Hi all, I'm writing this because my 18wk gsd pup is really getting bigger and stronger, and needs a new living arrangement. Let me explain how she currently lives with me. She is 99% housetrained and sleeps in her crate in the house at nights. During most of the day, I tie her 6 ft leash to a chair leg so she can still walk around and stretch out, but not run around the yard and ruin the lawn. Now that she is teething, she bites everything within a 6 ft radius (mostly wood furniture and patio posts)and it is really becoming a problem. Due to the small sized yard I have, I'm thinking about getting a 6x6 chain link kennel and have her stay in there instead of being tied to a chair leg. I have learned that puppies can be just as destructive outside as inside the house, and for that reason I cannot let her have free roam of the yard until she is obedience trained. I like to know how you guys live or lived with your dogs when they were so young. Do you let them have free roam of your yard or do you have just leave them in kennels? I am home pretty much all day so she gets untied several times a day to play fetch and run around, etc. Thanks for your input.

Hi Andy,

I would recommend against tieing the dog out. When they're young, keep your eyes on them at all times if they are out of the crate. Even on the weekends when I am home all day, puppyman is in his crate unless I can devote 100% of my time to him. I won't put him in for long, maybe an hour or two, but it gives me a chance to do laundry, or projects around the house, and I don't have to worry about him hurting himself or destroying anything.

Check this out:

http://www.berger-hollandais.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=10

QUOTE: I would recommend against tieing the dog out. END

In more and more places, it's also illegal to tether dogs for longer than short (specified length) periods because of the dog being at the mercy of predators, including stronger dogs and humans (the sadistic as well as the thieving kind), as well as many other reasons. Lots of web sites explain the drawbacks and suggest alternatives. Type in TETHERED DOGS or similar words at Google.