OUTSIDE DOGS
I'm familiar with hundreds of dog breeds, but what's an "outside
dog?" Unless you're medically intolerant of it (and therefore can't take
care of it in a medical emergency, so you shouldn't have it), making a dog
stay outside is a costly waste. If it's for protection, what do you think
I want to steal, your lawn? When you leave, do you put your valuables and
your kids out in your yard? Just what is the dog "protecting" out there? Most
dogs kept out cause far more nuisance complaints from barking and escaping
than any deterrent to intrusion. Such complaints cause teasing,
antagonism, release and poisoning. I lost count of the number of times I've
heard: "NOW I know why I find so many rocks, sticks and cans in my yard! They're
throwing them at my dog!" Or: "So that's why I've had to replace the
padlock on the fence 17 times in the past year!" With your dog a helpless
victim, it's no laughing matter.
If I'm a crook and your dog is out, your fence protects ME, not your
possessions or dog. If I just open the gate 9 out of 10 dogs will run
off! I can safely shoot, stab, spear, poison, snare, strangle or dart it
through the fence. You just lost your dog AND everything I steal! If it's
tied and I keep out of its reach, it's useless. It'll bark, but outside dogs
bark so much they're usually ignored. But let a dog hit the other side of a
door or window I'm breaking into and I'm GONE! I can't hurt it until it can
hurt me and nothing you own is worth my arm. Deterrence is effective
protection.
Protection and aggression are not the same. Protection is defensive,
reactive and often passive and threatens or injures no one.
Aggression is active, harmful and offensive, threatens all and benefits none. Yard
dogs often develop far more aggression than protectivity because everyone
who passes by or enters has already violated the territory that dog has
marked dozens of times a day for years. That's not protection, it's not
desirable and it overlooks two facts of life today:
1) Property owners have implied social contracts with others in the
community. Letter carriers, paper boys, delivery people, law
enforcement, emergency medical personnel, meter readers and others are allowed
near and at times on your property without your specific permission. Sure that
ten-year-old was not supposed to jump your fence after his ball, kite
or Frisbee; but neither you nor your dog are allowed to cause him injury
if he does. Imagine this: A neighbor looks into your yard or window and
sees you, your wife or your child laying on the floor in a pool of blood. They
call 9-1-1 and your dog prevents paramedics from assisting! Should they
shoot your dog or just let you die? Great choice.
reactive and often passive and threatens or injures no one.
Aggression is active, harmful and offensive, threatens all and benefits none. Yard
dogs often develop far more aggression than protectivity because everyone
who passes by or enters has already violated the territory that dog has
marked dozens of times a day for years. That's not protection, it's not
desirable and it overlooks two facts of life today:
1) Property owners have implied social contracts with others in the
community. Letter carriers, paper boys, delivery people, law
enforcement, emergency medical personnel, meter readers and others are allowed
near and at times on your property without your specific permission. Sure that
ten-year-old was not supposed to jump your fence after his ball, kite
or Frisbee; but neither you nor your dog are allowed to cause him injury
if he does. Imagine this: A neighbor looks into your yard or window and
sees you, your wife or your child laying on the floor in a pool of blood. They
call 9-1-1 and your dog prevents paramedics from assisting! Should they
shoot your dog or just let you die? Great choice.
2) Even if the intruder is a felon, few places allow you or your dog
to cause physical injury to prevent property loss. Convicted felons have
sued the dog's owner from jail and won more in the suit than they could
have stolen! Appalling but true. Don't believe your homeowners insurance
will cover the loss. Now you see why many feel that an "outside dog" is a
no-brainer.
The more a dog is outdoors, the less behavioral control you have.
It's easier to solve four or five indoor problems than just one outdoors.
The reason is simple: The more you control the stimuli that reach the
dog, the more you control its responses. You've got a lot more control over
your living room than you do over your county! When it's bored but teased
by every dog, cat, bird, squirrel, motorcycle, paperboy, airplane,
firecracker, backfiring truck and rabbit in the county, OF COURSE it'll dig, chew
and bark. Would you sit still all day every day? Do you want unnecessary
medical and parasite fees, especially as the dog ages?
to cause physical injury to prevent property loss. Convicted felons have
sued the dog's owner from jail and won more in the suit than they could
have stolen! Appalling but true. Don't believe your homeowners insurance
will cover the loss. Now you see why many feel that an "outside dog" is a
no-brainer.
The more a dog is outdoors, the less behavioral control you have.
It's easier to solve four or five indoor problems than just one outdoors.
The reason is simple: The more you control the stimuli that reach the
dog, the more you control its responses. You've got a lot more control over
your living room than you do over your county! When it's bored but teased
by every dog, cat, bird, squirrel, motorcycle, paperboy, airplane,
firecracker, backfiring truck and rabbit in the county, OF COURSE it'll dig, chew
and bark. Would you sit still all day every day? Do you want unnecessary
medical and parasite fees, especially as the dog ages?
When a dog is alone indoors you're still 30% there because your scent
and things it associates with you constantly remind it of you and your
training. When it's out, it's alone whether you're home or not. Do you expect
it to keep YOU in mind while the entire world teases, distracts and
stimulates it?
and things it associates with you constantly remind it of you and your
training. When it's out, it's alone whether you're home or not. Do you expect
it to keep YOU in mind while the entire world teases, distracts and
stimulates it?
The media are full of stories about family dogs saving everyone
during a fire. How many people, including children, would be dead today if
those dogs were kept out? SURE you always get up to investigate every time your
yard dog barks. And I've got this bridge.....
during a fire. How many people, including children, would be dead today if
those dogs were kept out? SURE you always get up to investigate every time your
yard dog barks. And I've got this bridge.....
An outdoor dog has an address, not a home. Does your dog get so much
mail that it needs its own address? A real value dogs offer is as
companion animals. Do you live out in your yard? Whose company does your yard
dog keep and protect? Stop behavior problems and start enjoying real
protection and companionship.
mail that it needs its own address? A real value dogs offer is as
companion animals. Do you live out in your yard? Whose company does your yard
dog keep and protect? Stop behavior problems and start enjoying real
protection and companionship.
Bring your dogs in.
Copyright 1993 Dennis Fetko, Ph.D. (858-485-7433, Fax 858-485-0651).
The author authorizes this article to be copied, quoted or used however
it will do the most good as long as proper credit is given.
The author authorizes this article to be copied, quoted or used however
it will do the most good as long as proper credit is given.
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