. That dog stays in the backyard, privacy fenced.......no chain involved, 24/7. You can hear him cry when it's storming or gets very cold out. The people don't spend any amount of time out back and the dog is basically fed, watered, and abandoned

They have a smaller dog that gets tethered out front for potty breaks but comes back inside when he wants. They take the smaller dog for walks, to the park, in the car, he spends tons of time playing with the kids, etc etc.

The little guy might be chained, but he is VERY obviously not the neglected party of that household. The bigger dog is probably harder to handle, nobody bothered to train or socialize him as a pup and now he lives in the backyard alone.

Perhaps we should ban fencing next? Obviously a dog can be tossed inside a fence and neglected.