We think a photo speaks a thousand words, so we're posting one to start off our discussion and get you thinking. But before you jump to the conclusion that we think crating is cruel, let me say--emphatically--we do not think crating is cruel. In fact, we are strong advocates of crating, but as with all things, crating, like tethering, can be misused.
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| Crating, while a GREAT and often humane containment method, can be misused to the same extent as tethering is misused. |
We used crates to bring our dogs indoors and give them a nice, den-like space to hang out and escape from pestering children and dive-bombing cats, and then we made these same crates primary containment methods for when we're at work. We outlawed tethering in many cases, making long-term crating and kenneling more common, and we've seen ever-increasing behavior problems in dogs as people work longer and longer hours and dogs are stuck in smaller and smaller spaces....or just left alone completely all day, every day, in a yard.
We'll start with a few examples of situations where tethering, kenneling, and crating might be used--because, let's face it, responsible dog owners have to keep their dogs safely confined to their property when they aren't there to supervise, and we haven't yet created a world where everyone can telecommute or bring their dogs to the operating room with them while they perform a seven-hour surgery.
Yes, most people have to work, and often there's not someone home all the time to take care of the dog (before you say only unemployed people or those home all the time should have pets -- go visit a shelter where dogs are euthanized by the thousands every year; a kind but imperfect home is much better than death).
If you have a fenced back yard, you can leave your dog alone in the locked back yard while you're working--unless your dog digs out, eats random things (rocks, mushrooms, etc.), worries at the fence, jumps the fence, or fence-fights with the neighbor's dog (who, of course, is always the instigator). And that assumes you live somewhere where people never steal Pit Bulls -- say, Antarctica.
If you want to make sure your dog has a safe area in which to hang out while you're away, what are your options? Leave him in the house? That's great, unless your dog tends to be destructive or has a hard time holding "it" for 8-10 hours (I know I do!). And, let's hope your dog doesn't decide to burn your house down while you're away.
You can have a doggie door that gives your dog free access to the backyard -- oh but that leads to the same problems as leaving your dog alone in the house or backyard (fence-jumping, digging, arson...).
You can get REAL fancy and have a doggie door that goes to a secure kennel area (with a top and dig-proof floor). Wow. Okay, you can probably stop reading now, just make sure to dog-proof the home to avoid those accidental fires or inappropriate chewing (think: drywall, electrical cords, carpet, your Prada shoes...the usual).
But if you're one of those who got a nice, big crate to keep your dog in for 8-10 hours, five days a week (you know, you had to work late those couple of times, or traffic was a bear!), keep reading. You stuff your dog in a box because, after all, tethering is cruel. Maybe you feel guilty enough to hire a pet sitter who relieves your dog for 30 minutes at the 4-5 hour mark of his or her confinement in a 48-inch box (we assume you got the largest crate they make to give your medium or large dog plenty of room to stretch, not a shipping crate you can barely stuff the dog into).
Let me ask your dog -- Hey, Fido, do you like spending 8-10 hours (minus the 30 minute break) in a crate? (You didn't know I was a skilled animal communicator, but I am, and the dog told me "No").
So, you now feel sufficiently guilty and decide to buy a larger outdoor kennel such as a 10x10 wire mesh one. It will have a cover and be dig-proof with chew-proof bedding and a tip-proof water bowl. You're awesome. Your dog will be much happier than those unlucky crate-bound dogs. But wait! You find out you have one of those rare escape-artist dogs that learns to get out of the kennel or keeps worrying himself silly at the reinforced wire mesh, breaking his teeth. (You weren't stupid enough to try the cheap chain link ones at Home Depot or Lowes, so your dog can't easily rip through the panels, which means teeth go bye-bye).
Well, now what? You can't keep your dog in a tiny box all day. You can't keep him alone in the house because he's just not trustworthy. He'll escape the backyard if left unattended (hint: you tried the hotwire, but he can just sail right over the five-foot fence without touching it). He hurts himself in a kennel or has learned to escape. You should have named him Houdini. If he gets out of your yard one more time, it may mean the end of his life, so what are you to do?
You decide to try a tether system, and thank goodness you live in a city where tethering isn't outlawed, because then you'd just have to dump your dog at a shelter and hope he makes it out alive--either that or hire a full-time pet sitter or pay for doggie daycare every day, but your job doesn't pay you that much and allow you to also keep up on the rent or mortgage. (And, as it so happens, one of the top reasons for people dumping their dogs in a shelter--or, even worse, on the street--is problems containing the dog--we don't agree with it, but it's a reality).
Having done your research, you get a 20-foot tether, put it in an area where it cannot get tangled or caught (and where the dog cannot hang himself accidentally) and where the dog has access to both shade and sun. It's within a fenced area to keep other animals out. You give him a nice, comfy bed and dog house, a large water bowl he can't tip over, some toys, etc. He can lay out in the sun or rest in the shade. He can chew on his dog-safe toys, drink fresh, cool water, and maybe even splash around in little kiddie pool you positioned just before the end of his reach. Of course, there's still the issue of someone stealing him, but with a good tether setup, you can help minimize that risk by positioning him out of sight.
In the kennel, your dog would have had 100 square feet of room in which to live during the day. With a 20' tether, your dog has 1256.64 square feet of room. That's over 1,000 extra square feet of room, and there's no wire mesh for your dog to break his teeth on. He can stretch, relieve himself, choose the most comfy location in which to rest and watch the world go by without kennel bars obstructing his view.
Then, and most importantly, when you get home, you take him for a nice, long walk or run, play with him with his favorite toy, feed him dinner, and snuggle up on the couch inside with him while you watch T.V. or play on the computer. He sleeps in your room, and his snoring only wakes you, oh, every 25 minutes.
If you think a responsible tether set up is cruel, then we challenge you to spend one hour in your dog's crate (again, this assumes you have the largest one they make for your medium to large dog and, if you don't, get one). Then, spend one hour outside attached to a tether, with part shade and part sun and something cozy to rest on (heck, throw in a kiddie pool!). In the comments, tell me which was the better experience. One hour can't compare to the eight-plus hours dogs often spend confined (but we're not kidding ourselves you'll try anything longer). However, if you are an over-achiever and really want to get into the experience, spend a full eight hours in the crate and then another eight hours on a tether and report your experiences.We know it will be more cramped for you than your dog, but it gives you a taste of confinement (and also remember that most people don't put their dogs in the largest crates available -- they put them in the smallest crates they can get away with because large crates are generally expensive and they take up lots of room).
The point we're making is not that one containment method is necessarily better than another, and we know that most people who tether their dogs aren't doing so humanely. They do it to keep the dog out of the way--out of sight, out of mind. The dogs are, essentially, abandoned outdoors and only given barely enough sustenance to survive (and sometimes not even that). But, you know what? Dogs can be just as abandoned in kennels, the garage, or, even more horrifically, crates.
Our point is that any containment method can be abused, and not every containment method is appropriate for every dog. Dogs are all different, and some may love to spend the day in their covered kennels while others adore their crates (but very few would choose to spend eight hours a day locked in one). The key to responsible pet ownership is to make your dog a member of the family. Dogs are social creatures. They need stimulation, interaction, play, and exercise every single day. They should not be left in kennels, crates, or tethers 7 days a week, 23.5 hours a day.
Don't think we're anti-crate. In fact, we love crates. They are awesome -- when used correctly. We just don't think dogs should spend forty to sixty hours a week in them. It is, in most cases, cruel to leave a dog in a crate for eight hours, five days a week. People do that and then wonder why their dogs have such behavior problems. (We know a few of you have dogs with medical issues that require crate confinement and those couch potato dogs that are unconscious--i.e., asleep--for 16 hours a day; you're excused).
What would happen to you, psychologically, if you were left in a shipping crate 40-60 hours every week? We know, some of you think your cubicles are pretty close to that existence, but let's face it, the law makes your employer give you meal and rest breaks and allow you to use the potty. Your dog has no such luxury. And while you're checking Facebook and blogs in your cubicle, your dog has finished all the peanut butter in her Kong hours ago and is now bored out of her mind with an uncomfortably full bladder.
How do you think your dog would prefer to pass the hours?
Like this?
If you're still pondering the merits of tethering versus other forms of humane containment, such as kenneling (in large kennels), read this Cornell study.
Join in the discussion by posting photos of yourself in your dog's crate on our Facebook page, which will totally freak out Rachele, our Social Media coordinator, because they won't be in albums, they'll just be *gasp!* on the wall! (We love you, Rachele!). Warning: We cannot be held responsible if you get stuck!
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| Chako founder Dawn tries out one of the larger crates. |
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| Vanessa, Chako's events coordinator, looks far too happy in the Vari Kennel with her bunny toy. |
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| Jackie tries out the Doggie Condo and looks much less happy about it than Vanessa does! |
I used to have a lab when I lived out in the country who would rather be on a tether any day than in his pen (which was 15' x 40'). I was home a lot in those days, so neither option was overused, but that dog LOVED being tethered. I'd say, "You want to be tied out?" and he would dance around all excited, and then hang around out there looking happy. That was NOT his reaction to the pen, which was snivelling until I let him out. So in this case, tethering was by far the more humane option. I suspect that this should likely be a case by case issue...which means that for us, a hard and fast law against tethering would have been horrible.
ReplyDeleteI have 2 rednose am staffs (MALE 8YRS, FEMALE 3YRS) that i need to find a home for. I am moving and am unable to bring them. If any1 is interested then please email me at clewisfoster@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteSorry I still dont agree with tethering versus crating. There are other options like setting up an x pen inside to give dog more room. I know my dog would not want to be outside while I am not home. As a matter of fact he needs to be reminded to get out of the sun. I also worry he would be stressed by the wildlife visitors such as bears, deer and turkey that have recently been frequent visitors to our yard. What is stopping the tether from getting wrapped around a leg or tail and cutting off circulation. or dog walks around dog house wrapping lead around it and shortens his tether so he cant even go in his dog house. Sorry I beg to differ. I just did a program on responsible ownership and I do not consider this responsible. There are ways to break up crate time without leaving them in there all day.
ReplyDeleteI live in Portland, Maine. I have a one year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier with very short fur. The nights here have been as low as 11* F (and it isn't even winter yet). In addition to that, there have been several dogs (mostly Bully Breeds) stolen in Southern and Central Maine lately, most of the dogs were taken out of their own yards. There is talk that the thefts could be for a possible dog fighting ring. One of the dogs was found wrapped in a tarp its body mutilated, the police think that it may have been used as a bait dog. Whatever that poor dog was used for, it was not pleasant.
ReplyDeleteI guess you're right, though, my be much happier outside in the cold where he could get stolen right out of my yard than he would be in my warm home in his cozy kennel with his comfy bed and his favorite toy.
That was supposed to say, "my dog would be much happier"
ReplyDeleteSupperpuppy and Catstina - I believe you missed this part: "We'll get straight to the point. Many people think tethering dogs is cruel. We don't -- if tethering is used correctly and humanely." Obviously, a tether that is able to wrap around a leg, an area where thefts are likely, inclimate weather - these are ALL examples of an IRRESPONSIBLE tethering situation.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of tethering...when I am home and can keep an eye on my escape artist dog.
ReplyDeleteI think you managed to skip a few points.
1) Barking. Dogs left alone out side for long periods of time tend to bark, a lot.
2) Chewing the tether.
I'm assuming that you are not talking about using a large chain to tether. In that case there is ALWAYS the possibility that the dog will chew through. Even the ones with the metal centers can and do become brittle and break.
3) Tethering irresponsibly(Leaving the dog unattended) builds drive that can and often does lead to a more aggressive dog.
4) People intentionally poison/kill dogs left out. We as pit bull owners are all too aware of this fact.
5) A dog that is well behaved enough to stay outside unsupervised can be easily approached by a stranger and stolen. Even in a fenced in and locked yard.
My point is that there is a responsible way to tether. However, it is irresponsible to leave a dog on one unattended.