How long is it ok to leave my dog on a line?

[groovemongrel]

The kind that you attach to a post and stick down into the yard. I just bought a heavy duty post and line that supposed to be good for dogs up to 250#! Never saw a dog that big but I'm wondering how long is ok to leave my dog on it outside. Could I put her on it at 2pm when I let her out during my lunch break then leave her out there until 5pm when I get home if its nice out? I don't have a dog house.

Thanks!

[Nishasmom]

No!!! Do not leave your dog on a line unsupervised. They can get tangled, or injured.

[jlhnokc]

Tieing a dog up is never a good idea for any amount of time. It can cause aggressive behaviors and other behavioral problems. Not to mention, there is always a risk of them choking or slipping out of their collar. If you don't have a proper kennel set up for your dog, I would suggest you leave him in the house, either crated or loose depending on trustability.

[AngelBunny]

What you propose doing--tieing your dog outside for hours while you're not there to keep an eye on her or supervise her--is a terrible idea because it's potentially so dangerous.

You run the risk of your girl hanging herself, getting caught up/tangled in the line, or perhaps cutting/severing a limb if she gets a leg caught in the line and she struggles or tries to run. You don't say if your yard is fenced. If it's not, a passing dog could come into your yard, start fighting with your girl, and she could be badly hurt in the fight. (Some time ago someone posted about an old Rottie bitch being killed on her tie-out by a coyote.)

The safest place for your dog when you're not home is in your home, in a crate.

Where did you get your dog? No COE breeder would let you tie out their dog for hours while you're not home.

And, my rescue group wouldn't adopt one of our dogs to you if you really think tieing out is acceptable.

[groovemongrel]

Thanks for the input ladies. I'll continue to keep her in her crate until I get home. It just sucks to put her in at 9am, come home, let her out for 15 minutes at around 2pm, put her back in and let her out when I get home and put her back in again before bed. I hope she isn't miserable. I do walk her when I get home at 5 if its not raining.

[kilasmamix3]

noooooooooooooooo! Don't tie your dog outside alone! She can get really, really hurt. Please don't..

Dezaree

[jakesfostermom]

And hopefully your city/town has an ordinance the prohibits tethering a dog for any length of time - or at the minimum, hopefully you'd be in violation of a code that requires proper 'shelter' to a tethered dog.

You might do some reading/research on the effects tethering has on many breeds of dogs - our rottweilers being one of them.

NO tethering/tieing out/staking/etc., unless you are kneeling in a flower bed right beside your dog doing yard work in beautiful weather, or at a city park lying near your dog on a blanket watching the world go by. Unsupervised tethering - NO. I agree with those who have already posted.

[groovemongrel]

Plus I take her for a walk when I get up around 6am if its not snowing or raining.

[groovemongrel]

I'm glad I posted this. I appreciate the help. I'll only put her out there if I'm out with her.

[Nishasmom]

Good choice ! You would be so worried about her if she wasn't secure inside.

[groovemongrel]

Originally Posted by Nishasmom

Good choice ! You would be so worried about her if she wasn't secure inside.

I have to agree with you. I guess there is so much that could happen.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by groovemongrel

I'm glad I posted this. I appreciate the help. I'll only put her out there if I'm out with her.

And I am so glad you posted this before you tied out your girl!

It would be so distressing to read a heartbroken post from you, warning other dog owners not to tie their dog out because you just lost your lovely girl in a freak accident.

Is there a reason you don't take her for a walk in the rain? Our two personal dogs and foster boy have no hesitation about going for walk in any weather.

[Nishasmom]

Originally Posted by AngelBunny

Is there a reason you don't take her for a walk in the rain? Our two personal dogs and foster boy have no hesitation about going for walk in any weather.

He he...Nisha HATES the rain!! I have to drag her outside if it is raining just to go potty!!

Swimming however, she loves .

[groovemongrel]

Originally Posted by AngelBunny

And I am so glad you posted this before you tied out your girl!

It would be so distressing to read a heartbroken post from you, warning other dog owners not to tie their dog out because you just lost your lovely girl in a freak accident.

Is there a reason you don't take her for a walk in the rain? Our two personal dogs and foster boy have no hesitation about going for walk in any weather.

This board has been very helpful. My wife and I adopted a Rott/Lab mix last month and already 2 big potential problems have been solved. One where my dog ate some grapes and this.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by groovemongrel

This board has been very helpful. My wife and I adopted a Rott/Lab mix last month and already 2 big potential problems have been solved. One where my dog ate some grapes and this.

Perhaps one of the reasons you've found RDN helpful is that you listen to advice given. Unlike you, new members have been known to argue with posters or get defensive. It's so nice to see a new member who is open to learning.

Speaking for myself, I've done many things wrong with my dogs over the years. I'd like to spare dogs and their owners from making the same mistakes I did and falling into the same traps I did. I'd like owners to learn from my mistakes!