I was just talking to my cousin this morning about an issue she is having with a neighbour, whose dog is barking constantly. Her family cannot even enjoy a day outside because the dog next door never stops. I understand how she feels because we have similar issues with neighbours around our home. All in all, in my neighbourhood there are 21 dogs, including my own and those are only the houses I know of and can see either from my front or rear yards. Out of those homes there are only two, ours included, where the dogs are watched while they are outside and are not permitted to bark constantly, fence fight or run loose.
As a dog owner I believe my responsibility and the responsibility of all dogs owners, goes beyond the unwritten contract we have with our dogs to keep a roof over their head, keep them fed and hydrated and make sure they get the health care they require and deserve. In my mind, responsibility extends to neighbours and the general public, because not everyone has or loves dogs and no one should have to deal with a dog that does not belong to them.
It has long been a pet peeve of mine when I see people get a dog or dogs, only to throw them into the back yard and leave them to their own devices, for hours at a time. I do not understand why people get dogs if they do not want to care for them and share their lives with them. Dogs are social animals, they want to be with their "pack". Dogs also require leadership, boundaries and structure and to deprive them of these essential parts of life, is nothing less than irresponsible.
Training your dog is essential to their quality of life, it provides them with the tools they require to thrive in society, with humans and other animals. If you are not training your dog and providing the structure and boundaries they deserve, you are doing them a great injustice, an injustice far too many dogs are forced to live with. Dogs want to know their role within their "pack", they want to be included and most dogs probably do not want much more than that. When our dogs know their role and what is expected of them, when they are included in the "pack", provided with the training, structure and balance they need, there will be fewer behaviours that require our attention and they will be happier for it.
Dogs also require exercise, both physical and mental. When they do not get the proper exercise, bad behaviours can rear their ugly head, at no fault of the dog. Putting your dog in the yard for long periods of time with no supervision or guidance is likely to create behaviours which will result in poor relationships with your neighbours, and mostly likely your dog. Excessive barking, fence fighting, digging and all sorts of other behaviours can be eliminated and save your relationship with your neighbours if you just spend time with your dog. It will also result in a happier dog and a more productive, healthy relationship between you and them.
Being a responsible dog owner means being responsible for your dog at all times and in my opinion, it also includes respecting the people around you.
The relationships I have with my dogs are the most rewarding relationships I have had in my life. You are doing yourself and your dog a great disservice if you are not embracing the relationship you could have by including them in all aspects of your family, of their "pack" and by providing them with the training, structure and boundaries they deserve.
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