The Why's & How's of Keeping Your Dog Safely on Leash

It can be extremely frustrating to have a dog that is difficult to contain. A lot of people throw their hands in the air and say the dog "needs freedom" and claim that it is impossible to keep their dog at home. The fact of the matter is, it is not impossible, but it will take some doing. I know. I have a dog who is an escape artist capable of leaping tall fences at a single bound. I have gone to great lengths to keep her home because that is my responsibility to my community and to her. Dogs do not "need freedom". They need to be kept safe, and they are not able to do that on their own. Aside from that, it is generally illegal to let your dog run loose these days, and you could face some stiff fines if you do!

It is wonderful to have a well-fenced yard so that your dog can run loose (unless your dog is like mine, and a fence is meaningless). If you don't have a fenced yard, or your dog cannot be contained with fencing, you must accept the responsibility for having your dog on leash each and every time it goes outdoors. No exceptions. Even if your dog usually stays close and usually obeys voice commands, one slip-up can have terrible results. The most controlled dog may bolt to chase a cat or visit a friend and be run over, lost, or even shot or poisoned as a result.

I have two dogs. One of them is well-contained by my fence, so I am always sure to keep my gates closed to keep her home. I take my escape artist outside on leash and walk her to her run where I secure her with two clips because she has been known to unfasten clips somehow! I only leave her out for a short time (half an hour at most) and I check on her frequently.

When I am away from home, my dogs stay inside where they will be safe and unable to slip out. When they were younger, I crate trained them and left them crated whenever I went out. Now that they are older, I can trust them to be loose in the house without being destructive.

If you are worried that your dog won't get enough exercise or that he will be bored if he is not allowed to run loose, you can take it as an opportunity to get more exercise and have more fun yourself! My two big dogs and I take two-mile daily bike rides. It is good exercise for all of us, and they know they can count on this regular time together. They have lots of toys in the house to play with when I am gone, and we frequently play fetch.

Keeping a dog today is a bigger responsibility than it was in bygone days. If you are going to have a dog, you must be willing and able to provide for it's needs with the right equipment. A good leash and collar are not an option - they are required equipment. Crates, tie-out equipment and/or fencing are also necessary. When you have a dog, you are responsible for it's happiness, welfare, and safety. You are also responsible to your community. In today's lawsuit-prone society, it is very important to be a responsible pet parent by keeping your dog contained.

For more on caring for your best friend, you may enjoy:

The Best Way to Trim A Dog's Toenails is Not to Need To
http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Best-Way-To-Trim-A-Dogs-Toenails-Is-Not-To-Need-To

Dealing With the Loss of Your Pet
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1261459/dealing_with_the_loss_of_your_pet.html?cat=53

House Training Your Adult Dog
http://hubpages.com/_33f5nedcxoe0n/hub/House-Training-Your-Adult-Dog