Dear Tied Up: You care about your dog enough to want him to have plenty of fresh air and sunshine. While your intentions are good, tying or tethering your dog up outside while you’re not around the house is one of the riskiest things you could do.

The Great Outdoors

Leaving your dog outside, unsupervised for long periods of time, under any circumstance, even in an enclosure comes with safety concerns. But while at least a fence will come between your dog and any intruders, such as wildlife, children, or other dogs, leaving your dog on a chain will expose him directly to danger.

If your dog is approached by another dog and gets into a fight, he has nowhere to run and hide. He is limited by the length of his chain to plan his escape. Even if he can run under the porch, so could the other dog. Equally important to think about is an encounter with wildlife, especially those that might carry rabies such as skunks, raccoons, and foxes. Your dog may be vaccinated for rabies should your dog get in a scuffle, but you are not. You may be unknowingly at risk for rabies should saliva on your dog’s fur from an infected animal come in contact with you.

Putting a dog on a chain or cable comes with risks even when you are home. A dog can run around in circles and the chain can begin to kink and shorten. Sometimes the twisting becomes so severe that it can actually strangle the dog to death. There have been instances of pet owners coming home to dogs that spun themselves into a chokehold, which ended their lives. Additionally, chains can get caught around dogs running at a high speed and cause injuries to legs, knees and necks when they come to the end of the rope at a high speed. And after a while, chains can create rub marks along shoulders, necks and rib cages. Avoid putting your dog on any kind of long rope, chain or cable of any kind, whether you are home or not.

Safer Alternatives

There are better, safer alternatives for you to consider about housing you dog outside, especially in the summer. First, if you feel compelled to keep him outside, the best way to do that, short of fencing in your yard, is with a smaller kennel, made of chain link fencing, with some shelter to keep him out of the sun and the rain.

Many home improvement stores sell small portable dog kennels that measure no more than 8’x 10’ and four feet high, which is an adequate size for your dog. Put the kennel near the house and make sure it is securely grounded. Make sure he has plenty of water in the shady part of the kennel. Dog supply companies also sell a dark mesh that go across the top of the enclosure to provide shade. Invest in one of these and make sure he can’t dig out under the fence, if it’s placed on dirt. Again, don’t leave him unsupervised for hours on end. It is best to treat your dog’s time in the kennel as a brief turn-out to stretch legs rather than a lengthy place to hang out.

The key to getting enough of the great outdoors for your pet is to walk him. In the summer it is best to walk your dog before 10 a.m. and then later in the afternoon after the heat of the day, when the pavements have cooled and the humidity isn’t so oppressive. If you plan two 30-minute brisk walks – one in the morning and one in the evening – that will be sufficient exercise for your little guy. Most dogs enjoy staying in the cool air-conditioning of your home in the summer, just like you.

               

Lisa Peterson, a long-time breeder of Norwegian Elkhounds, is the Director of Club Communications at the American Kennel Club. Contact her at ask@lisa-peterson.com  or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.