For many pet parents, it’s a sad sight to see a helpless dog chained up in a neighbor’s yard—and for good reason. Dogs are social beings who thrive on interaction with humans and other animals. While people with large parcels of land—and those without fenced-in yards—use tethering as a means of keeping dogs on their property, this type of confinement causes the animals a great deal of physical and psychological pain. Good information on dog treatment can be found at this site.
What’s Wrong With Tethering?
In addition to being deprived of socialization, tethered dogs are often the victims of abuse and neglect, suffering from sporadic feedings, empty water bowls, inadequate veterinary care and exposure to weather extremes. They are forced to eat, sleep, urinate and defecate in the same confined area, which goes against their natural instincts. Tethered dogs also suffer neck injuries from collars that have become embedded into their skin—some even strangle to death when chains become entangled with other objects. Chained in place, they are also helpless to defend themselves against abusive people, stray dogs and wild animals who may invade their space. In addition, unaltered, chained female dogs are likely to attract strays, leading to unwanted litters.
What Are the Effects of Long-Term Tethering on Dogs?
Tethering for short time periods, using appropriate equipment, in an animal-friendly environment (access to water, shelter and toys, for example) is generally harmless. However, keeping a dog on a tether for the majority of the day often leads to negative behavior changes. Tethered dogs run a high risk of becoming “stir crazy” due to the inability to release their energy and socialize with others. With dogs, boredom often leads to frustration, which, in turn, often leads to aggression. An additional contributor to aggression is that, given only a small area in which to dwell, tethered dogs are known to become irrationally protective of that area because it is essentially their whole world. Studies have shown that chained or tethered dog is nearly three times more likely to bite than a dog who is not chained or tethered.
