If your dog lives in the yard - how not to make your pet a monster chain
As it is not nice, but in the future we can see how cute pet turns into a slovenly vicious dog foaming at the mouth and rushing to all living things. It is better not to talk about the smell coming from its territory. The dog, who spent all its life on a chain, the mind breaks down completely, persistent anger and unpredictable behavior form.
Agree, we would like to have a kind of decoration in the yard.
Keeping in the enclosure, following all the rules of dog keeping, the best option, but troublesome, is not cheap and is unique to enthusiasts. Therefore, most people are limited to the usual - to keep it in the doghouse.
Before you choose a dog, you first need to choose a location where the doghouse will be installed. The best option is in a corner of the yard, beyond the reach of the gate, and without drafts, especially if the dog is shorthair. In the summer, you should provide the possibility to transport the doghouse in place of the least sun.
The doghouse must be made of fresh-dried boards, which from the outside are painted with waterproof paint. HDV, as well as all kinds of material with elements of plastic and chemicals - are unacceptable. The roof can be of any material, but most importantly must be waterproof. Anyway, melt or rainwater should not fall into the doghouse. The size of the doghouse depends on the size and the height of the dog. Generally, the following (conventional) standards are followed:
- Height along - the dog can sit in the booth, without bending the head;
- Length along - the dog can lie in the booth freely stretched;
- width along - the dog can turn around in a booth without difficulties.
If it is shorthair dog, it is necessary to insulate the doghouse for winter - upholster inside, but if it cannot be done, then put the felt outside or sew something like a large canopy, which would be dressed on the booth as the cover. Fabric - old coats and fur coats, in general, everything you do not feel sorry about. Of course, it is not aesthetically pleasing, but the dog will remain healthy.
The magnitude of the space bounded by a tether should be maximized as much as possible. Short chain, allowing the dog to get out of the booth only for feeding and natural needs is the worst and even humiliating solution to the animal. Try to give it as much as possible space and, if necessary, and move to another place things it can spoil or got hurt itself of that. It is not advisable to let the dog's chain gets to the entrance of the gate or track on which the people walk in the yard.
Near the booth should be given two places in different sides - for feeding and for natural needs.
Place for feeding - two cups or bowls (one for food and another one for drinking water). Install them in a certain place and the dog will not drag them from corner to corner, for example, attach them to a wooden beam.
Dog toilet is better installed in the side of the booth or behind it. A small area of sand fence, 1,5x1,5 meters is enough. The dog might not immediately understand what you want from him. The first time you need to clean it, and then the dog itself will understand where to go to the toilet.
Hygiene: cleaning the area around the booth - at least once in three days. The cleaning of a dog toilet and change of sand is done as necessary, depending on the dog size, usually at least once a week, in the winter - as possible. Bowl must always be clean.
Despite the fact the dog lives in the yard, it must be washed, combed, and in particular to carry out general medical prophylaxis in the same amount if the dog lived in the house. In the summer, you can do it in the yard, but in the winter, although much seldom - in the house. Especially to bathe it.
The worst thing for dog is when at first it has lived in the house and then it has to live in the yard. Therefore, a change of keeping, and the lifestyle in general - keeping of animals in the booth, should be gradual. For example, in the first week, put a dog on a leash for two hours, the next - for five hours and so on. The dog will gradually accustom to it, but some time will be worried.
If the dog will always be on the chain, and the communication with the owner and his family include only feeding and cleaning around the booth, the dog will certainly feel like an outcast; its psyche, intellect and temperament will radically break. It would not be the dog, over which the owner has full control and knows what to expect from his pet. This is not acceptable - the dog must be in contact with the owner as often as possible. Going out - do not be lazy to come to it, to pull its ear, stroke it, in general, make any, not even the most significant sign of attention.
At least once in two days, the dog should walk on a leash. If it is a purebred dog and it is preparing for shows, hunt, then walks should be more frequent, where a dog is brought up, trained or coached. It is perfect to let the dog run off leash at designated areas, a joint trip to the nature, but as long as the dog is strictly controlled, and follows the owner's orders.
The most important - try not to leave the dog alone for a long time. Parting with the owner and his "flock" - your family, is the most painful for dogs.
