Tether, don't tie!
The Philippine Rabies Control Act (Republic Act 9482) says that dog owners must "Maintain control over their Dog and not allow it to roam the streets or any Public Place without a leash." The most common way of accomplishing this for those who don't have a fenced yard, or who don't want their dogs to run loose in their yard, is to simply tie the dog to a tree, building, fence, post or other structure. However, this causes several problems both for the dog and for the owner/guardian and his friends and family.
Studies have shown that many if not most dog bite and attack situations occur with a dog that is usually kept chained or tied up. This happens for several reasons.
- Dogs are naturally pack animals, and for thousands of years have been bred to regard humans as members of its pack, as well as other dogs and even other kinds of animals. When deprived of contact with its pack a dog can easily become bored, anxious, tense, afraid and neurotic.
- Dogs are territorial by instinct. A chained dog tends to regard the small area that his chain allows him to reach as "his turf" and he will defend it against what he perceives to be intruders.
- Dogs have a "fight or flight" instinct when they feel threatened or cornered. Since an anxious or frightened dog, if chained in one spot, cannot run or move away its only remaining option is to attack. It's not being aggressive, only (self) defensive. (This is probably the main reason why many tied dogs bite people, especially young children who approach the dog to pet it.)
- Dogs, like people, have their bad days or sometimes don't feel well. Sometimes a dog just wants to be left alone. If it's tied up it can't get up and walk away if someone comes around, so it may snap at the person instead.
- Dogs that are kept on a chain or rope in the back yard all the time don't ever become socialized with other dogs and with people. They never get to learn that another dog or a person isn't necessarily a threat. They don't learn how to interact with others, so every situation in which they encounter someone else frightens or upsets them, and they often respond by attacking the percieved threat.
Most victims of dog bites are family members or small children, and many "attacks" occur when these people approach a chained dog. It would be better for the dog, and safer for you and yours, if there was a better way to confine your dog.
Happily, there is! If a dog must be confined outdoors and there isn't a fence around the yard, a simple tether or trolley system can be easily and cheaply installed. It will give the dog some freedom to move around (and even run a bit if there's room), won't make him feel like he's confined to one small place, and will allow him to move away from perceived threats rather than defending himself.
As the above diagram shows, simply run a heavy clothesline wire between any two upright supports such as trees, buildings, fences, posts or poles, or a combination of the above, then just fasten the end of the dog's chain to the clothesline in such a way that it can easily slide back and forth along the wire. Ideally there would be a swivel at one or both ends of the chain to help prevent it from getting twisted and snarled. You could add a pulley at the connector between the chain and the wire, as shown in the diagram, so the chain moves freely as the pulley glides easily back and forth along the wire. However, a simple loop in the end of a metal chain, well-fastened so it can't come undone, should work fairly well too, as should a snap-swivel connector: that would combine a metal loop with a swivel all in one unit.
The clothesline wire should be as long as possible: at least 3 meters if there's that much room available in your yard, in order to give the dog plenty of room to move around. Don't forget to make shelter from the sun and rain available, and also a clean bowl filled with fresh water at all times.
Result: a happier dog and safer people!