Chained dogs become starved for attention

Imagine being handcuffed to your chair day after day with nothing to do and no one to interact with. Perhaps you would like to go for a walk or visit a neighbor, but you are forced to sit in a chair, look out your window and watch the world go by.

If this were really happening to you, someone would report the situation to the proper authorities and you would be rescued. Help does not come so easily for the many dogs chained to their doghouse or to a stake in the back yard.

Chaining a dog is a common practice and it is the one form of animal cruelty that is most tolerated by the general public. Other than outright physical abuse, one could not think of a harsher punishment for a dog. Dogs are pack animals and need to be with people and other dogs. They need interaction with humans, exercise and mental stimulation. They get none of this staked out on a chain. Most chained dogs receive little attention from their owner and as a result become frustrated, lonely, anxious, neurotic and aggressive.

Dogs are protective of their own territory and their natural response to any threat is fight-or-flight. Since flight is not possible, dogs that under any other circumstance would not be aggressive become so toward people and other animals. They pose a danger to people, other animals and to themselves. A chained dog is also at the mercy of aggressive dogs and cruel people.

Keeping a dog staked in such a restricted area is the equivalent of putting a person in solitary confinement. Chained dogs are starved for attention and human contact. When released for short periods of time they behave in an unruly manner trying to get attention. They may be hyperactive and uncontrollable. This type behavior makes the owner think the dog is not trainable and they return them to the chain.

It is not possible to keep a dog on a chain until he learns to obey commands or until he calms down. This can only be accomplished through proper training and spending time with the dog.

Chained dogs will eventually loose interest in the world around them. They become neurotic and often pace back and forth, go in circles or just lie there. If released from the confining conditions, they usually fail to obey commands and are only interested in running away from this environment.

Such a restricted environment is also a health threat for the dog because of being forced to eat, sleep, urinate and defecate in the same area.

Who says chaining a dog is wrong? The Humane Society of the United States, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), individual humane societies and animal organizations, and the Department of Agriculture. In recent years, many communities have banned chaining as a means of animal confinement.

What is the solution? A fenced yard, an adequate sized dog run, and keeping the dog indoors part of the time with limited time on a running line are some of the solutions. If you want more information on the recommended size run or if you have a dog that digs out of a fenced yard or jumps the fence, call the Humane Society at 473-5720 for some helpful hints on solving these problems.

Behavior problems in a dog are usually the result of being left alone and getting no exercise or stimulation. If you have a lifestyle that will not allow you to spend time with your dog, please don’t adopt one. If you already have a dog and have no time for games and long walks, try one of the solutions mentioned above rather than staking the dog on a chain in the yard.