by Kat Derrig

Created on: November 02, 2008

The term "chaining your dog outdoors" carries with it the image of a poor, starved creature laying at the end of a heavy chain and gnawing on an old bone. All too often, in fact, this scenario is the case when some people decide to secure their pets outside rather than inside. It is not always the case though, and I believe there is a right way and a wrong way to "chain up your dog" in the yard.

In some states, it is illegal to keep your dog outside on a chain or lead for more than three hours at a time. I think this law is a step in the right direction: while sometimes it is necessary to secure a dog in your yard, you might not have the room or the money to build a fence. As long as the dog's collar or harness is not too tight, and he or she has a shady spot to lay, and a bowl of food or water nearby, I see nothing wrong with keeping an animal contained this way for a short period of time.

There are many disadvantages that chains have over properly constructed fences. Chains, no matter how durable they appear, can wear out and break, or be uprooted from the ground. A powerful dog who suddenly sees a rabbit (or heaven forbid, a small child) dash by can exert a burst of strength that can snap a chain that's been in place for years. Secondly, the chain can be dangerous for the dog himself. It can become wrapped around his neck and choke him, or become wrapped around patio furniture and cut the dog off from food, water, and shade. I believe that if you are going to chain up your dog, someone should be home to watch him, or at least a helpful neighbor should be there to occasionally look out and make sure your four-legged friend has enough room to roam around.

Also, the chain can become to convenient for the owners, who sometimes feel that the dog being outside is enough, and they don't have to exercise him, or puppy-proof the house. The is absolutely not the case - I believe that every dog needs a chance to get out and run around, or take a long walk, and spend quality time with his family. If you are only getting a dog for security purposes, you might want to consider other options, such as an alarm system, or window bars. Dogs like to do work for us, but if you bring one home, he should be treated as a member of the family.

That being said, I don't think chaining a dog outdoors should be illegal, just carefully moderated with laws that establish the length of time this can be done. And there are other options than an actual chain - zip-line type ropes that allow your dog to run back and forth between two posts or trees, and are safer than conventional chains. And in the end, I believe that it is the responsibility of the pet owner to make sure his or her dog is treated in a humane fashion.

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