pit breeding....

[catahoulamom]

So does that make me a crappy dog owner since one my dogs does live on a chain?

I'll be the jerk to say it, if your dog LIVES on a chain, as in 24/7, doesn't have shelter, doesn't get walked, given attention... then yes, in my opinion you would be a poor dog owner. I'm assuming that since you are on Dog Food Chat, that you don't mean that you dog really "lives" on a chain. At least I hope not...

And I'd also just like to say that I have a pitty. A crap bred "bully"-style pit bull. Some thug in the middle of Overtown had a litter and sold the puppies for $100 each, Rambo was one of those. And he's also a blue-fawn brindle. I didn't buy him, but some other low-life douchebag did, and then after he contracted parvo they dumped him off at Banfield, the vet at the PetSmart I used to work at. I don't agree with how he was bred, breeding for color (blues), or breeding "crappy" dogs period, but he's a great f***ing dog. I would not trade him for the best bred American Pit Bull Terrier in the world. Just because a dog is not bred well, or isn't the breed standard doesn't mean that they should be condemned. He lives happily with three other dogs and three cats. He is a certified Service Dog and loves male dogs, female dogs, puppies, kittens, children, you name it.

[destinoscelgo]

IMO there is NOTHING wrong with leaving a dog out on a chain...im sorry...let me rephrase..a proper chain setup. Which to me would include proper shelter, water, food and a toy or something...oh and also I would make sure it was in a place where I knew he couldnt choke himself on something stupid...to me...that is being responsible. Some dogs do MUCH better outside on a chain setup than being in their crate for however many hours of the day. I would personally love to keep one of my dogs outside since I think he would be much happier out there than in the crate, but i cannot because I do not have the proper yard to make that work out.

**also something I forgot, is many responsible owners who chain their dogs, still exercise the dog, spend time with it etc
Unfortunatly there are too many irresponsible people out in the world that it ruins things for the rest of us.

[destinoscelgo]

sorry but to stay on topic...it sounds like they are bunch of backyard breeders and dont know how to take care of the dogs in the first place.

[hmbutler]

IMO there is NOTHING wrong with leaving a dog out on a chain...im sorry...let me rephrase..a proper chain setup. Which to me would include proper shelter, water, food and a toy or something...oh and also I would make sure it was in a place where I knew he couldnt choke himself on something stupid...to me...that is being responsible. Some dogs do MUCH better outside on a chain setup than being in their crate for however many hours of the day. I would personally love to keep one of my dogs outside since I think he would be much happier out there than in the crate, but i cannot because I do not have the proper yard to make that work out.

**also something I forgot, is many responsible owners who chain their dogs, still exercise the dog, spend time with it etc
Unfortunatly there are too many irresponsible people out in the world that it ruins things for the rest of us.

exactly, it just has to be done properly, but idiots don't think that far ahead and consider the dangers of it before just chaining their dog up all day. or they do think of the dangers, but think its a reasonable risk to take... thankfully my yard is fully enclosed and has a secure gate, so there is zero need for my dog to be chained, he's go absolutely nuts if he was tied up (done it once while we were moving furniture and had to have the gate open, he wailed and jumped around the entire time, and it was only about 5 minutes!)

[Donna Little]

So does that make me a crappy dog owner since one my dogs does live on a chain?

I agree completely with hmbutler. Allowing a dog that NEEDS to run for exercise (while staying safe) on a nice long tie out under supervision, not a problem. All day, every day, 24/7, I don't agree with. I don't know your situation or which catagory you fall in so it's a little hard to say. I would personally never leave a dog unsupervised on a chain.
In addition to the horrible things I've seen in animal control I also found out (after the fact) that my ex-husband came home and found his Husky near dead and totally tangled in the cable he had him tied out on. I had no idea he had a dog chained or I'd have definitely had a thing or 2 to say about it. That dog recovered but his Rottie was missing. She was allowed to stay outside loose all the time because she "never ran away." Great plan. The next day he found her laying out in the woods unable to stand up. The vet said she had obviously gotten tangled up with the chained dog and she'd had the cable wrapped so tightly around her midsection that her organs had suffered damage and she had to be put down. She had bruising around her belly so it wasn't hard to put 2 and 2 together. Not pretty and not a great way to die.

[Muttkip]

I'll be the jerk to say it, if your dog LIVES on a chain, as in 24/7, doesn't have shelter, doesn't get walked, given attention... then yes, in my opinion you would be a poor dog owner. I'm assuming that since you are on Dog Food Chat, that you don't mean that you dog really "lives" on a chain. At least I hope not...

And I'd also just like to say that I have a pitty. A crap bred "bully"-style pit bull. Some thug in the middle of Overtown had a litter and sold the puppies for $100 each, Rambo was one of those. And he's also a blue-fawn brindle. I didn't buy him, but some other low-life douchebag did, and then after he contracted parvo they dumped him off at Banfield, the vet at the PetSmart I used to work at. I don't agree with how he was bred, breeding for color (blues), or breeding "crappy" dogs period, but he's a great f***ing dog. I would not trade him for the best bred American Pit Bull Terrier in the world. Just because a dog is not bred well, or isn't the breed standard doesn't mean that they should be condemned. He lives happily with three other dogs and three cats. He is a certified Service Dog and loves male dogs, female dogs, puppies, kittens, children, you name it.

Yes he does live outside on a chain 24/7. But he's fed 2 cups of food a day, water tub cleaned out once a week with bleach, fresh water every few days. He runs 5 miles a day, swims when it's not cold and does weight pulling....well this was his last year doing it seeing how he is older.

Here's his set-up at my old house before things went to hell and I moved out he still has the same set-up basically but now has more shade trees.



And here's a better look at his chain.


My Westie that was re-homed chilling on my Beagle's chain-spot


I have A LOT of time and money wrapped up in this chain spot, and it's stupid that people think I'm cruel because my dog lives outside, I live on unfenced 5 acres and I'm very lucky my boyfriend's parents let me keep him here on his chain.

[catahoulamom]

Muttkip, that is a beautiful yard for a dog to run and play in. It looks as it is kept clean, and it is very obvious that you love your dog very much and feed him well. He is a very handsome beagle. I prefer to see dogs living in a home with a family, but your dog does not look to be neglected, I would not consider you a cruel owner. I do hope he gets walks and mental stimulation off the chain though, I'm thinking he does after seeing those super beefy, muscular pictures of him you posted before. I hope you change his water more often than every couple days.

I think your dog is lucky to have an owner that does the best you can for him.

[CorgiPaws]

So does that make me a crappy dog owner since one my dogs does live on a chain?

Yes he does live outside on a chain 24/7. But he's fed 2 cups of food a day, water tub cleaned out once a week with bleach, fresh water every few days. He runs 5 miles a day, swims when it's not cold and does weight pulling....well this was his last year doing it seeing how he is older.

Here's his set-up at my old house before things went to hell and I moved out he still has the same set-up basically but now has more shade trees.

I have A LOT of time and money wrapped up in this chain spot, and it's stupid that people think I'm cruel because my dog lives outside, I live on unfenced 5 acres and I'm very lucky my boyfriend's parents let me keep him here on his chain.

I'll be honest.
Based on everything you said....
In my book , you're a pretty sucky dog owner.

I'm sorry, but living on a CHAIN 24/7 is no life for any animal, let alone a pack creature like a dog.
It is incredibly irresponsible to leave dogs unattended outside all day, especially chained where they can hurt themselves.

[Caty M]

I'm sorry.. but I do think it's cruel to keep a dog housed outside 24/7. Dogs are family pets, social animals...

[Caty M]

Plus... dog water should be fresh daily.. especially if it's outside.