I'm just wondering whats your thought on chaining a dog?

**Marty** · 01-01-2010, 09:37 PM

I know neglect goes on... but not on my watch!

I have to much money/time invested in my dogs, hell there my kids I never had

**Karen** · 01-01-2010, 11:10 PM

As in most things, there's a good way and a wrong way. I have always felt sad for dogs that were stuck on chains, unloved and neglected. Yours are obviously neither, and look happy and healthy! We would let our dog out on a chain in the yard, and the chain always reached the door, so they could come in when they wanted. We only ever had one at a time, though, so dog on dog aggression was never an issue.

**Freedom** · 01-02-2010, 08:17 AM

I had to laugh at that first picture. While you are hugging and playing with one dog (sorry I don't know their names by sight yet), there is another one in the back just sitting waiting patiently for you to get to him / her.

SITTING WAITING PATIENTLY? Goodness, I just LOOK at one of mine and the rest are up and rushing to me, ha haaa. Patience is not in their vocabulary, here.

**trayi52** · 01-02-2010, 10:02 AM

I don't like it much, but it is much better than putting them in a cage with no room. It looks like you are taking care of your dog, and giving it lots of love.

By the way, your dog is very beautiful, thanks for posting your very nice pictures of you, and your dog.

Willie

**Alysser** · 01-02-2010, 10:08 AM

I will admit, I won't ever be 100% happy about a dog being chained outside. Never have and never will, it's just the way I am I suppose. But I absolutely CANNOT stand owners who get a dog, throw it on a chain, and leave it to rot in the yard with no food, water, shelter, socialization, training, or love. I can see you are far from that owner though, your babies are absolutely gorgeous and I can tell you love them with all your heart.

While I will never approve of the chain, I accept your choice and know you will continue to care for your cuties and that you truely love them. The first picture is so cute.

**kokopup** · 01-02-2010, 11:33 AM

While I would never chain my dog, I can understand your need to chain your dogs. I had a neighor with an APBT that they kept in a 8 foot high fence. The dog learned to climb the fence and roam the neighborhood. This went on until one day it climbed his fence and then another neighbors fence and killed 2 of his goats. After this another neighbor bought the house, which was a rental, just to ensure our neighborhood was safe. He renovated the house and my son ended up buying it. This dog was loved by an 8 and 10 year old and was the the picture of the perfect pet, at least on the surface. It had attacked me on 2 occasions and if it were not for my Koko I would have been hurt on the last attack. IMO APBT can not be trusted unrestrained no matter how much they are socialized. They were bred as rat killers and the killer instinct will surface if allowed to roam especially in a pack. IMO you created this thread just to get another confrontational discussion on the poor misunderstood APBT.

**sasvermont** · 01-02-2010, 11:50 AM

Just another confrontation thread. The end.

**Karen** · 01-02-2010, 11:57 AM

No, I don't think he's trying to create controversy, and this being Pet Talk, we can do our best to have a thoughtful, discussion, and if we disagree, do it with respect.

Think of chained dogs reminds me of my beloved uncle's much treasured Border Collie, Molly. I have spoken of her on Pet Talk many times in the past. Molly was a working dog, every ounce a Border Collie. She worked the farm with Mac, herded anything she could, and was, as I said, much loved. However, whenever Mac was going to be gone for a while and he couldn't take Molly, she'd be on a chain in the yard. As a kid, of course, I asked why!

Turns out her herding instincts overruled everything. If they left her in the house by herself, she'd destroy a door (dig at the wood until it gave way, hurting her paws in the process) or window to get out and either look for them, or herd anything that moved. That included cars, which was of course, dangerous to both Molly and any drivers. So she had a chain outside the kitchen door, and would run in circles trying to herd something - airplanes passing overhead? and wore a circle into the dirt.

But by being chained when Mac wasn't home, she was kept safe, and lived to a ripe old age.