Quote: Sandy Moore

 Quote: Ashley Hiebing

Ha, I have a neighbor whose dog is kept in their yard and he barks his fool head off, annoying everyone in the neighborhood. But yes, I see your point =)

Remember that if a dog is barking a lot, it's never his fault. It's always the owner's fault. Lack of attention to and lack of interaction with a dog will cause endless barking in some dogs.

As to fences, most dog owners need them. Interpret that how you want

The dog (well, really a Labrador puppy, maybe 6 months old) is tied out many times throughout the day and night--sometimes he's just let out to wander around without being tethered--and is constantly barking at everything. I could be outside, look at him, and he barks (a high, nervous bark) and backs away. I don't know if he's afraid of everything, or what.

I sleep like a log, so he doesn't wake me up, but I can't guarantee anything when it's warmer and I can open my window. My sister and mother, however, are very light sleepers and want to call Animal Control.

I think you should call Animal Control or better yet, call the SPCA or Humane Society. The owners aren't paying attention to the pup and are tying it up constantly. That is animal abuse to me. The appropriate authorities may have an interest in that. Is the dog is running loose in its own yard or out on the street? If out on the street, that's definitely a concern for any animal agency. Maybe the owners will relinquish the dog to an agency and it can find a better home with someone who actually cares about the pup.

So basically call a good agency because the puppy is being neglected. Call for the sake of the puppy. This is obviously NOT the puppy's fault.

Those type of dog owners make me absolutely livid. They should be strung up by their toes.

Edited to add: The term Animal Control is a misnomer. The correct term should be Animal OWNER Control.

I'm on the fence here (ooh, pun) because it's not like the dog is tied out ALL the time. He's let out for about 10-15 minutes maybe (barking the whole time) then they let him back in.

I haven't noticed them letting him out without leashing him up or anything for a while. I'm guessing he wandered too many times across the street to the neighbor's house and she must have had a word with the owners after she had to bring the pup back for the umpteenth time.

Honestly, the worst thing I've seen is not the tying out or even letting him run around freely. They seem to exercise him pretty infrequently, but when they do they JOG him. They were jogging the poor pup even when he was a few months old! The first time I saw them going down the road I almost stopped the car to have a "talk" with them. I never saw a puppy so miserable in my life.

Oh! I have to admit that what you first posted made it sound like the pup was just left in the yard tied up most of the time, but your next post clarified and changes everything. If they're letting him in the house for the majority of the time, it wouldn't seem they're neglecting him.

Even taking him jogging, as ill-advised as it is at his age, is at least a sign that they interact with him and try to exercise him sometimes. This makes it easier for you to approach them and tell them nicely about jogging a pup at such an early age and how it can hurt his joints since he's still developing, etc. Some people just don't know and would probably appreciate learning about that.

They obviously need a fence. That would save the pup from being tied up which might help with the barking.

The problem is that we have a large field in the backyard and in that field is a bike path which a lot of people (and dogs) use. I think he barks at people on the path. But I'm not sure, because in the winter the path is covered in snow and not a lot of people use it and he was still barking up a storm then. Or he'll get his lead wrapped around a tree or something and start barking again.

Hmm. I just talked to my mom (who is at home more than I am) and she says they leave him out there for at least an hour at a time. And he's out there every other hour. On Easter they had company over so he was outside the entire time, at least 8 hours he was outside, barking. She says the next time she sees them (it's boyfriend/girlfriend, not married, first house, first dog) she'll have a talk about the problem.

I just wanted to say that my wife and I decided we wanted to adopt our next to to do our part in reducing the pet population and provide a dog with a good home. Well lets just say our plan was shot down for the sole reason of not having a fence.

I understand the reason but I think it is insane that they would rather see the dog sit in a kennel then live in a home that will provide the dog with all the exercise and training they need.

Do to us getting shot down at providing a shelter dog with a good home we decided we would get one from a breeder. I actually met with the breeder this past weekend and will be getting the pup in late June.

I want to say that I think it is really sad that people get declined for not having a fence, although, I understand their reasoning.

If only there were more evaluators that could go and visit the homes and interview the potential adopters, they would see that there are responsible people out there that will care for and keep their pets safe even without a fence.

I was called a week ago Saturday by a gal that has a GSD in rescue, there were people in my area interested and since she knows who I am she asked me to go evaluate.

I did, and unfortunately I declined them.
Here are my reasons:

1. several loose dogs running around the housing area.
2. 1 of those dogs severely riddled with mange, no collar
3. no fencing to keep the dogs out of their "yard"
4. garbage piled up in the rear of the house, torn open by loose dogs.
5. house was dirty, sink piled with dishes, cat food dishes had dried food in them and the cats were eating kibble off the floor
6. three small (under 5) children, oldest was 3.5 and still in diapers
7. wanted the dog as a deterrent for the other dogs

I explained my reasons to not only the gal that has the dog, but, being who I am, I explained it as nicely as I could to the people interested. I also pointed out that what they had put on their application was no where near what actually was seen.

I felt bad doing it, but I believe people must understand the importance of owning ANY pet. Especially a dog.

If I had the money, and the time (more so time than money) I would LOVE to start a business that was statewide that shelters, rescues and such could employ at a minimal cost for evaluators to go out and see what the applicants are really about.
I believe more dogs would be placed in the proper homes if services like this were readily available.
And I mean, potential adoptees would have to take a class, spend time learning about diet and nutrition, exercise, how to take vitals and things like that...not just a one hour interview, and it would not cost them anything, but it would show them that they need to make time for an animal.

I know that may seem harsh, but the people that are seriously wanting a dog would probably do it.

when i adopted roxie, they came out to my house, and did a check, and met bart and maya. I didn't have a fence, and they knew that.

the way the rescue here works, if 2 potential homes are equal in every other way, the dog will go to the one with the fence. But they will still adopt to those without fences, but i had to explain that i went to the dog park everyday(i used to) and took my dogs swimming/hiking, etc, and she would get plenty of exercise.

but i know that same rescue has a new policy, and i know some of my own friends, who are FANTASTIC owners have been turned down as fosterers because they didn't have a fenced yard.

 Quote: ashley hiebing

I've been window-shopping for rescue dogs lately, and on a lot of the dogs' profiles it says "MUST HAVE FENCED-IN YARD." Why?? If I got the dog it would be taken for potty breaks on a leash. I feel the fenced-in yard invites Joe Average Pet Owner to just let the dog out in the backyard and that's the animal's "exercise."

I can see legitimate reasons for requiring a fence, I guess, but this really makes it harder for a future apartment-dweller who wants to get a GSD but would rather start with a rescued one first.

As a rescue person I would like to address the OP. Some of the responses are a little off topic so I'll just stick to the first post.

The dogs I rescue are of a certain working breed or breed mix, between 50 and 65 lbs. I am sure the "requirements" would be different for say, a Pomeranian than say, a Malinois.

Anyhow, the way my rescue works is that the applications are reviewed by a few people, but the foster home (the people who know the dog best) get the major say in which home the dog goes to.

As a foster home I **GREATLY** prefer homes with fenced in yards. Why? I have multiple reasons.

• The major one - to keep the dog off the road - I just couldn't handle knowing one of my dogs had become road kill.
  
• with a big, active dog that needs a MINIMUM of one hour, preferably two, of hard running exercise PER DAY (I would say this goes for any working breed) - leash walks and leashed "potty breaks" are just not going to cut it. I'm sorry - I have tried it. As you can imagine, without sufficient exercise, a bored 65 lb dog can cause a lot of damage to a house thus putting them in danger of being returned to rescue or worse - to a dog pound.
  
• If you have a convenient, accessible, safe fenced area where your dog can run off leash, you have a convenient, accessible, safe area to play fetch, frisbee, ball, obedience/distraction train that you would not otherwise have.
  
  
• My favourite use for my yard, as a busy and lazy dog owner: put two dogs out together and they exercise each other. Sure, the BEST option would be for the owner to provide stimulation and interactive exercise but that's not always going to happen. The scond best thing is to put two of my active dogs together and let them tire each other out.
  

Now with all that being said, I have adopted out two dogs to apartment dwellers. In the first case, they live across from a major city park, the dog is walked a minimum of four times a day including a run with the husband every morning at 5 AM. This dog is about 10 lbs overweight.

In the second case, the dog is owned by a couple who doesn't drive and walk everywhere. THe dog gets to go to work with the wife about 2-3 times a week where she can walk around and "visit" all day. This dog also gets at least 4 good walks daily. She is also overweight.

I realize and understand that overweight<-overfeeding.

To summarize, the rules I go by are that fences are a HUGE asset, because it is extremely difficult (but not impossible) to provide a dog with enough safe, contained exercise without a yard. (Unless you are going to a DOG PARK which none of my dogs will go to a home that uses a dog park). *MOST* people that have dogs just do not have the dedication required to provide enough exercise to the dog on lead. However, for myself I go on a case by case basis as I hope my post has illustrated.

Of course, we have other "rules of thumb" too.

I hope this helps you understand why fences are great assets when owning a dog.

That being said, there are rescues out there who would gladly hear your case on how you could properly exercise and supervise a dog without a yard.

EDIT: like 3 other people posted while I was writing this. Sorry! Good posts, guys.

 Quote: George_Curvan

I just wanted to say that my wife and I decided we wanted to adopt our next to to do our part in reducing the pet population and provide a dog with a good home. Well lets just say our plan was shot down for the sole reason of not having a fence.

I understand the reason but I think it is insane that they would rather see the dog sit in a kennel then live in a home that will provide the dog with all the exercise and training they need.

Do to us getting shot down at providing a shelter dog with a good home we decided we would get one from a breeder. I actually met with the breeder this past weekend and will be getting the pup in late June.

I just want to say it is too bad, but it is not clear if you had applied and were rejected, or just saw that the rescue required a fence and therefore did not apply. Not ALL rescues absolutely require a fence, especially if you talk to them in person or on the phone and/or they do a home visit. Some rescues, like mine, will even adopt out of state to the right home, if we feel it is right for the dog AND the family.

Most Humane Societies and Animal Pounds have no application forms or requirements other than that the animal be altered.

As a rescuer, I have no objection to people buying dogs from *reputable, ethical* breeders. However I do think it's too bad that you had decided to get a rescue and were disappointed.