OUTSIDE DOGS

By Dennis Fetko, Ph.D.
Reprinted from August 1995 issue of Whiskers & Wags,
Halifax Humane Society Newsletter

I'm familiar with hundreds of dog breeds, but what's
an outside dog? Unless you're medically intolerant of
the dog (and therefore can't take care of him in a
medical emergency, so you shouldn't have the dog
anyway), making a dog stay outside is a costly waste.
If he's for protection, what do you think I want to
steal - your lawn? When you leave, do you put your
valuables and your kids out in your yard? Just what is
the dog protecting out there? Most dogs kept outside
cause far more nuisance complaints from barking and
escaping than any deterrent to intrusion. Such
complaints cause teasing, antagonism, release and
poisoning. With your dog a helpless victim, it's no
laughing matter.

If I'm a crook and your dog is out, your fence
protects ME, not your possessions or your dog. If I
just open the gate, 9 out of 10 dogs will run off! I
can safely shoot, stab, spear, poison, snare, strangle
them, or dart through the fence and you just lost your
dog AND everything I steal!

If he's tied up and I keep out of reach, he's useless.
He'll bark, but outside dogs bark so much, they're
usually ignored. But let a dog hit the other side of a
door or window I'm breaking into, and I'm GONE! I
can't hurt the dog until he can hurt me, and nothing
you own is worth my arm. Deterrence is effective
protection.

Protection and aggression are not the same. Protection
is defensive, reactive, often passive, and threatens
or injures no one. Aggression is active, harmful and
offensive, threatens all and benefits none. Yard dogs
often develop far more aggression than protectivity
because everyone who passes by or enters has already
violated the territory that dog has marked dozens of
times a day for years. That's not protection, it's not
desirable and it overlooks two facts of life today:

First, property owners have implied social contracts
with others in the community. Letter carriers, paper
boys, delivery people, law enforcement, emergency
medical personnel, meter readers and others are
allowed near and
at times on your property without your specific
permission. And sure that ten-year-old was not
supposed to jump your fence after his Frisbee; but
neither you nor your dog are allowed to cause him
injury if he does. Imagine this: A neighbor looks into
your yard or window and sees you, your wife or child
laying on the floor in a pool of blood. They call
9-1-1 and your dog prevents paramedics from assisting!
Should they shoot your dog or just let you die?

Great choice.

Second, even if the intruder is a criminal, few places
allow you or your dog to cause physical injury to
prevent property loss. Convicted felons have sued the
dog's owner from jail and won more in the suit than
they ever could
have stolen!

Appalling? True.

And don't be foolish enough to believe your
homeowner's insurance will cover the loss. Now you see
why many feel that an outside dog is a no-brainer.

The more a dog is outdoors, the less behavioral
control you have. It's easier to solve four or five
indoor problems than one outdoor problem. The reason
is valid and simple: The more you control the stimuli
that reaches your dog, the more you control the
responses. You've got a lot more control over your
living room than you do over your entire county! When
your dog is bored, but teased by every dog, cat, bird,
squirrel, motorcycle, paperboy, airplane, firecracker
and backfiring truck in the county, OF COURSE he'll
dig, chew, and bark.

Would you sit still all day everyday? Do you want
unnecessary medical and parasite fees, especially as
the dog ages?

When a dog is alone indoors, you are still 30% there
because your scent and things he associates with you,
constantly remind the dog of you and your training.
When he's out, your dog is alone whether you're home
or not. Do you really expect him to keep YOU in mind
while the entire world teases, distracts and
stimulates him?

The media is full of stories about the family dog
saving everyone's life during a fire. How many people,
including children, would be dead today if those dogs
were kept outside? SURE - you ALWAYS get up to
investigate every
time your yard dog barks. And I've got this bridge.

An outdoor dog has an address, not a home. Dogs offer
real value as companion animals. Stop behavior
problems and start enjoying real protection and
companionship. Bring your dogs inside.