by Greg Plank

Created on: February 18, 2009

The real question is: Why do you have a dog in the first place? For centuries human beings and dogs have bonded. Dogs are companions, protectors, comforters, workers and much more. They have shown that they will sacrifice their all to make their adopted family safe. They have proven to be a source of comfort in times of sickness and stress. How is that possible if the dog is in the backyard and you are in the living room? Having a canine friend and family member and relegating them to the backyard is like having your relatives sleep outside when they visit. Perhaps not a bad idea for some relatives.

Some who believe that dogs should be outdoors state that dogs can be messy, destroy parts of the house, and display other annoying habits. Children do the same things until they learn better. Having a dog is a responsibility, and part of that is setting the limits and training. Training a dog is part of the bonding process. It is the same with our children. It's been my experience that dogs train much faster than children. If you are going to have a dog, you have to have the time to invest in the relationship. Being lazy in training your children or your dog produces a being that is not pleasant to be around. I know several dogs who would be better behaved in a restaurant than many children I've observed.

There's also the practical side. When the burglar comes in the front door while you're away, the dog isn't much help confined to the backyard. When life is kicking you around, the dog can't put his or her head in your lap, and look at you with those understanding eyes from the backyard. The only thing better than coming home to relax after a tough day, is coming home to a friend who is sincerely excited to see you. With a dog, there's no agenda or debate. You don't have to give them all the details of why your day sucked. They just want to share their affection. Some say that Dogs need exercise...so do you. Enjoy the time. Watching a dog sniff the world with great concentration as you walk just might motivate you to be a bit more introspective or even curious about more things. Learning is a two way street, and dogs can teach us a great deal. That's hard for them to do from the backyard.

To me, the relationship between humans and dogs can be summed up in a simple statement. "The scientists may be wrong when they say that man domesticated dogs. Perhaps dogs are still trying to domesticate human beings." That's hard to do from the backyard. Why do you have a dog in the first place? Why would you give up all that dogs have to offer, because you have to invest a little time to realize it?

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