10/14/2026
Read it again!
Why is tethering bad for dogs?
Dogs need interaction with humans and/or other animals. Intensive confinement or long-term
restraint can severely damage their physical and psychological well-being. A friendly and docile
dog, when kept continuously chained or confined, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious and
often aggressive.
It is common for tethered dogs to endure physical problems as a result of being continuously
tethered. Their necks can be injured, and their collars can grow into their skin. They are more
suceptible to insect bites and parasites, and are at high risk of strangulation and attacks by other
dogs.
The decision making process of a dog has an order.
1-FIGHT
2-FLIGHT
3-AVOIDANCE
4-SUBMISSION
Dogs unable to retreat from threats can act out aggressively when approached. Dogs tethered
for long periods can become highly aggressive. Dogs feel naturally protective of their territory,
depending on the breed, some more than others. When confronted with a threat, they respond
according to their "fight-or-flight" instinct. A tied dog, unable to take flight, resorts to fight,
attacking any unfamiliar animal or person who may wander into his or her territory. Dogs that
become complacent on chains may be demonstrating what is known as 'learned helplessness",
also in the dog world known as the third option, "avoidance". "Submission", the last option,
means the dog has given up and is willing to cooperate with his or her preditor in hopes of
reconsideration or that the consequence will be over soon.
Tragically, the victims of such attacks are often children who approach the dog unaware of the
risks. Furthermore, a tethered dog who finally does get loose from his chains may remain
aggressive, and is likely to chase and attack people or pets because of a this learned behavior
problem from long-term, intensive confinement, all of which was inflicted by the human who
chose to chain him as opose to adequatly take proper care of him.
It is important for people with tethered dogs to understand these risks.
To become well-adjusted companion animals, dogs should interact regularly with people and
other animals, and should receive regular exercise.
Chaining, by definition, keeps a dog in solitary confinement, continually teasing its pack instinct
to be with other animals or with its human 'pack'. The most common problem resulting from
chaining is hyperactivity...The chained dog is continually frustrated by restricted movements.
Fear biting and aggression are other common behaviours of chained dogs. Chained dogs are
quick to bite also often display timid, fearful behaviour when handled.
Dogs have all the social needs that wolves - and, in fact, humans - have. One way that wolves
severely punish a pack member is to ignore the animal...dogs experience their prolonged
chaining and separation from the rest of the 'family/pack' as rejection. Dogs treated like this
probably are depressed. Some become aggressive, but more typically the dogs will become
lethargic and listless... They may suck or chew on themselves, sometimes causing serious
injury...When we deprive animals of their instinctive behaviors; we create neuroses or even
psychotic-like conditions. For dogs, prolonged chaining is emotional abuse.
Psychological theories emphasize the experience of isolation and the lack of stimulus-induced
neural organization which enables an organism to cope with the complex post-emergence
environment...Even ordinary environments are so intensely stimulating to previously isolated
dogs that they arouse an emotional reaction which leads to acquisition of responses incompatible
with normal social and manipulative behaviour.
We as humans do not give birth to dogs. Dogs are acquired. The newness of the dog will wear
off. This is when we are able to distinguish between someone who recognizes that dogs have
emotions and feelings and someone who just wants to own a dog. So what do we do?
Do the owners that are tired of their dogs and tie them out surrender them?
Put them in danger of being euthanized? Is being tied out better than being euthanized?
Do we surrender them knowing that there is a 50/50 chance that they will find a good home?
Can they even be re-homed safely after being tethered for a long period of time?
Tethering has long term effects that most humans do not realize the first time they tie them out.
A law to stop this from happening will save the lives of many deserving dogs. Dogs are in all
actuality in captivity. My personal experience is that 85% of the humans are not aware of the
thought process of a dog. Captivity in dogs must be governed.
