I'm not alone in this. We've had many discussions here about dogs left outside, and only a few members considered their own fence and containment systems adequate for doing so.

For example, I live near the high school. There's no way I trust that nothing dangerous to a dog will every be tossed over my fence, which is high enough for my dogs but not for that.

If we consider poisons and tranquilizers, they could be left in the area the dog is left outside at the time when there is nobody there. Then the dog is brought out and left alone, gets bored, finds a cookie and here you go - no strangers around but the dog is gone.

Don't leave your pets unsupervised outside, safety first!

My dogs are never left outside unless I am there to supervise either. I am always terrified that someone will take them or poison them and I live in a nice neighborhood with not one but two fences surrounding my yard - including a 5 foot wooden privacy fence.

 Quote: elizabeth anderson

For people here in Mexico and Guate a barking dog is going to eat them. But she does not bark so....

I'm confused, are you looking for her to bark while you are with her in and around town, so people won't steal her while she is outside, or both? How old she?

I know a few years ago a kennel was raided in Mexico City, bull breed dogs stolen, people held at gun point.

Many dogs have been stolen in Mexico and held for ransom.

Two or three years ago a Belgian Malinois, narcotics dog, was stolen from the airport, a small dog put in his place.

Dogs stolen for fighting, or used for bait.

Did all these dogs not bark? If Zuki barks, they'll assume that she will "eat" them and back off?

 Quote: tammy moore

 Quote: elizabeth anderson

For people here in Mexico and Guate a barking dog is going to eat them. But she does not bark so....

I'm confused, are you looking for her to bark while you are with her in and around town, so people won't steal her while she is outside, or both? How old she?

I know a few years ago a kennel was raided in Mexico City, bull breed dogs stolen, people held at gun point.

Many dogs have been stolen in Mexico and held for ransom.

Two or three years ago a Belgian Malinois, narcotics dog, was stolen from the airport, a small dog put in his place.

Dogs stolen for fighting, or used for bait.

Did all these dogs not bark? If Zuki barks, they'll assume that she will "eat" them and back off?

This is not the everyday happening. I had a GSD/Mastiff mix for 8 years before Zuki and he barked when someone came up to the house, or at a "bad person" which happened twice in his life. People in Mexico and Guatemala are afraid of a dog anyway and if it barks the majority of people/children are going to think the dog bites and stay away. I did not say all, but majority. This is also not the US where you can say "don't touch my dog" and have them listen. They see very fast that she won't do anything to them and so are constantly coming to pet/tease her. If I am standing right there or not and the system is not were you can call the police and tell them the kids are bothering you. If she would bark they would leave her alone... I know your thinking, they will just tease her more. That is not the nature here. Assuming she will bite because she barks they will leave her be. She is a year old, please don't tell me she is to young to be a "guard dog", I want her to learn how to bark, thats all. Train the dog to spin in a bucket or train the dog to bark. It might as well be a "trick" there is little difference. The chances of someone stealing her are very small but is it unreasonable to take precautions? And what would you do if you were held a gunpoint? Would you be jumping to guard your dog or trying to save yourself? Thats not hard to answer. Although we love our dogs there is a point, me or the dog... I could not even get another dog for a year after our other dog died... If my love is that strong than I don't think that other than a life or death situation is going to ever separate us. Why would I even be worried about her being stolen if I did not care about her? I didn't go on a trip I had wanted to take for a few months because I didn't want her to go through the change and hardship of that. I am not trying to ward of the drug traffic-ers, just the other ones that would but don't want to deal with a dog, not knowing if it does or doesn't bite. I have no hard feelings for anyone on here... Just not being understood.

Elizabeth,
Since you've mentioned a "what if" scenario, I 'll answer you from a professional view point.
And not all of my answer will apply to your situation as these were my "rules" from my PPD days, and I tried to be an ethical vendor.

If someone is pulling a gun on myself or a PPD client of mine ( your "what if" ) the dog is gaining us precious seconds to gain the upper hand and neutralize the target, the dog at least has a chance for survival with their armed owner providing protection to themselves, their family, and the dog.

But if a client refuses to defend themselves, the dog is basically sacrificed so that the owner can escape.

I would *never* sell a dog to someone that was just going to throw its life away and didn't have the courage to defend themselves.

Several times through out the years here I have mentioned that I didn't sell PPDs to owner that didn't/wouldn't own a gun. I think that a dog shouldn't be put into a bad situation by a coward.

A human can make the decision to not defend themself and to be a victim for whatever misguided reason, but it is true moral cowardice to sacrifice an innocent animal in that situation.

 Quote: elizabeth anderson

I want her to learn how to bark, thats all. Train the dog to spin in a bucket or train the dog to bark. It might as well be a "trick" there is little difference.

I agree that with the 'bluff' bark, you are right it is a 'trick', or rather, a marked behavior. However, in that case, you are there to let her know when to do it, whereas if she is alone outside, the decision is on her. Zuki can't (at this point especially) be expected to make the 'right' decision, on her own. Especially, if it is as you say, a possibly detrimental situation for her.

I don't believe anyone here is thinking or saying that you don't love or care for your dog. I do think that your expectations of her are a little high, even if you just see it as a trick.

My suggestion to you, would be (as others have said) to start with teaching the 'bluff'. This at least allows her to learn the bark, and when to do it - with your guidance.

I can empathize with your wanting her to have outside time, and for her to be safe. However, your situation is obviously not ideal, so you just can't leave her without supervision... at least not for now. Is there any way that you can also spend more time outside, as opposed to trying to watch her through a window? It can't be great for you in that tiny space either, why not set up a desk (or whatever it is you are doing) outside?

You will come to the realization that Zuki may not gain the confidence you desire for a couple years yet... in fact, she may never have the temperament that you wish for her. Either way, just try and have reasonable expectations, and think about how you can make a happy compromise.

To will- I am not a coward, I could not carry a gun even if I wanted to because I live with an organization that does not allow it. And I don't "refuse" to defend myself, I would do everything possible in a bad situation to get out with me or the dog getting hurt. I have been here traveling 8 years and have already been in some situations that could have gone bad. I am not your normal 20 yr old...

To Phaedra- I have been working very hard on just training her to "leave it" and "heal" so that I can take her with me anywhere (close to the house, not out to town) so she can have more time outside, and also be with me more. She has all the temperament that I want and I am happy with her completely, she is smart, easy to train, she is young and I realize that she might need to mature a lot before she develops a little caution.