Chaining - Does it cause aggression?

After reading an article that Marty posted, I saw something about chained dogs being aggressive towards people. I have been told several times by people that chaining a dog makes them mean, or that dogs that aren't allowed to be inside pets would eventually get mean towards people. I've even heard by some that chaining a "pit" would cause it to turn on you after so long.

Now, after reading my previous paragraph, you probably know that most of these statements came from unknowledged people, or are common urban legends. My question to everyone here is: Is there any truth to these sayings?

I have my own thoughts which I will post later, but I want to see what some of you think. I really would like to hear from owners of multiple dogs, even if they aren't all APBT. I especially would like to hear the opinions of people who own 25+ dogs on their yard. I DON'T care to hear from people who never chained a dog in their life, this is personal experience only.

 

Short and sweet NO!

 

no, no and more NO

 

Chains dont make dogs aggressive any more than guns kill people.....

chains dont cause anything,
guns dont kill people

PEOPLE DO THESE THINGS.....NOT INANIMATE OBJECTS!

 

a chain does NOT make a dog aggressive, imo. neglect, improper treatment, abuse, genetics AND hereditary factors will ALL attribute to creating an animal that is unsound. As long as a dog is shown kindness and is properly taken care of, it doesn't matter if he/she's out on a chain, or fast asleep beside you, the outcome of that dog will be a direct result of the input from said owner. Aggression is primarlly a learned behavior and can be prevented if an owner is keen on recognizing the signs. Nip it in the butt at the onset. Aggression doesn't lend itself solely to a chain, kennel or crate. If a dog is unsure of his role in his pact, is unnecessarily punished, not socialized, teased, spolied, etc, aggression can set in. All of these factors can occur ANY where and are not meerly limited to being on the other end of a chain. All of my GSD's, rottweilers and my APBTs have spent MANY hours on their chains, none of which were hindered nor turned "aggressive" due to that. So my answer is a VERY strong "NO". Chains, in and of themselves do not cause dogs to become more aggressive.

 

That's all nonsense. Most of that crap spewed is by those that oppose chaining in the first place. Chains dont make a dog mean.

 

Nothing could be further from the truth.a properly contained bulldog is a happy one,and the best way to do this is with a chain.it doesn't make them mean or vicious or make them turn on you.if any of those things happen it is the owners or the breeders fault not that of the chain.if the dog is geneticly sound the only way to make one mean or vicious is to mistreat it and make it fearfull plain and simple,and this doesn not happen from a chain.if you beat your dog,mistreat it,starve it for attention,do not socialize it and so on and so forth then you will have a dangerous animal.but if you go in the exact other direction of what was just mentioned then you should have no problems.also you must take your dog off the chain daily and excercise it and always as much as you can give it attention.all this boils down to is the animal rights idiots trying to shove their point of view down us ignorant rednecks' throats,they belive dogs are children in fur suits so they should be treated as such and chaining one is just not the thing to do,and if you do it your a monster.they would rather have dogs run loose so they have another horror story to write about our bulldogs.but the best way to keep that from happening is to have a nice chain axel set up and that is why they are fighting so hard to get it outlawed everywhere they can,it is just one more step for them to cross before total extermination of our beloved breed.because a properly contained well cared for bulldog doesn't make the news papers,but one that scales a fence and gets loose because it was not properly contained does.so don't belive all that bullshit about chaining a dog makes them vicious and crazy because nothing could be further from the truth.

 

EXACTLY. Cruelty and neglect is cruelty and neglect- to chain a dog 24/7 and never give it shelter or stimulation or purpose is a certainly neglectful. But so is crating a dog in a home all the time without stimulation or purpose. Given long enough, either situation could work negatively on a dog's psyche- but I'm willing to bet the neglected dog in a crate is much more miserable and would withdraw much much sooner.
Unfortunately, the incidents with dogs getting off chains and attacking people get all the press.

Read this, you'll like it:

http://www.thedogpress.com/Columns/Jade/07_Dog.Bite.Stats_09.htm

 

Well said!

 

Great responses guys! I expected nothing less. Originally, I had put in my post that I thought the myth was caused by AR activists. I deleted this because I wanted to hear other's opinions, not people just agreeing with me.

I will say, I have seen dogs on chains that are mean, but who said that caused it? Not me. Most people who neglect their dogs throw them out on chains and forget about them. This is where I believe it all started. I DON'T believe a dog will EVER become mean on a chain. If this was the case, why do some of us own multiple dogs, mostly tethered, and you NEVER hear about us being attacked by our own dogs.

Some people say I am defending myself because Rosco and Duke have spent probably 90% of their adult lives on chains. Well, I am! I always tell anyone who says my dogs will turn on me, "go pet my dogs, if they bite you, sue me." I can say that because I am 100% confident in both of my males. If I wasn't, I wouldn't own them. As a matter of fact, my female has NEVER been chained, and she is more defensive than either of my males.

Again, thanks for all of the replies, I was just doing a head check on myself. Also, I would like to say to the people who don't believe in chaining, come see my dogs, they'll maul you with love and kisses.

 

I chain my dogs. None of them are mean, one is even and obedience demo dog for my training classes.

 

WOW...and then there is TRUTH....uncanny....

 

no absalutly not
but I do believe alot of mean dogs are put on chains if that makes sence? the chain did not make the dog mean the dog was mean and put on a chain
people who own multiple bulldogs know chaining them is the only safe way to confine one and I have never owned one that became aggressive because of chaining I did have a gyp I had gotten from some one that did become territorial of her chain space once off the chain she was fine but she didnt want anyone except family in her chain spot ( she is no longer with us )

 

no no no its all in the dog either he is good or is going to be bad !!!!!!

 

Nope, not in my experience. My brother had always kept his beagles chained, and they were always sweet dogs...
I used to keep my lab/husky mix in a pen when I lived in PA, and now she's lived on a chain for about 2 years, and I definitely think she is happier on the chain, then she ever was in the pen. She is an outside dog that hates being inside, and she is super sweet as well...
My boyfriend's father didn't believe in keeping dog inside, and he had some of the smartest and sweetest Dobermans you could meet from what I heard. So, the chain didn't make them vicious, either...
Tess and Notch are only on the chain when we aren't home, but that time on the chain hasn't altered their personalities as well. They are still sweet loving dogs...
Finally, my Uncle had an Akita. That was kept on a chain, and he was a pretty friendly dog as well...

I am guessing those "viciously" chained dogs are actually ignored frustrated dogs that never get a bit of exercise or any petting, but that can happen whether it's on a chain or in a pen...Does the chain make them mean? Nope, I don't believe it does.

 

if a dog is kept on a chain too long without having some exercise they can get stressed, and antsy, i have a male i have to let off the chain every other day or every day, and take him running, or swim him. i'm going to make him a runner to put him on soon.

 

My Short and Sweet Answer:
No, but people who leave the dogs on chains, never socialize, only take off the chain for shows, and never work with their dogs do cause that problem....but as you notice, the chain is not the problem, its the owner!

 

damn, i was hoping to get an AR nut to say something assinine. better luck next time. i guess under certain circumstances chaining can make a dog mean. like if you were to set his food bowl right outside of his reach. but then again, how many of us do shit like that? well, i'm sad the AR nuts didn't try to sink their teeth into this one.....

 

LOL, that's why I put "personal experience only" in red. Everyone who tethers their dogs know that it won't make them mean. In my opinion, AR nuts can say all they want to make John Q Public believe something, but when you get a group of people together who knows better, it's easier to dispell dumb myths. Again, thanks for the input guys.

 

I dont think so.....I have a pit who has been chained all his life (exept when we go on walks), and he is ok...Very friendly (humans) and always energetic thinking that all the people coming to my house will play with him... I agree that the only thing that would contain a bulldog is a chain... a strong chain If I may add... provided that the dog is in a proper tie out set up, fed good quality food eveyday/everymeal, given regular walks and exercise, SOCIALIZED (at least with humans) I think he would be Ok....and happy till he expires....