Backyard Dogs
Dogs are pack animals that thrive on companionship. Much like their wolf ancestors, dogs are very social. In fact, dogs are more social than humans. They need to be part of human families. Denied access to human living space can result in behavior and health problems. When you own a dog, you must realize you are now the dog's pack and he wants to be with his pack. Forcing a dog to live outside with little or no human companionship is one of the most psychologically damaging things a pet owner can do to a dog.
Backyard dogs have more behavior problems. Because all your dog's instincts are telling him it is not good to be left alone or isolated from his pack, your dog can become very stressed or anxious. A dog exhibits stress by digging, barking, howling or whining, chewing, escaping and hyperactivity. These problems, can, in turn, become so troublesome that your neighbors may complain about the barking, property destruction, or about your dog escaping.
Backyard dogs make lousy guard dogs. Because a dog becomes naturally protective over where he lives (his territory or turf), he will only defend the place he lives in. If he is never allowed in the house, then the house will not become a place to protect.
Dogs are den animals, meaning they like to have a safe, quiet and secure place to sleep, rest and hang out. A dog who resides more in your house than in the yard is a much happier, more content animal because of the security of a den and because of your companionship.
Backyard dogs are harder to train. Because a backyard dog does not develop a strong bond toward your family, he is harder to train than a dog allowed to belong in your family. He is less responsive to commands because he is not emotionally attached to your family.
Backyard dogs have higher rates of euthanasia. Backyard dogs are more often given up than house dogs because they were never looked upon as family by their human pack. Sadly, that means they are easier to dispose of. Backyard dogs do not have the opportunity to become socialized to people and other dogs and may become so fearful or even vicious that they may have to be euthanized.
What you can do:
Keep your dog with you! At a minimum, your dog should have access to your living space whenever you are at home, including sleeping inside your house at night. You do not have to spend every waking moment actively playing and talking to your dog; just the fact that your dog can lay quietly at your feet while you watch TV is very important to his mental well being.
Never tie or chain your dog up outside. Dogs that are tied or chained outside suffer extreme frustration which can result in hyperactivity and/or aggression against you, your family or friends. Dogs that are tied up cannot escape from other animals or people who mean to do them harm. Dogs that are tied up can easily become entangled and do bodily harm to them selves. If you must keep your dog outside, provide a secure, high fence or an enclosed dog run with a top for those fence jumpers or climbers. Provide a top with shade, a doghouse for rainy weather, items to chew on and plenty of fresh water.
Think about how much time you will devote to your dog. People who keep their dogs outside constantly rationalize it, saying that they do spend time with their dogs, they do feed them, they do walk them. Spending an hour a day with your dog is not enough for his mental welfare. Be realistic! What about when it is rainy, cold or just to hot. Are you still spending that hour daily with your dog? Making the backyard your dog's only home does not make him a real part of your family.
Do you fit the statistics? Our lives have changed. It used to be that most people did spend a lot of time in the yard; playing, working, gardening, and socializing. Now with the age of computers, TV and hectic schedules, we actually spend as much as 75% less time outdoors in our yards and therefore less time with our devoted friend, the dog.
Train your dog! If your dog is untrained, take him to training class so you can develop better communication skills and teach him how to act appropriately in the house. If you have a puppy, get him into a puppy training and socialization class as soon as he turns 12 weeks old.
Give your dog a chance to be your best friend! Don't kick him out because you think he is un-trainable, unruly or because it is good for him to be outside. Instead, take the time to make him a part of your family. What is the point of having a dog if he is going to live his life in the backyard alone?
