I am not talking about the occasional time when you need to tie your dog up for a little while. There will be times when you will need to tether your dog. I am talking about the Backyard Dogs. The ones with the dog house and a chain. The ones that spend the majority of their time and life chained, sitting and waiting, with nothing else to do but wait and protect.
Electric fences are highly recommended. You cannot see them, so your yard will look the same and your dog will feel the freedom that dogs enjoy, being able to see around him, yet still have the same safety as an above-ground fence. They are relatively cheap compared to the above-ground fence.
One example of this is the story my neighbor told me about a Keeshond she had as a child. Her parents did not have much time for the dog and the kids were getting older and did not have very much interest in it. As a result the Keeshond ended up on a clothesline run, chained up in the backyard. It got to the point where you could not go near the dog without it growling at you and trying to bite. After a while the parents decided it was not worth the liability. They feared the dog was going to eventually really hurt someone. They found the dog a new home and hoped for the best.
Outside kennels. I am somewhat skeptical of outside kennels as the place where your dog spends the majority of his time. They are much better than chains and if the owners take the dog out every day for a walk and give it chances to run free and play they can be okay. But once again the dog is in a confined, restricted situation. In the end it all depends on how much time you spend with your dog. If you do not have time to spend with your dog you probably should not have one. On the other hand, if it comes between taking your dog to a kill shelter or chaining him up in your backyard, I would choose the chain.
A few months later they received a phone call from the new owners. Fear shot through the mother as she answered the phone, expecting to hear the dog had bitten someone. Instead they heard how nice and sweet the dog was. Friendly as can be, loves everyone. The new owners were calling to say just how happy they were and that they loved their new Keeshond. Turned out the new owners did not chain the dog. They were in a situation where the dog could be free to walk around the yard. For those who know the breed, you know that Keeshonden are not the type of dog to be mean or to bite. They love everyone and everything. It was the chain, lack of leadership, pack structure and exercise that drove the dog to this point. The good thing was it was reversible, the chain was taken away and the dog was placed in a new environment. The dog no longer felt the need to defend and protect, no longer felt trapped and confined.
Key considerations if a decision is made to tether a dog
Note that in some jurisdictions there is specific legislation relating to the tethering of dogs (which must be complied with), including for example exercise requirements and whether specific groups of animals can be tethered (some animals are more vulnerable such as young or pregnant animals).
All tethered dogs must be provided with a comfortable resting area, adequate food, water and shelter (protection from heat, cold, sun, wind, rain etc), and opportunities for mental stimulation (such as safe food or puzzle toys).
When dogs are tethered for longer periods (more than a few hours), they must be provided with regular adequate exercise off the tether.
Tethering of dogs may increase the public safety risks of dog bites and attacks. Long term tethering with no exercise has been shown to increase frustration and aggressive behaviour towards other dogs and people [1].
To minimise the animal welfare risks of tethering, the length of time a dog is tethered should always be minimised.
A dog must be trained to accept tethering before being left alone on a tether.
Tethering of dogs must comply with any relevant state/territory and local laws, regulations, standards, and codes of practice.
Tethered animals require adequate supervision. They must be inspected regularly and even more frequently in extreme weather.
If dogs are to be tethered, swivel tethers on fixed runners reduce the risk of entanglement and injury. Metal tethers (of the appropriate weight) provide greater security compared to rope and other materials which may fray, break or tangle.
A tethering site should be reasonably flat, dry, sheltered, and be clear of hazards, obstacles and obstructions. Dogs can choke if the tether becomes tangled or be hung if they jump over or off obstacles while tethered.
Dogs have died when left tethered during natural disasters, and on hot days without adequate shade and water. Climate change will increase the risk of tethering as extreme weather becomes more widespread and frequent.
https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/can-dogs-be-safely-confined-by-tethering/
Is Chaining Dogs Abuse?
When you hear the term “dog chaining,” that generally means that a dog is tied up with a chain or rope and left alone day after day. This has many physical and mental ramifications for the dog — none of them good — and it is a form of animal cruelty and abuse.
Some cities and states have laws that either prohibit or limit dog chaining. In 2011, for instance, New York passed a law that made it illegal to tether dogs for over three hours in a 12-hour period. However, not all cities have these laws. In some cases, the decision of whether or not to chain a dog is up to the individual owner.
Let’s break down this issue a little further and look at a few key reasons why you shouldn’t chain your dog.