Need Solutions For A Suicidal Dog

[RufusTheDoofus]

Every time I tie my rescue girl up she manages to twist herself around the pole/car/object she is tied to. I am going to try a stake in the ground with a loop that spins but does anyone else have any other suggestions? I would much appreciate it as I imagine her trying to break her legs when tied to the stake. Poor girl hasn't had a lot of life experience.

[Pockets]

Can't you get a dog pen ?? What's the purpose of tying her up?

[Pockets]

I wouldnt leave any dog tied up unattended for the reasons you listed maybe try crating etc :D

[Janba]

The swivelling stakes are good but it is easy for a dog to pull them out of the ground.

Dogs need to be taught to be tied up. I teach them form pups by tying them with me in sight for a minute and gradually extending the time of being tied and me going out of sight. When I go back to them lots of praise. I will also sometimes have an older dog tied next to them.

Pockets having a dog that ties up quietly and calmly is I believe one of the neccessary things your dog should be taught. You can't always have a crate and there are always times when you want a dog secured.

[fifi]

Build or buy a dog run, I am totally against dogs being tied up.

Have seen dogs hung & strangled by being tied.

fifi

[Parkeyre]

I've had the painful image of a neighbours dogs dead hanging over my fence since I was a little girl.

If you can help it, please don't tie up your dog, or atleast make it so she can't loop herself or get caught on anything.

Try an electric dog fence, crate training, a dog run, fence extensions, or indoor living if you must.

[MadWoofter]

Why do you need to tie her up?

I'd be looking at solutions to make her feel safe & comfortable with you first.

[Janba]

Build or buy a dog run, I am totally against dogs being tied up.

Have seen dogs hung & strangled by being tied.

fifi

Is the dog being tied up and left at home or just when out or needs to be restrained for a while. I may be assuming to much but I imagine that a rescue dog would not be rehomed to a place where they would be tied up for most of the day.

[RufusTheDoofus]

Oh dear god no - I don't tie her up at home. My dogs run free without collars at home. This is for dog training.

I had considered a crate but one I have - the one she sleeps in, is heavy and cumbersome and the thought of folding it up twice in one night and carting it around isn't pleasant,

[Starkehre]

Dogs NEED food, water and shelter. They do not NEED to be taught to tie up.

However, it is a very handly tool to have in your dog's kit of behaviours to be able to tie it up to secure it if the need ever arises... short term I mean. And I always teach my dogs to be quiet, confident and comfortable being tied in case this situation arises. An example being if I had 2 dogs at the local park and wanted to train one for a moment and secure the other whilst only metres away and I was not at the point of trusting a "down stay" as yet with that particular dog.

But sorry, cannot help with assisting any permanent or semi permanent tips on tying, as I do not find this a safe way to secure a dog.

Having said this I do understand that true working dogs and other farm dogs are often tethered and I am not judgemental towards this. Different culture that I totally respect, just not for me.

I am unsure if OPs rescue dog is a working dog on a farm or even if they wish to tether this dog on a yard situation and leave it unattended. Not enough info.

Edited to add...OP responded whilst I was writing.

Might I suggest a soft styled dog crate? Much lighter than a steel crate.

Edited April 16, 2010 by dyzney

[persephone]

If you MUST tie the dog up - and you and the dog are inexperienced... you would do well to purchase the following :

a good smooth,heavyish chain .. not the crap dog chains sold complete. do not use rope or leashes...they twist and tangle

have a decent length of chain. attach a snaphook with swivel at each end.(ask at the HW shop for a link thingy which can be used to attach snaphooks etc)

this way you can clip one end to almost anywhere, and clip the other end to the dog's collar.

swivels on each end are a MUST....

you also should NOT attach a chain to anything which a dog can tangle around/climb over/jump on...for safety reasons.Measure the chain length and then check that any objects/trees/fences and the like are that length ,PLUS another 35cm at least away from the dog.

We have had working dogs who spend much time chained for several generations. We have only ever had one accident with a chained dog that I know of...no fatalities.

edit to add- this is also useful - like 'bench' chains.. just make it a length suitable for the environment :D

If it just for training- look around for other crate types, maybe? I would guess that if you are planning on more rescues/fosters another crate would one day come in handy !

Edited April 16, 2010 by persephone

[RufusTheDoofus]

She will tear straight through a sof-krate. This girl is not with me forever, just until she has some training. I am not in a position to purchase another crate right now so other solutions would be appreciated.

[RufusTheDoofus]

If you MUST tie the dog up - and you and the dog are inexperienced... you would do well to purchase the following :

a good smooth,heavyish chain .. not the crap dog chains sold complete. do not use rope or leashes...they twist and tangle

have a decent length of chain. attach a snaphook with swivel at each end.(ask at the HW shop for a link thingy which can be used to attach snaphooks etc)

this way you can clip one end to almost anywhere, and clip the other end to the dog's collar.

swivels on each end are a MUST....

you also should NOT attach a chain to anything which a dog can tangle around/climb over/jump on...for safety reasons.Measure the chain length and then check that any objects/trees/fences and the like are that length ,PLUS another 35cm at least away from the dog.

We have had working dogs who spend much time chained for several generations. We have only ever had one accident with a chained dog that I know of...no fatalities.

thanks, I will look into this. I am by no means inexperienced but I have not had this problem as I have always trained my dogs from a young age and have rarely put this much time into training rescues at obedience clubs (this girl needs the socialisation but my other dog deserves to be trained too)

[Starkehre]

She will tear straight through a sof-krate. This girl is not with me forever, just until she has some training. I am not in a position to purchase another crate right now so other solutions would be appreciated.

I understand.

Well, it if was me, I would be collapsing up the steel crate each time and taking that along. I did it for years before I got soft crates. At least you know she will be safe, secure and is already familiar with it. Saves spending any more money. Just a little extra time and effort. Sorry, that is all I can come up with.

Good luck with the girl.

[Jake-K9]

Is there any way you could leave your foster in the car while you are training your own dog? If classes are at night when the sun will not cause temperatures in the car to skyrocket it might be a better idea than a tie-out or heavy crate. Good luck finding a solution, must be frustrating

[RufusTheDoofus]

The cars are out in the car park so that isn't an option

[mumof3]

We also have had working dogs. I agree dogs need to be taught to tie up, as in, you can't just tie them up and leave them, you have to teach them if you want to tie them. I absolutely agree with the heavy chain with swivels, and would suggest that you make it only long enough for the dog to stand and move around a little bit. As you are only tethering the dog there for a short time while you train with your other dog, they don't need alot of freedom to move. Freedom similar to what they would get in a crate would be sufficient. Also, if possible, when teaching you dog to tie, try to fix the tether at ground level along a wall which they can not get around, under, over or tangled up in. This way they can not go around and around their tether. My last suggestion is to try the traingle of temptation training technique which is laid out I think under the obedience forum and would also be a good way to teach the dog to tether. Teaching the dog to tie is really only an extension of it learning to walk along nicely on the lead, and to stay. The dog should be introduced to the idea of pressure from the collar and know how to respond without panicking, or tieing will be trouble. Dogs who travel on utes must by law be either tied or crated for their own safety. There are many ways to tie a dog, and there is always someone who's gonna do it wrong and endanger their dog. It is useful to be able to tie a dog for a short period and if taught under careful supervision, it is not dangerous.