What kind of tie out do you use?

[PuppyLover]

Lastnight my husband put Romeo on his tie out for his last out of the night before bed. Romeo did his thing then came back in and kept on walking past where the lead normally reaches.

All I have ever seen in stores by us (Chicago area) is a brand called Prestige made by Boss Pet Products. This one was "The Beast" Extra heavy duty dog tie out for dogs up to 250 pounds. Romeo weights 101. It is wire cable encased in a rubber coating, the rubber stops at the latch and only the wires go into into the latch. The latch was still on his collar.

This is the 4th one that has failed in a year and thank goodness Romeo has never realized he was free. There has to be something that lasts longer!

My husband said don't buy another one, buy a chain instead. Well I was at PetsMart this morning and the only chain they had was for dogs up to 60 pounds, by the same company, and it had the same kind of latch attatchment as the rubber coated wire for lighter weight dogs. The first tie out had the same latch and though it was rated for dogs heaver than he was at the time, it snapped off one day while we were playing fetch.

What do you use for a tie out?

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by PuppyLover

What do you use for a tie out?

I don't.

If you are tieing your dog outside without your supervision you are setting yourself up for LOTS of potential problems.

It is safer and better for your dog if you do not have a fenced yard to take them outside yourself on a leash.

[brunie's mom]

Please do NOT tie out or chain your dog.

Is it possible for you to go out each time with a leash when he needs to pee/poop??
Can you fence some of you yard ? Could you put up a kennel run??

Tying a Rottweiler can be dangerous...as you can see...they are strong and can break their tethers or chains. Also tying up dogs can make some dogs aggressive. They cannot get away from other dogs and you cannot keep people out of his way.

Gina

[Karyn]

Dogs left tied out make excellent targets for unsavory people. I live in a nice, quiet, upper middle classs, suburb however, Philadelphia, Camden etc are a short drive away where dog fighting is an illegal sport. I would never leave my dogs unattended. Additionally, my dear Cromwell ripped my porch steps off when he decided to go after a squirrel - I was sitting outside in a deck chair when he spotted the squirrel and lunged for it. Good bye steps. Well let's say, the steps were dislocated. Cromwell was 130 lbs. I never did that again.

[Ilovemypuppy]

Please do NOT tie your dog out , EVER! Go outside with him on a leash ...as mentioned by others, any number of things can happen and it only takes an instant. Be responsible and go out WITH your dog, always on leash.

[RottiMomCT]

I use a securely fenced yard to tie out my dogs - and ONLY under supervision, all year, every day, not matter what the weather is like. When traveling or unable to access a securely fenced area, my dog(s) are on a long line (if I have one) or walked on lead - again, under supervision.

The ONLY time my dog is not being supervised by me or anyone else in the house is when we're not home, and usually at that time the dog(s) are asleep on the sofa or the bed

Why not take him out to do his business on a leash or a long line, held by you, and then when he does do his 'business' you can praise him for being such a well trained housebroken dog?!?!

Tie outs = disaster waiting to happen - whether it by theft, strangulation if the dog gets tangled, injury or any number of things, including failure of the tie out to securely keep your dog in your yard - what happens if he finally realizes he's not attached to anything and decides to roam the neighborhood or check out the view from the middle of the road?

[2rotties2luv]

While I mostly agree with the above posts regarding the use of tie-outs, I also feel that they can be safely used on occaision.
In my own situation, I live in a condo, and I'm not allowed to fence my back yard. The area on the condo grounds where the dogs are allowed to relieve themselves is about a block away. I have arthritis, and sometimes I can't oblige my dogs when nature calls. I let them out on a tie-out first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and any other time it's rainy, icy, snowy or otherwise slippery underfoot or very cold. For the record, I do walk them whenever I'm able. When out on the tie-outs, I'm out with them whenever possible - otherwise I watch them from the door, so they aren't unattended when outside. Yes, they will bark at any people or animals they see, but they'd do that as well with a fence. I've never had any problems with tying them out for short periods when necessary. I do agree that dogs should not be tied out for long periods or when unattended.

This is the type of cable tie-out I use:
http://www.petco.com/product_info.as...Outs&ct3=Cable

I've used them for years and I've never had one break. However, the plastic sleeve can crack in the winter and it lets the moisture in and eventually the cable will begin to rust. So I always replace the tie-outs for both dogs every fall. I did have one cable break once after I let it get really rusted, but I've never had any trouble with the shackles at either end.

[Vivianne]

PuppyLover - In the past I've had to repair my tie outs because my beast bested the same cable you are describing. I went to the local marine store and found heavy duty hardware to splice onto the end of the cable and hook on to the dogs collar.

Best of luck and thick skin to you!

[PuppyLover]

Why does everyone here always think the worst???? Or is it just me? It seems no matter what I say I am attacked.

Come hang out with my dog, or talk to his trainer or his vet. He is such a loved and cared for Rottie that they say he is spoiled rotten.

We use his tie out in the am when he wants to go and we want coffee. The coffee waits because we stand at the door and watch him.

Lastnight it was 11pm. Hubby and I fell asleep watching a movie and I woke up because Romeo, sleeping next to me on the couch tried to roll over and I had a paw on my cheek. Again, use the tie out and watch at the window.

We do not have a fenced yard and fences are not allowed by the stupid association rules. His tie out is 60 feet which stops him inches from the property line on the sides but gives him an extra 30 feet in the back, which is a field. More room than he would have if we had a fence, our legal back yard is only 30 feet deep.

We also use it to play fetch, frisbee or we are relaxing and watching the clouds float by. He is so cute when he is relaxing and watches a plane or a bird fly by. He gets long walks twice a day and a run every night, both weather permitting. For some reason he is afraid of the rain, no matter how gentle.

I think maybe folks here, should ask questions instead of accusing right out of the gate. I asked a simple question and yet again, I have to explain myself.

[Bucky's Mom]

Originally Posted by PuppyLover

I think maybe folks here, should ask questions instead of accusing right out of the gate. I asked a simple question and yet again, I have to explain myself.

I can't help but think that you are getting defensive unnecessarily.

You asked for advice on a tie out (for a dog who has gotten "free" on more than one occaision)

It was pointed out to you that Rottweilers should not be tied out (and examples and reasons stated)

You say you watch from the window - why can't you take the dog out on a leash?

"His tie out is 60 feet which stops him inches from the property line on the sides but gives him an extra 30 feet in the back, which is a field."

Your dog has a 60 foot jump on you - what if a child wanders into that 60 foot radius? What if your husband calls you over for a second and you look away from the window? - I could play the "what if" game with MANY potential situations.

It takes all of less than 10 minutes to snap on a leash - walk a dog out the door and let them do their business under your direct control.

I am sorry this isn't what you wanted to hear, but thats what is safest for your dog.

[PuppyLover]

2rotties2luv, Thanks, I will try that one, the connection where the cable goes into the latch sure looks like it would last longer than what PetsMart sells.

Vivianne, is there a name of the hardware I should ask for? Like latch #357 or something? I don't of a single marine store around here but my brother has one of those huge sail boats on Lake Michigan and could find it for me if I tell him what to ask for.

[PuppyLover]

Bucky's Mom said "for a dog who has gotten "free" on more than one occaision"

He has only gotten free when the tie out broke and he has never left the yard. He is also free on other occsions when we allow it and he has never left the yard.

BTW, my dog goes out on leash walks all around the neighbor 2-3 times a day and a 5 mile run every night. Thanks for your opinion though, it didn't answer my question, only accused more. Thanks for making my point

[sophie's-mom]

Originally Posted by PuppyLover

He has only gotten free when the tie out broke and he has never left the yard.

So far.

I think the best thing for your situation would be a portable kennel.

Whether it was the fault of the tie out or not, the fact IS, you dog was loose and there is ALWAYS a potential for danger when a ROTTWEILER is loose.

The thing I don't understand, however, is.........you say he didn't know he was "free" but the tie out broke. They can't just spontaneously SNAP, he must have been putting stress on the area to cause the breakage. EVENTUALLY, you will either have a lost dog, a squished dog or a lawsuit from damage your dog has done.........in my opinion, if you continue with the tie out, it won't be a question of IF.......but WHEN!

[Major]

Please stick to providing solutions for the topic at hand.

[RottyMom]

I also do not have a fenced in yard and I have 2 dogs. They are always taken out on leash when they have to do their business. I know you don't want to hear anything other than what kind of tie-out to use but as everyone else has said things can happen in an instant and you cannot get from inside the house to outside in time to prevent anything from happening.