Learn
More!
Making
Your Dog Part of the Family
Some dog
owners believe that dogs, especially large ones, should be "outdoor
only" pets. We believe that dogs of all sizes are happier, healthier
and safer when they can be indoors with their people the majority of
the time. Dogs have a need to be social just like we do.
Exercise
Some people believe that dogs need to e outside so they can get plenty
of exercise. The truth is that most dogs don't exercise when they're
in a yard by themselves; they spend most of their time lying by the
back door, waiting for "their people" to either let them in
or come out and play with them. However, dogs do need exercise every
day, so we recommend walking your dog or engaging him in a regular game
of fetch!
Socialization
Dogs need to spend time with "their people" in order to learn
their rules and how to get along with them. Dogs that spend most of
their time alone or only in the company of other dogs, may demonstrate
fearful, aggressive or overactive behavior toward family members or
strangers because they've never learned how to act around people.
Safety
Dogs that spend most of their time outdoors are a risk for a variety
of reasons. They could escape from the yard and become lost; a disgruntled
neighbor could throw poison over the fence or spray the dog with mace
or pepper spray; or the dog could be stolen and possibly sold to a research
facility or dog-fighting ring.
Behavior
Problems
Dogs left alone in the yard for long periods of time often get bored,
lonely and frustrated. As a result, they may dig or bark excessively.
Most cities have noise ordinances that penalize owners of barking dogs.
If a dog escapes the yard in search of interesting things to do, not
only is he at risk of being injured by a car, but also his owner is
liable for any damage or harm that he might do.
Protection
Dogs that spend time with their owners and feel attached to them are
more likely to be protective of "their family". Dogs that
spend most of their time outdoors may be friendly to any stranger who
pets or feeds them. Alternatively, some yard dogs may become overly
territorial and feel the need to protect their territory even from family
and friends. If a dog is hardly ever allowed to come indoors, it will
be difficult for him to distinguish between family, friends and uninvited
"guests".
Puppies
People who are away from home for eight to ten hours a day may be inclined
to leave their new puppy in the yard because he can't control his bowels
and bladder for that length of time. Although it's true that puppies
need to eliminate more frequently than adult dogs, it's also very important
for puppies to receive adequate people time at the formative stage of
their lives. If dogs aren't adequately socialized when they're young,
they're likely to become fearful or aggressive toward people, and possibly
other animals. Puppies are also more vulnerable to extreme weather conditions
than adult dogs. If you must be away from home for more than four or
five hours at a time every day, this may not be the right time for you
to adopt a puppy.
The
Garage
While dogs my be safer from people and other animals in the garage than
in the yard, unless people spend time with them in the garage, they'll
still suffer from isolation and, as a result, may develop any of the
behavior problems previously mentioned. Most garages are very hot during
the summer months and cold during the winter. Each year many pets suffer
and die from heat exhaustion during the warmer months and from illness
and exposure to the cold in the winter months from being left in a garage.
Garages are often storage places for tools and chemicals that could
cause injury to a curious dog. If the garage has an automatic door opener,
the dog could run out into the street when the door is opened.
Changing
Times
Some of us may have fond childhood memories of a family dog that lived
outside, but times have changed. More mothers used to stay at home and
children used to spend more time outdoors. The outdoor dog had company
while mom hung laundry or gardened and the children played outside.
With the advent of two-income families, television and computer games,
the outdoor dog is more likely to spend most of his time alone.
No Alternative
If you must leave your dog outdoors, unsupervised for extended periods
of time, please provide him with the following.
- An insulated
shelter with a wind-proof opening. Some very short-coated breeds like
greyhounds, beagles and Dalmatians, may not be able to tolerate extreme
cold, even with a shelter.
- Shade
in the summertime. All dogs need shade, but remember that heavy-coated
dogs such as huskies and chows are more susceptible to the heat.
- Fresh
food and water every day. In winter, you'll need a heated water bowl
to keep water from freezing. In summer, you'll need a tip-proof bowl
so your dog won't tip the bowl over in an effort to get cool.
- Interactive
playtime daily.
- A daily
walk.
- An escape-proof
fence with a locked gate.
- "Busy
" toys
Most dogs
do enjoy spending time outdoors, but the time dogs spend alone outdoors
must be balanced with quality time with "their people". With
a little time and training, dogs can learn to be well behaved around
people and can come to respect the house rules. They can then be left
inside alone without cause for worry and be trusted companions and members
of the family.
©
1999. Denver Dumb Friends League. All rights reserved. IORM
