Check out this article from the ASPCA:<\/p>\n
If you live in the city, your urban canine is probably on a three-walk-a-day schedule for exercising, socializing and eliminating. But if your home comes equipped with a yard and a fence, keeping a dog<\/strong><\/em> becomes much easier. The simplicity of giving your dog his morning constitutional while you\u2019re still garbed in a robe and slippers can\u2019t be beat. Add a dog door, and you don\u2019t even have to get out of bed! Phydeau can meet his own needs on his own schedule. However, some dog guardians use the yard as a crutch and, before you know it, the backyard becomes Phydeau\u2019s entire world. How much is too much of a good thing?<\/p>\n When dogs become adolescents, they can\u2019t seem to get enough exercise<\/strong><\/em>, and their inconsistencies often frustrate their owners. One day Phydeau seems all grown up; the next day, he\u2019s chewing his way through the house like a buzz saw. In a fit of pique, Phydeau\u2019s owner banishes him to the backyard. At first it may be just during meals to prevent begging, or when company comes, to prevent jumping. Next, it\u2019s during work hours so he doesn\u2019t soil or chew when left alone. Before long, the only time Phydeau sees the inside of the house is during storms or winter freezes. Is this any life for a dog?<\/p>\n Turning a rambunctious adolescent into a backyard dog doesn\u2019t solve anything. It merely brings temporary relief. True, your dog can\u2019t climb into cranky old Aunt Edna\u2019s lap if he\u2019s outdoors, but he\u2019ll also never learn how to behave appropriately around house guests. A dog <\/strong><\/em>who\u2019s kept outside experiences social isolation. He may engage in excessive barking and howling in an attempt to reunite his pack. When a family member enters the yard to spend some time with him, he erupts into rapturous leaps and vocalizations, displaying a level of enthusiasm certain to squelch any possibility that that person will ever make a return visit.<\/p>\n Over time, an isolated outdoor dog will become exceedingly independent and difficult to train. Whatever desire he had to please will be gone, replaced by the need to occupy his time in any way possible. His motto becomes \u201cIf it feels good, do it!\u201d Dig up the tulip bulbs. Excavate a cooling pit. Fence-fight with the dog next door. Without human feedback to the contrary, these are all rewarding activities for a backyard <\/strong>dog<\/strong><\/em>. There is nothing wrong with letting a well-mannered dog spend a lazy day lying in the grass, soaking up the sun or playing in the fallen leaves. But when the yard takes the place of teaching your dog appropriate house manners, you need to step back and examine why you have a dog<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n If your dog enjoys spending a considerable amount of time outside, he needs protection from the elements. A doghouse can offer access to cool shade on a hot day or shelter from the cold, rain or wind. When providing a doghouse, make sure the opening does not face into the wind during the coldest months of the year. If the opening is large, hang some carpet strips over the doorway to keep heat in and cold out; and provide good insulated bedding, such as straw, to keep the dog up off cold ground. Remember to clean the place out every few months to ensure that no other beasties have set up house\u2014a nest of yellow jackets was discovered in one poor Brittany spaniel\u2019s outdoor shelter.<\/p>\n If your dog spends more than an hour outdoors on a hot day or several hours outside other times of the year, make sure he has fresh water available. Weigh down his water container, or affix it to a stationary object in such a way that he can’t easily tip it over. His meals are best served in your house, because leftover food will attract unwanted insects and possibly wildlife.<\/p>\n For those situations where there is either no fence or a need to keep Phydeau out of certain areas such as your begonia bed, build a sturdy exercise pen, where your dog can do \u201cdog things\u201d without incurring the wrath of family gardeners or neighbors. If you live in a community that prohibits fences, an overhead trolley cable may be the answer. However, these lines aren\u2019t safe for dogs with powerful acceleration, such as greyhounds. The impact when they hit the end of the line is considerable, and spinal cord damage is likely. Staked chains should be avoided because they can kink and tangle, and injure the dog.<\/p>\n Dogs are companion animals and, as such, belong in our homes and in our lives. Just because you have a backyard doesn\u2019t mean that Phydeau should be restricted to it. Take the time to teach him house manners and socialize him to the world beyond your property, and you will discover you have within him the best possible companion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Do you have a dog? Are you lucky enough to live somewhere your dog has a yard?\u00a0 Though your dog may have room to roam outside, there are some important things to keep in mind for your dog’s well-being. Check out this article from the ASPCA: If you live in the city, your urban canine […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[276,17,113,174,214,69,18,277,122,123,33,21,24,25,38,20,59],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=646"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":648,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646\/revisions\/648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=646"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cleartheair.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Who Put the Dog Out?<\/h3>\n
Come Rain or Come Shine<\/h3>\n