Pet Care

		Baby And Bowser
		Backyard Dogs
		Barking
		Crate Training
		Destructive Behaviour In Dogs
		Dogs And Heat
		Have You Walked Your Dog Today?
		House-training Your New Dog
		Obedience Training

Backyard Dogs

Dogs are highly social animals who are historically used to being part of a pack. This social interaction insured that a dog would be mentally healthy and secure. When the dog was domesticated, nearly 10,000 years ago, their wild "pack" was replaced by his owner's family.

Sadly, today's backyard dog, will seldom see the inside of a house and will eat, sleep and wait outside for any kind of attention from its owners. If a dog is chained and isolated outside, chances are he is an under-cared-for and under-stimulated-pet.

Some dog owners keep their animals outside in the mistaken belief that they will act as a deterrent to potential intruders. Intruders will quickly learn that the dog is in the yard and not in the house. Police statistics show that indoor dogs deter more than 90 per cent of all break-ins.

If you intend to keep your dog in your backyard, you can expect:

• A dog that barks excessively due to boredom and loneliness.
• Repetitive digging and chewing due to lack of exercise.
• Injuries to your dog stemming from his inability to escape or protect itself from attacks by other animals.
• Unwanted pregnancies if your dog is not spayed or neutered. Male dogs will seek out a female in heat any way they can; gates and fences are unlikely to stop them. The resulting litters of puppies will be an unwelcome and inconvenient addition for you and will add to the already critical problem of pet overpopulation.
• A dog that is overly aggressive will most likely direct his frustration at small children, neighbours, other neighbourhood animals and any strangers who approach him.
• Your dog will run a much higher risk of contracting diseases carried by urban wildlife than a dog that is sheltered inside.
• Your dog will be susceptible to fly-bites on its ears. This can result in open wounds on the area, which will eventually lead to maggots.
• If the outside temperature is too hot or too cold for you to feel comfortable, you can be sure that your dog feels the same discomfort.

Being confined outdoors is unhealthy and lonely for your dog. Remember, your dog needs to feel that he is a valuable member of your "pack" and, as such, he should be welcome to share your home at all times.

A backyard is not a home. Don't give your dog the cold shoulder.

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