Because it costs alot of money which I don't have?



He's been tied up at night for 8 years....there's nowhere for him to get tangled and its very long rope so he still has lots of room...if he got tangled he'd let me know...what he has is alot better then most dogs in my opinion.

I'm not saying he's not well treated, but just because something's not happened yet, doesn't mean it won't.

It doesn't cost a lot to secure a garden, you don't need specialist equipment. You say he's under cover already, just secure the facility he has

My dogs are large and boisterous too. But I would never chain them up outside, that’s no excuse. My dogs are part of the family, your dog clearly isn’t.

Poor dog.

Tip: Keep you chained up dog in the shade, and provide constant fresh water for the poor thing.

FWIW, I don't think you are doing anything particularly wrong. There's just a different approach to owning dogs between here and there.

You are in fact trying to improve the situation so well done to you for that.

I suggest you read the thread before pontificating. It's quite shady at night, I've noticed.

if you really want too make it better for him and give him the best life he can have for his remaining years then try rehoming him with someone who can provide better facilities and give him the care and attention he needs .
not saying your deliberately neglecting the dog but he can and should have a far better life than being on the end of a rope all night .

To the last poster: this is Ireland which has a different culture and attitudes to animals than the UK. From reading the entire thread (have you?), it seems that this dog has a pretty good life compared with many others in that country, and the owner is certainly trying to do his best for the animal.

As to suggest rehoming - words fail me.

Sorry but I don't care where in the world you are - dogs shouldn't be chained up, ever. They aren't cage animals; they're pack animals. If you can't provide suitable care for your dog overnight and resort to chaining him up outside then you seriously need to think about rehoming, no matter where in the world you live. (To the OP obviously)

Leaving this thread. More heat than light.

words fail me sometimes, the OP has stated more than once the dog is only chained up at night....in a large kennel and is tethered with a long rope. by day it has an acre to freely play in, he sounds happy to me except in this heat but the dog is hardly alone in that is he?. most of the replies here have been extremely condescending but i wonder how many of them leave their dogs locked up alone in a house or flat all day whilst they go to work or whatever?
i hardly think what the OP does with his dog is even close to abuse....think toy dogs in handbags, now that's abusive.

Whiskt I agree chaining is probably not best for the dog. That is not for the reasons you state, firstly your note that dogs are pack animals is wrong, they are social yes, but not pack species, in the wild/feral groups they will live all side each other but not form the bonds of a pack, so on that note you are just wrong. Additionally if it were true (which it's not), why are you not telling the op, and anyothers that keep a single dog that they the going against the pack nature of the dog and should be keeping numerous dogs, to ensure they are not being cruel?

Like I said, completely wrong.

The only issue I'd have with the dog being chained, is the risk of injury as I stated above. I'd much rather have a well cares for dog chained for a short period of time than a neglected dog given free range.

Many farmers in Ireland have dogs and cats that never go inside the owners' houses. There are usually plenty of outbuildings for shelter but dogs are often tied up at night to stop them roaming onto other farmers' lands where they could be shot for upsetting livestock. Our family dog was brought into the 'back-kitchen' (over here, referred to as utility room) at night to keep him out of trouble but, otherwise, he didn't really like being in the house, he felt claustrophobic and uncomfortable. He was also tied up when my dad took the tractor on the road, as opposed to down his own fields, so that he wouldn't follow him. We could bring him inside the house too but he would get very upset and excited at the sound of the tractor heading off.

Our neighbours thought we were very 'English' in our ways for allowing our cats to come into the house. I notice that more and more Irish people now have indoor/outdoor cats but it was very uncommon when I was a child. This is probably why I find the whole idea of indoor only cats as totally wrong but I respect the decisions of people who make that choice (as long as they don't impose that view on those of us who don't agree with it).

Irish farmers do love their dogs and treat them well. They don't mollycoddle them (like I would do) but the dogs definitely enjoy their lives and they adore their owners. I agree that the cultures and attitudes of the 2 countries to animals and pets are very different and people should respect those differences. Re-homing dogs in the west of Ireland, as some posters are suggesting? Nearly everybody keeps their dogs outside so it is unlikely anybody would be willing to take him on as an indoor dog and I know the dog would not be happy leaving his family home.

when i think of another dog owner and if i believe their dog is being well looked after i always ask myself
would i leave my dog with them for a week to look after - and in this case it is a resounding NO
as for blaming where you live to how you look after animals that's baloney .
perhaps those that do find this treatment acceptable should rethink those cultures and attitudes because quite frankly they stink .

Well, luckily for Irish people who live in Ireland, they don't need to worry about what anybody here in Britain thinks about their practices. Ireland is a very separate country and has its own separate cultures and traditions. Why should the British tell the Irish to ''rethink their cultures and attitudes''? That is a very arrogant attitude and, as an Irish person, I find it offensive. As an animal lover, I would never defend poor care but I know that these animals are nearly always very well cared for.

Nobody is 'blaming' where we live on how we treat animals, just explaining the context. Animals living on farms in the west of Ireland (which is very rural) have a fantastic life and enjoy so much more freedom than they ever could wish for here. Chaining them at night is for their own protection, to prevent them wandering onto neighbouring farms or onto roads (though there is very little traffic). As I said, we kept our own dog in the back kitchen at night but he wasn't really happy indoors and most of our neighbours chained their dogs. That is acceptable practice and not breaking any animal welfare laws in Ireland.

I am actually gobsmacked at some of the replies......just wow.

My dog is very much part of my family, and has been for over 10 years...

He is semi - trained and is quite obedient but he loves to explore by himself, and any chance he gets he will run off through the fields and forest for the day...

He is well groomed, well fed, is played with constantly ... is brought on alot of walks....has a huge contained area to play in... and is secured at night so he doesn't get hurt.

Yup it sounds like i'm pretty much the worst dog owner there ever was, how dare I secure my dog at night to keep him from being run over by a lorry or shot.... some of you people need to get a bloody grip.


Also thanks to the few posters for sticking up for me....

Ceaser is a very large dog and he is not allowed in the house...its as simple as that. to say my dog is not part of the family because of that id absolutely f^cking ridiculous.

Thats all I have to say

I'm glad you said it.

I hope you will be buying it something gorgeous to wear from the autumn / winter 2013 coolection.

Give him a big hug using.....

Ice gloves!

lol




Its been alot cooler here since yesterday so he's being very active!

You better tie that boy down.

Bless him. I have a springer who is suffering at the moment. I often think he wishes he was Superted and could undo the zip and peel his fur off !!

My other dog has very short hair and she loves the sunshine / heat.

You said yourself that 'my mum doesnt like him in the house because he usually destroys the place' which is not the same as cultural differences but sounds like a training issue. It was later on that belatedly someone else explained the cultural differences of bringing up dogs in Ireland. I'm not psychic. Second, you asked for advice on keeping him cool. You got it. Public forum, what do you expect?

In the name of the wee man ! What the shyte is wrong with a man asking for advice? He wanted to know "how to cool my dog" in this heat.

His dog is well cared for and - although many people are horrified a big beast that the Mammy said " not in my house - it's the size of a pony" Is NOT allowed in the house it still has a great life.

From my experience - spray the dog with a hose or buy a wee paddling pool and encourage the dog to go in it.

I have Combat Corgis and THE BITCH has a double coat. It's a nightmare trying to keep my mutts cool . The Bitch - her coat is like central heating all the time. I wet towels and lay them where my dogs like to go. Maybe you could soak a towel and lay it where your dog likes to sleep or a wet towel in his wee house.

Good luck with keeping your pup cool in this weather xxx

only when it suits you is it ?
and i would hardly call living in Ireland lucky . infact the complete opposite .
and northern Ireland is part of the uk .

Only when what suits me

We were referring to the West of Ireland, that is part of the Republic of Ireland which is a completely different country to the UK. Nobody ever mentioned Northern Ireland which I have little first hand knowledge of, never having lived there. I am fully aware that Northern Ireland is part of the UK and I have no idea why you have even mentioned it except to antagonise.

The Irish have a fantastic standard of living and, yes, people are very lucky to live there, provided they have employment. I plan to go back home myself some time in the future where I shall enjoy an idyllic lifestyle, surrounded by countryside and plenty of animals. And with lots of lovely, friendly fellow Irish people.

Goodness! I have visions of little Welsh dogs trained by the SAS and wearing camouflage...

(If it's a breed I've never heard of, forgive my humour. )