3 Reasons You Should Never Tie Up Your Dog Outside

Keeping Your Dog Indoors Your pooch loves going outside with you for walks and playtime. But leaving your dog outside for long periods of time, specifically if she is tied up is dangerous, unhealthy, and stressful for your dog. If you insist that your dog is an “outside dog,” consider this: Dogs are extremely social. They want constant companionship and social connection. If you are not constantly outside with them to supervise them and provide them with the company they crave, they are not getting the care and attention they deserve.

Here are some reasons you should never tie up your dog outside:

Your dog will become frustrated and aggressive. Being tied up all day will create frustration and stress for your dog. Alone and surrounded by a million stimuli, she may want to run and play, but will find herself confined to the length of a rope. Not to mention, she wants to be near you and your family, and in a warm, safe environment. She will be torn between the allure of the outside world and her need for companionship and security, and will have access to neither. All of this pent up energy and anxiety may cause your dog to become aggressive while she’s on the leash, which can be problematic.

Training will become more difficult. With all of that stress, your pup will be much harder to train. She will be distracted and hyperactive, and hard to control. She may whine, howl, bark, dig, and cause a general ruckus outside in an attempt to win your attention, which can become a problem for irritated neighbors.

Since she will be separated from you all day, the two of your won’t build the strong connection necessary to properly train. The result is a vicious cycle where you believe she must be confined to the outside for behavioral reasons, while being confined to the outside creates worse behavior.

Leaving your dog tied up is dangerous. Tying your dog up outside makes her a target for roaming, and potentially aggressive, dogs. You are putting her in a position where she won’t be able to escape if another animal attacks her. Therefore, she is vulnerable to the unpredictability of the outdoors. She could also become entangled in her leash, and injure herself. Passersby could taunt or tease her, or even release her and harm her. She could suffer from the heat or the cold, or the elements, and become ill. In her frustration and boredom, she could even result to self-mutilation in the form of biting or chewing.

Alternatives to leaving your dog outside. Bring your dog inside. If you are really having trouble training her, contact a professional trainer who can help you. Consider a doggy door and a fence around your backyard. If you are having trouble house training your dog, giving her the option to walk outside whenever she needs to relieve herself may be the best option. If your dog is small, puppy pads are a nice option to aid in house training. Don’t give up on your pooch. With patience and the proper attention and care, every dog is an inside dog.

Do you need more information about alternatives to tying up your dog? Call us, we can work with you to establish routines and a schedule that will make both you and your dog very happy!