by Mike Shaw

Created on: September 21, 2010

We have all heard the saying “a dog is a man’s best friend”.  So what should we do to our best friend?  I know, we’ll throw them outside all day and all night, and they can just be happy with the scraps of attention that we can be bothered to give them.

As we know, if we were to treat our best friends in this way we wouldn’t have any friends for very long.  For centuries men have taken dogs into their home for company or protection, and in return they ask no more off us than our love and some food.

Anybody that’s had a dog as a pet will understand the bond that one creates with them.  When you say “a man’s best friend”, you don’t actually do justice to exactly how much a dog loves its master.  It is unparalleled with any connection you can have with another pet.

If you want a pet that you keep outside all the time then buy a cat.  A dog is not suited for this role, and if they could speak would certainly not thank you for giving them that sort of life. Furthermore, I would go on to say that it was a type of cruelty for a dog to be treated in this way, unless they were in the company of other dogs.

Some of you may disagree that there is anything cruel about shutting a dog outside alone, and you may even think that you are teaching the dog its role within the family, or that you are giving them there own territory and that makes them happy.  Well without putting a sugar coating on it, you’re wrong!  I know that this is a strong statement, and don’t worry I have plenty to backup my argument.

Firstly, like humans dogs are a pack animal and therefore crave the company of others.  They need this company and structure to understand there role within the pack (family).  If you take this away they will become disillusioned and won’t understand what role they have.

Secondly there’s the matter of hygiene.  Your dog won’t only become repugnant, but will become flee ridden which will cause the dog discomfort.

And finally, it can make your dog anti-social, which could ultimately make them vicious.

Now you may argue that you’ve never had these problems with your dog, and that your dog is a happy dog.  But I can’t understand how you can make this argument.

Please treat your dogs how you would treat your children. So if you would leave your children outside all day and night on their own for “their own good”, the please feel free to do the same to your dogs.

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