General Discussion
Showing Original Post only (View all)This winter, my wife and I got a shelter dog. [View all]
We've been exercising him through snow and sleet and gloom of day, trying to keep him from getting out of shape during the winter. Now that the sun is shining again and it's warming up, there will be more time to do that. However, we can't afford to fence the back yard yet this year. So, I headed to my local farm supply store and bought a heavy-duty swiveling stake and a 30' tether for him. We won't leave him outside unattended, but this will give him some room to roam when we can't get to the leash-free dog park.
I hate the idea of a tether, since it restricts his freedom, but then I realize that we're all on some sort of tether. We're all tied to something or more than one thing that restricts our freedom. Dude, the dog, will be restricted some, but will be able to explore the entire backyard, meet the neighbor's dogs, say hi to the next door neighbor's kids, and use the yard until we get it fenced.
Sometimes, being on a tether is better than being locked up inside a house, I think. I think, actually, that I need to take a look at my own tether, and see if there's a way to make it longer.
C'mon, Dude! Wake up. Wanna go in the back yard?