Hi
I love your blogs and find them informative and pro active... However; Lets first give anyone that has a fence around their yard for their dogs major credt for that. Keeping them safe and out of harms way of traffic and other mischeif is not a crime. When ever I am out walking with my brood I'm so furious to see a dog on a chain and a BMW in the driveway. I cant tell another how to spend their money but hey lets set our priorites. I know the point is that dogs need a connection and daily walks and training will keep them out of "trouble" at home, chewing your favorite shoes
getting into the garbage or eating the sofa.. But for that first early morning potty break there is nothing better than a safe fenced in back yard. A dog owner should not even consider adopting a dog without a fence. No chains to a tree please!
sincerely
Denise

Having a fence is a good thing. Would you prefer people let the dog get hit by a car? You probably would.

I think you guys interpreted this completely wrong. She knows that it is best for the yard to have a fence!! Did you think that she meant your house shouldn't have walls?? No!! She was focusing on the fact that the dog needs to leave the place he lives once in a while, not on the fact that the yard has a fence.

I don't know that the fence is the reason so many dogs come right back in. I think it's the company. Many dogs would rather be with you than out playing, no matter how lovely the yard. When I had a backyard, if I left the back door open the dogs would occasionally chase off a squirrel, but they'd mainly stay in the house. If I went out with them - even if I just sat in the grass and read a book or talked on the phone - they would romp and dig and generally be ridiculous. And if I actually played with them out there - well, that was heaven.

I can't wait until it gets cooler... it's just too hot to take my little Homie out on walks anymore... 8:(

>>>Response From KP

Hi Mitzi!
Where do you live? Can you get outside by 6 a.m. (like me)? Or go in the evening after dark? I'm sure Homie would appreciate the exercise!
KP

Dogs MUST get out every day, for as long as possible and if poss changing places. I take my three out for three walks a day (1and half hours total) and when I go shopping or to friends or to restaurants I take them with me. Apart from the fact that dogs hate not feeling part of the pack, they need to feel needed, there are three simple but important reasons: 1) they need the excercise, they need to run and play (perhaps you could take a ball or frisbee with you, or find a piece of wood); 2) they need MENTAL STIMULUS. Man has selectively bred dogs to be
intelligent and then treats them as though they were idiots. Intelligence needs stimulation - always. And 3) dogs need to socialize, from the time they have had their first vacination (60/70 days) they should be taken every day to public parks where they can learn to relate to other dogs and people. They learn to comunicate, and most important they learn to NOT be afraid - fear generates aggression or diffidence or flight, depending on the character of your dog. Once a dog has learned how to behave with other dogs and humans he will always be serene and well behaved in public places, at home, whenever in company, and company is essential to dogs, throughout their whole life.

I have a huge yard, trees, ponds, walkway around the entire yard, in and out of the shrubs along the entire boundry. I read in a Sunset Magazine to design the yard for dogs, since they patrol it around the perimiter. So, thats what I did....it's great for me...and with cedar bark between the paths and fence with shrubs...it's great for everyone...them and me.

Nice post! I will be saving this page to my favorites for sure.

-Andrei