ethics of keeping a dog outside

[Pea-n-Me]

Another:

http://www.michiganhumane.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=9866
BACKYARD DOGS:
No Way to Treat Man's Best Friend

There is one in every community… a dog tied day after day to a back porch or fence, lying lonely on a pad of bare, packed dirt. The water bowl, if there is one, is usually empty or just out of reach. In the summer his ears are usually raw from untreated fly bites; he is infected with fleas and often skinny. Abandoned, but chained backyard dogs cannot move to comfort, shelter, or companionship. In winter they shiver; in summer they languish. Year round they suffer.

Dogs are pack animals who, by nature, require the companionship they would receive as members of a pack in the wild. A human friend or family is a good and necessary replacement for a dog's "pack family," but when a dog is exiled to the lonely life of the backyard, with human contact only on rare occasions other than feeding time, if he does get fed, the exile becomes an act of cruelty. With no real companionship, the outside dog can become so lonely and bored that he will often develop bad habits such as excessive barking, digging or aggressiveness.

The Michigan Humane Society's Cruelty Investigation Department finds that most outside dogs suffer from one or more forms of physical cruelty or neglect in addition to the emotional deprivation they may experience. Fleas and other parasites are not discovered. Fly-bitten ears are ignored, worsen, and become more uncomfortable for the dog. Symptoms of disease also often go unnoticed in an outside dog.

"Out of sight, out of mind" neglect is probably the most common abuse suffered by outside dogs. Some owners of outside dogs forget to feed and water their pets as often as they should since the dog is never directly underfoot, whining by his bowl. Many owners also fail to provide adequate shelter for their outside dogs. In winter, an outside dog's water can freeze in the dish within an hour. In summer, more water is consumed, and the supply needs to be replenished several times a day. Frequent checking on an outside dog in periods of extreme hot and cold is a great responsibility, and though most people would not neglect their pets intentionally, they are often just too busy with work or other activities to attend to the animals' needs. Often children are given the responsibilities of caring for their dogs. Young children do not understand what can happen to their pet if they neglect or forget him. Even if the animal is a child's pet, and the child's responsibility, adults must pay attention to the care the dog is receiving, or not receiving, and provide for the dog.

Dogs were domesticated by humans for many different reasons, but, from a modern, truly humane viewpoint, the only reason for owning a dog is for love and companionship. Dogs can offer people gifts of steadfast devotion, abiding love and joyful companionship. Unless people are willing to accept these offerings and take the time to return them in kind, it would be best not to own a dog. A sad, lonely, bewildered dog tied out back only suffers. Man's best friend deserves better!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

One more:

http://www.franklincountyohio.gov/commissioners/ancl/programs/OutsideDogs.cfm
Outside Dogs?
Although most people now keep dogs inside, there are some people who still keep dogs "outside" vs. inside the home. Dogs are generally happier, healthier and much safer when they live indoors with the rest of the family.

Why are dogs happier inside?
Dogs enjoy our company as much as we enjoy theirs. They are usually happiest doing whatever it is you happen to be doing ~ talking a walk, relaxing, playing in the backyard, going for a ride, watching television, or just napping at your feet by the computer.

Dogs kept outside all day & all night are often poorly socialized, especially if they are tied or chained out. They tend to be more territorial, more aggressive toward strangers and other dogs, and more likely to engage in nuisance behaviors like barking and digging excessively. They are often bored, lonely and frustrated. Dogs can be housebroken at any age.

Why are dogs healthier inside?

Outdoor dogs are at greater risk for heartworm disease, flea or tick infestations, heat exhaustion, fly strike on the ears and face, frostbite, dehydration or poisoning.

Additionally dogs tied out or living in a dog house away from regular human contact and attention may develop health problems that go unnoticed for several days.
Why are dogs safer inside?

Dogs left unsupervised outside are also more likely to escape, run off and get lost. By the time someone notices the dog is missing, it is often too late. They are more likely to be teased or injured by strangers, injured by wild animals or hit by a car. They are at greater risk of being stolen and sold for research or even used as dog-fighting bait.

Never leave your dog outside, unsupervised.

Always keep your dog with you outside and give your dog a nice warm bed inside the house.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think you're over-thinking this. Could an outdoor dog without adequate supervision "turn bad"? Sure. Is it going to happen "often"? Not in my experience

Definitely not overthinking it. Nor are the writers above. This is our experience.

Protection and aggression are not the same. Protection is defensive, reactive and often passive and threatens or injures no one. Aggression is active, harmful and offensive, threatens all and benefits none. Yard dogs often develop far more aggression than protectivity because everyone who passes by or enters has already violated the territory that dog has marked dozens of times a day for years. That's not protection, it's not desirable and it overlooks two facts of life today

Of course, in rare situations a TRAINED dog may actually do something heroic. A friend of mine tells a story about her HUGE full-blooded German Shepherd: Her husband was traveling frequently, and they decided to invest in a real guard dog. They chose the pup, they took her to professional training, and they did all the things you're supposed to do to make the dog a real guard dog. And it paid off. One day she was in the yard with her toddler daughter, and a strange man came up and started behaving in such a way that she was afraid. The man was between her and the door to her house. She says that the dog was in the backyard, but it jumped the fence and came around the house with murder in his eyes. The dog had sized up the situation and was already in motion when she gave the order to attack. She said the man turned and ran, with the dog on his heels. She then went and called the police, and they picked him up; he was a real criminal with a real history of drug-related crimes.

Always love those GSD stories as it's my favorite breed.

Part of their beauty is that GSDs do this INSTINCTUALLY. Have had it happen many times myself with all of my dogs at one time or another, some trained, some not.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Here's a question.

Would you rather live outside with a buddy - and the OP is by no means planning on putting her dog on ropes and is going to give them sufficient food, water and shelter - or would you rather be dead?

Those are the choices for 2 dogs right now, only they don't get to decide.

Stop the killing.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Pea-n-me. . .you do realize that the two sites you linked to from animal control are high kill shelters?

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mda/2008_Shelter_Report_274392_7.pdf

(Okay - the Ohio people are doing better than they were. . .only 50% killed.)http://www.roanoke.com/wb/70184

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Anyone who reads your posts would be discouraged to adopt a shelter/rescue dog. You act like they are inferior...when you say I have a "tall order for a shelter dog." You act like only purchased dogs can learn anything.

It's not that shelter dogs are inferior. It's that they usually already have "special needs". Many who work in rescue work believe that these dogs deserve a great home where they're going to be loved and made part of a family, not left outside by themselves for 23 hrs a day. This is why you find people who will not place a dog in a situation like that.

 

[Jennasis]

Here in the south MANY dogs live outside (mine do not). I don't have a problem with it, as long as adequate shelter from the elements is provided, along with food, vet care and lots of love. Oh and As long as the yard/property they live in is entirely fenced...enjoy your dogs.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

Now, I do have a huge problem with people who treat dogs like babies, dress them up, carry them in pocketbooks, take them into restaurants Each to their own but I've always said that anything shorter than my knees is not a real dog
.

I completely agree with this.
To me, one of the main things I love about dogs (other than the fact that they're so loving and it's unconditional love) is the fact that they're so protective and I can't see how those little tiny dogs are going to protect anyone. There was one Boston Terrier that I got close to and one miniature Schnauzer but other than that, I've always preferred big dogs. I don't see anything wrong with having your dogs live outside as long as they're protected and comfortable out there. I would worry about snakes but I've been told that for some reason snakes don't really like to hang around places where there are dogs.

 

[monkey68]

I don't see the big deal about dogs living outside, but you have to choose the right dog. My neighbors have a dog who hates to be inside. He'd rather be outside where he can watch the cars go by, and chase the mosquitos. He's no guard dog, his family gives him plenty of love and attention, he's just happier outside. Whereas my dog, she's the complete opposite. I practically have to carry her to get her outside. She'll generally just do her business, then turn around and go back inside. She doesn't like to mess up her paws.

It's not like you're going to keep the dog chained up with an empty water bowl. As long as they have a safe place to go when it gets too hot or too rainy, and they get plenty of food and water, I don't see the big issue.

 

[surfergirl602]

Two guard dogs on an acre? Do you realise just how SMALL an acre is? i'm not saying that two dogs is too many, I have three dogs. They loke to be outside, but also sleep and eat and live inside. They are labs. They let me know when people are around, but also, left alone for a long period of time, will just bark because they want to come in or are bored. I couldn't see leaving them outside at night by themselves. They would get into too much trouble.

I live on more than one acre, but after reading all these threads, it seems like you have some very high expectations for these dogs on a very small piece of property. What are you going to do when and if they want to come inside? what if they don't want to guard? What if they don't even like each other? You are making your posts out to be like you live on this big farm, when you really only have a small lot, which most of it is taken up by this big barn you have with fans, and an inground pool.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Pea-n-me. . .you do realize that the two sites you linked to from animal control are high kill shelters?

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mda/2008_Shelter_Report_274392_7.pdf

(Okay - the Ohio people are doing better than they were. . .only 50% killed.)http://www.roanoke.com/wb/70184

Yes, I did realize that some of my articles came from animal rescue programs. That's because there weren't any from anyone else - I checked around for others' opinions (Cesar Millan, AMVA, etc) and couldn't find any written. (If anyone else can, please post.)

Rescue workers are people who have the unfortunate task of dealing with the fallout of unwanted or "problematic" animals, so naturally these are the people who have an interest in helping people understand the facts that they live every day, which is why they write them, I suppose.

There's no question, snarlingcoyote, that some people see humane euthanasia as preferable to a dog being relegated to an outside life (in today's world which is alone, behind a fence, sometimes chained and hungry, flea infested, etc). And there are people who disagree, and think that same outside life would be preferable. I don't think there'll ever be a time that everyone will agree on it.

 

[surfergirl602]

ok, my last post was for kinntj.

Now I will ask YOU...did YOU read the entire thread?

who leaves food dishes outside? I feed my dog twice a day. Put the food down, pick it up when she is done.

What wild animals? I mean, this has already been covered on this thread...but go ahead...tell me what wild animals?

I also said earlier, in yet another post, that somone made a good point about incessant barking. I will absolutely need to make sure that is not an issue. That is why i would like dogs (PLURAL) from somewhere that the dogs' history is known.

How do people protect their horses from wild animals? What am I going to do with my mini horse...kepp her garaged? Keep her inside? Oh, no, cuz that would be cruel, right?

aaack...I really need to go to sleep, but this thread keeps sucking me in...the comments and questions are just too easy to answer, I cannot ignore them.

are you seriously going to put a horse mini or otherwise on only an acre of land?? i seriously hope that you are just joking. An acre of land is SMALL. Too small for large farm animals.

 

[happygirl]

are you seriously going to put a horse mini or otherwise on only an acre of land?? i seriously hope that you are just joking. An acre of land is SMALL. Too small for large farm animals.

I don't think it is. How much land do you think a horse needs? Have you ever been on a farm?

 

[happygirl]

Two guard dogs on an acre? Do you realise just how SMALL an acre is?

An Acre isn't that small

One acre is equivalent to:

•200 parked cars
•about a third of a football (soccer) field, which is between 90 and 120 m (100 and 130 yard) long and between 45 and 90 m (50 and 100 yard) wide (2.67 acres)
•three quarters of an American football field, which is 160 feet (48.5 m) wide and 360 feet (109.1 m) long (1.32 acres)

So it's almost the same size of a football field, Which is plenty big enough for two dogs or a horse

 

[disneystacy]

Everything Pea n Me posted.......

 

[Jennasis]

nevermind

 

[disneystacy]

An acre is small if you have a house, barn, pool, 2 dogs and a horse.

 

[luvsJack]

Pea-n-Me, you (well, the articles you are posting) are making it sound as if every outside dog is left with not enough water, not enough food, ignored by the family, not given a warm (or cool) place to be, etc. This is just not true.

Our dogs live outside, they have nice dog houses that we add blankets to in the winter (unless they are brought in for the night), they love to swim in the pond to cool off, they have plenty of food available, are given fresh water every day (with the water bowl and food bowl being cleaned every day), and we spend time with them daily too. Dogs can be well taken care of, loved by their families and love their families and live outside.

As I stated previously one of our dogs is very protective of dd and very protective of our home. She is not overly aggressive but does bark when someone comes up that she does not know.

As for heart worms, fleas, ticks, etc. etc. The dogs take pills to prevent heart worms, they are bathed regularly for fleas and ticks and meds applied to their coats to prevent these things. Being outside does not mean uncared for.

Maybe I misunderstood the OP, but my understanding was that she wants a dog that will be outside and will bark if someone that doesn't belong on the property shows up. It doesn't take a lot for that. Just a well cared for animal that loves his/her family.

Doesn't the OP live on the property? If so, don't you all think perhaps she knows exactly how big an acre is? I wouldn't think a mini-horse requires that much room.

 

[disneystacy]

Why not just get a panic button attached to your key ring? We have one that will set my house alarm off and the police will automatically be called.

Not sure about how dangerous your area is, but if I felt I had to keep 2 large dogs outside at all times to feel safe, it would be time to move.

 

[C.Ann]

Pea-n-Me, you (well, the articles you are posting) are making it sound as if every outside dog is left with not enough water, not enough food, ignored by the family, not given a warm (or cool) place to be, etc. This is just not true.

Our dogs live outside, they have nice dog houses that we add blankets to in the winter (unless they are brought in for the night), they love to swim in the pond to cool off, they have plenty of food available, are given fresh water every day (with the water bowl and food bowl being cleaned every day), and we spend time with them daily too. Dogs can be well taken care of, loved by their families and love their families and live outside.


As for heart worms, fleas, ticks, etc. etc. The dogs take pills to prevent heart worms, they are bathed regularly for fleas and ticks and meds applied to their coats to prevent these things. Being outside does not mean uncared for.

Maybe I misunderstood the OP, but my understanding was that she wants a dog that will be outside and will bark if someone that doesn't belong on the property shows up. It doesn't take a lot for that. Just a well cared for animal that loves his/her family.

Doesn't the OP live on the property? If so, don't you all think perhaps she knows exactly how big an acre is? I wouldn't think a mini-horse requires that much room.

Have to say I got the same vibe from every article that was linked/posted.. It was clearly "assumed" that any outdoor dog would be neglected, mistreated, starved, chained, left without water, left without shelter, and certainly not receive any of the proper veterinary care and precautions..

Biased doesn't even begin to cover it..