This is so wrong on so many levels; I hardly know where to start…

For those of you with a heart, who wouldn’t know, let me provide the definition of tethering or chaining dogs. It’s the god-awful practice of attaching a dog to a stake, rod or other stationary object generally in the owner’s backyard somewhere as a method of keeping the animal under control. Tethering or chaining doesn’t refer to walking the dog on a leash however.

Here’s the problem. It’s not only inhumane and unsafe for the dog that’s confined; it’s also a very unsafe practice for other dogs and humans. Dogs are pack animals. They naturally thrive on social interaction with other animals and humans. Keeping a dog in one spot for hours, days or even months and years causes intense psychological harm. Continuously confined dogs start to show signs of anxious, aggressive and neurotic behaviors.

Physically the tether, whether a heavy chain or rope or wire, often results in damage to the dog’s neck. They become raw, irritated, swollen and covered with sores where the poorly fitted collars are constantly choking at the dog as he tries to break free. Some dogs have even been discovered with collars embedded into their necks from years of life on the chain.  The dog can become entangled in the electrical cord, rope or chain that is tethering him as well resulting in choking deaths. Dogs restrained by chains are attacked by insects, snakes and make easy targets of wild animals on the prowl for food. Thieves steal dogs for research institutions, or dog fighting.

As a professional dog trainer, I can tell you that physically restraining a dog only heightens aggression. Dogs that are chained up for extended periods can become extremely aggressive when confronted in their territory. Dogs instinctively are territorial and are protective of their space. Keep in mind there are only two responses to a perceived threat in the animal kingdom they are: Fight or Flight.

So what do you suppose an animal would do if his “flight” option is eliminated? That’s right; they are forced to Fight by attacking any thing and anybody unfamiliar to them wandering into her territory. Cats, rabbits and other small animals can be attacked after wandering into a sleeping dog’s area.  If the dog does break his chain, she’s likely to hunt down passersby unaware of the dog’s presence until its way to late.

Other dogs are at risk. I recently spoke to a woman considering installing an electronic fence to contain her dog after witnessing a Golden Retriever being viciously attacked after wandering into a dusty dirt circle guarded by a chained Staffordshire terrier. She was visibly shaken by even the memory of the incident.

But other dogs aren’t the only victims, so are small unattended children. Seventeen percent of dogs involved in fatal human attacks from 1979 to 1998, according to a Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association report published September 15, 2000 were tethered on their owner’s property when the attack occurred.

Let’s face it, someone uncaring enough to chain a dog this way most likely isn’t offering much in the way of medical care either. These dogs are not fed on regular routine, water bowls are found dry days after they’d been emptied or kicked over and they’re exposed to the most extreme temperatures. Their confined areas are limited, so dogs are forced to defecate, sleep, eat and urinate in the same little area. This is unnatural for dogs. Since they’ve also become neurotic and aggressive at their masters uncaring hands, these dogs rarely are offered even the slightest of affections.

How else can people confine their dogs? How about a suitable pen with enough room to run around, and shelter from the elements? To be well-adjusted companion animals dogs need to socialize with other animals and people. Exercise is critical to the good health of these wonderful creatures.

For short periods of time, a restraint that allows a dog to get some fresh air is acceptable. For long periods of time it is never OK. If it must be done, do it in such a way that other objects will not become entangled in the tether. The animal must be allowed to move freely and lie down in comfort. During extreme weather obviously the dog must be taken inside under proper shelter.

Pulley runs are better than tethering to a fixed object, but still present many of the dangers including lack of socialization, attacks on it by other animals, safety, and attacks on children and others wandering into it’s area.

A better alternative?  How about an underground pet fence? These dog fence systems are effective, humane, don’t cause harm to the dog and are a lot less expensive than traditional structures on a linear foot basis. You’d need a second mortgage to build a traditional fence to fence in a 2 acre lot!

Electronic Dog Fences don’t block anyone’s views, don’t need to be scraped, sanded or painted year after year and dogs can’t dig underneath them like traditional fences. They can be installed in an afternoon and last for decades. If you move or rent a beach house somewhere, just unplug the transmitter and take it with you! Learn more about dogs fences at www.containapetofwilmington.com

Randy Larrow is a certified dog trainer and an authorized CONTAIN-A-PET pet fence dealer in southeastern North Carolina where he lives with his wife Laureen and four rescue dogs: Sadie, Jake, Amanda and Taylor. When he’s not installing electronic dog fences or conducting dog obedience classes, he volunteers his time at Paw’s Place Animal Rescue, a local no-kill shelter. Randy offers discounted rates on his obedience training and CONTAIN-A-PET dog fences to new parents of pets adopted from animal shelters or from animal rescue organizations. You can reach him by phone at 910-516-0022, via email: containapetofwilmington@gmail.com, or visit him online at www.containapetofwilmington.com