Canine Relativity Theories and Opinions

Fellow blogger Patty Khuly over at Dolittler garnered a slew of comments recently when she wrote about tail docking and ear cropping. Her post about an anti-tethering ordinance also got my attention. It made me realize that all of us dog lovers exist in a spectrum of good & better, bad & worse. Sometimes, it’s clear that even the well-educated, much-experienced among us have the occasional contradictory opinion.

For example, I’m generally against “cosmetic” procedures on dogs. But, ear cropping bothers me much more than tail docking does. I could likely develop a cogent argument to support my point. Things like pain levels, recovery times and the like. Clearly, there are humane issues bubbling my head, but the truth is that I also like “the look” of natural ears better than cropped. At the same time, and I know this makes NO sense, I like “the look” of cropped tails on some breeds.

So, does that mean I’ve been sold a bag of goods on appearances? Honestly, I’ve never seen a Dobie or a Rottie (in person) with a natural tail. Maybe if I did, I’d develop a new norm in my head.

I think the same is true for canine confinement issues. Where do these options fit on your spectrum? I’m guessing that your answers might depend on where you live and what’s common there.

  • Tethering (with dog house and without)
  • Crating
  • Dog pens (with dog house and without)
  • Invisible fencing
  • Traditionally fenced yards
  • Outdoor-only dogs

There’s a fair bit of private debate in our rural neighborhood about topics like these. Opinions vary greatly.

Just this week the community received a plea about a lost dog (one who gets loose nearly every day). The kicker? The note said he was dragging his “leash” as if he’d gotten loose while on a walk. But, the truth is that he out dragging a 30-foot tether. A neighbor did find him and tie him back up at home, and a thank you note went out, but I’m not sure the person did him any favors.

Personally, I’m unequivically against tethering, invisibile fencing, and the idea of outdoor-only dogs. The use of other forms of confinement, I believe, can be done well, if used safely for the dog’s temperament and your neighborhood conditions. But, around here, with all the predators, tethering a dog feels like baiting a trap to me. Just my opinion.