[GSDGAL]

I just want to get others opinions, I have a chain as back up on my property, as my two larger dogs yards got knocked down by wind last year and so whilst the workmen were here fixing it up, my girls were chained for a few hours... they seemed fine and that's the only time i've ever done it. A few people have chastised me for this, should I have done something differently. they couldn't go inside as the floor had been waxed and was still drying...I couldn't let them off because they have a strong protective instinct, since i live in the middle of nowhere alone...and am female, so if my dogs see strange men on my property I don't really want them to be over friendly. The don't seem to have any kind of mental problems from it, but i'm worried that i did the wrong thing...

 

[skelaki]

I think chaining under those temporary circumstances is fine. And, frankly, under the circumstances, no one's business but yours.

 

[semper83]

I don't think you did anything wrong. I think chaining a dog up is only a problem if the dog spends the majority of their time there. I personally let my dog out on a lead (60ft long) like that since I don't have a fence. Mine goes out to on the lead to go to the bathroom and sometimes just to lie in the sun. I wouldn't keep him out there when I was gone or couldn't keep an eye on him though.

 

[LoupGarouTFTs]

I agree with Skelaki. Why on earth would your dogs be affected by being on a chain for a few hours? Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and I was a young child, dogs on chains/trolleys were all over the place and few of them suffered mentally because of it (most of the time they were chained during the day and brought in at night, at least in my neighborhood). The "never chain under any circumstances" perspective is yet another in a long chain of animal rights movements that is intended to make it more difficult to own dogs. Although I don't suggest chaining due to dogs being made vulnerable by it, I don't think that judicious use of a chain for several hours at a time is going to do any mental harm to your dogs--or any other dogs--provided that proper socialization is available to them.

 

[Zeiff]

The chain is a tool that when used correctly can help keep the dog safe. When used incorrectly it can cause neglect. When I am outside I keep Ranger tethered somehow. It keeps him safe and out of the road. I wouldn't go for a walk with him without a leash.

 

[Lolas_Dad]

Chaining a dog is more responsible than letting a dog off lead and then the dog getting hit by a car. So you did the right thing. Also you can look at it this way when walking a dog most people will have the dog on some kind of leash and a dog on being walked on a leash is not hurting the dog. It is actually protecting the dog and protecting the people that may be walking by at the time as well as protecting any animals such as squirrels etc.

So you did absolutely the right thing and should not worry about what other people think. Their opinion means nothing because it is not their dog and your dog should and I am sure it does, mean more to you then some people and their opinions.

 

[RottieMomx3]

I don't have a fence yet, it's in the plans for august. All of our dogs go out on a 20 ft line to go to the bathroom and sun themselves. We never leave them out if we are not home and when they are ready to come in, they come in. I don't see that you did anything wrong at all!

 

[Eris13021]

I used to have to chain my rottie out when i had him. He could jump the fence and within my city your dog has to be confined to your property. He was never left outside when i was working or away. He'd go out do his business, play, or just sun himself.

 

[Kyllobernese]

It is very common for sled dogs and hounds used for hunting to be chained as they are great escape artists. I can't see that it affects them as they get lots of exercise and it is the safest way to keep them.

 

[ioreks_mom]

i am planning on putting iorek out in the backyard on a lead when i get a yard to put him there. he will not be out there longer than he wants to be and will not be out there if we are not around to supervise and i don't think that there is anything wrong with it. we are moving to a house that has a yard but no fence and since it is a rental i am not going to be spending the money to fence a yard that is not mine. i know that iorek would really love to lay out in the sun and enjoy the breeze and the bugs and nibble on the grass and i am so happy to be able to provide these things to him. i don't think that chaining him out there like that is a bad thing at all.

 

[TooneyDogs]

50 years ago it was the law...dogs had to be chained even if you had a fenced yard. Failure to chain them was subject to fine and/or loss of your dog. Before we put up the fence I had my dogs on tie downs.

 

[Nargle]

You had to chain them, and it wasn't even for very long. I don't think you should feel that you've done anything wrong. Though it's best to supervise them when they're chained to make sure nobody and nothing messes with them.

There are lots of instances when chaining is okay, like for instance, when camping, washing your car, sanding some furnature in your driveway, having a picnic in the park, etc.

 

[hulkamaniac]

I don't have a problem with it if it's a temporary thing. I've tied my dogs to something for short periods of time. I would not do it every day though.

 

[Tofu_pup]

I don't think you did anything wrong. I chain up my roommate's puggle when we're hanging out at the park or somebody's unfenced backyard. He's always supervised. He wants to be with people so I see chaining as the safe alternative to letting him roam.(which is what my roommate allows him to do)

 

[Binkalette]

We have one of those tie outs for Zoey that you twist into the ground that we put her on when we are out front grilling.. She never gets to stay out alone though. Ever. I'm not a trusting person. It bugs the hell outta me though when people leave their dogs out on chains all day an all night... I used to have a friend who's family had a basset hound... They would leave her outside 24/7 because they didn't want to take the time to house train her.. She was even out all winter long.. and our winters aren't exactly mild here in MN.. especially for a short haired dog....She became one of those 'Out of site, Out of mind' dogs.. She had a little dog house to go in, and the chain was hooked to the front of the house.. it was really sad because she had this half circle carved into the ground at the end of her lead where she would run back and fourth, back and fourth..

A few years later a good neighbor of theirs built her an outdoor run and a new, bigger dog house with a door on it.. He put a heated pad inside of it for her and put insulation in the walls.. She was still terribly neglected by her own family though.. Her run was always full of poop, and her enormous water bowl was always filled with algea and all sorts of other junk. They had an enormous food bowl in there too so the wouldn't have to fill it as often. The good neighbor would have to go over there himself and shovel the poop from her run and wash out her water bowl, and clip her nails from time to time because he felt so terrible for her. He never reported them for it, because he wanted to stay in their good books I guess.. He had hopes of adopting the dog from them but I don't know if he ever got her or not.. If I had been older and less afraid of ruining a friendship.. I should have reported them myself.. What irks me even more is they had a little Yorkie that got to live inside and was spoiled beyond all belief...

Errr... anyway my story got a little off track I guess.. I think it's fine to tie out a dog for a little while as long as the dog is safe and enjoying it.. but no more than that.

 

[nikelodeon79]

I don't have a fence yet, it's in the plans for august. All of our dogs go out on a 20 ft line to go to the bathroom and sun themselves. We never leave them out if we are not home and when they are ready to come in, they come in. I don't see that you did anything wrong at all!

This is essentially what I am doing until our fence is built, except Luna has a 60 foot line. She's never left unattended, though I will go in the house while she's outside (checking on her all the time, of course). We had a dog over for a few weeks while her owners were gone who gets chained up to her doghouse alot (though does get to spend time with her family inside at night and several times throughout the day). Having both dogs on the tieout was interesting... lots of knots to untangle. Luna would also try to "walk" Cassie by taking Cassie's lead in her mouth.

We go camping a lot and of course the dogs will be coming with us. I've been searching for a secure, portable kennel to use to no avail, so the dogs will be tied up (we'll be in the campsite with them, of course) during the day. At night they'll be in their respective crates in the tent with us.

 

[BoxMeIn21]

I think chaining under those temporary circumstances is fine. And, frankly, under the circumstances, no one's business but yours.

Ditto to this.

 

[Spicy1_VV]

You were chastised for this, oh I believe it. Just shows how messed up things are really. You did the right thing, kept your dogs contained, kept them safe and others (maybe prey animals?) safe from your dog and your dogs out of general trouble.

You will always find differing opinions on any method of containment. You should not feel bad for doing this nor that you did something wrong. If a dog is tied and left forgotten that is a problem obviously. No different then being abandoned in a yard or left in a crate. (though crate is probably the worse because of the small space, having to lay in urine/feces, ect)

It is up to the owner to be responsible when choosing a specific type of containment. As with other choices in life. Some people abuse certain things that wouldn't be a problem if used correctly.

As well some people like to make others feel bad to make themselves feel/look good. Like they are the experts. This applies to other areas, if you do neuter or if you don't neuter for instance. There will be people who talk down to you for making either choice, you can't try to please everyone else.

If it did not cause your dogs harm then don't worry about it.

Oh I also know lots of dogs that have been chained as well as other forms of containment and they don't have mental problems. At least they don't have any behavior problems from a specific proper containment method anyway.

 

[RottieMomx3]

This is essentially what I am doing until our fence is built, except Luna has a 60 foot line. She's never left unattended, though I will go in the house while she's outside (checking on her all the time, of course). We had a dog over for a few weeks while her owners were gone who gets chained up to her doghouse alot (though does get to spend time with her family inside at night and several times throughout the day). Having both dogs on the tieout was interesting... lots of knots to untangle. Luna would also try to "walk" Cassie by taking Cassie's lead in her mouth.

I wish I had enough yard at the house for a 60 ft tie out....lol. They would be pooping in other people's yards and I don't think they would like that. We do own property where our business is out in the country where the dogs that are trained off lead can run. Annabelle is not quite there yet so she has a long tie out at the building.

We have used tie outs for years for the dogs to go potty because we couldn't afford a fence. They go out, do their business, and come back in. We only put one dog out at a time to avoid the tangles. Been there done that....lol. I don't see a problem with it as long as they are not out there all day and all night. The guy that lives behind us has a yellow lab, and in the 8 years we have lived here has never been out of his kennel! It's so sad, he is very aggressive too! But I can't say that I blame him being alone all the time.

 

[Erick Aguilar]

I also tether my dogs when i need to do mayor work on the yards and i can't have them runing around, but i wouldn't leave them chained in the front yard, or alone.

A friend here once told me that tethering a dog increases it's aggressive instinct because of the preasure the collar and chain do togheter on the dogs neck.