A Stickery Situation

My human is positively anal about her stupid gates and fences. She locks me in the bedroom when she leaves. It is very frustrating. The only part of her house I consider far enough away from my princess bed to do my doggy business is the computer room. Even when I give her that much consideration, she insists that doggy business is to be conducted OUTSIDE. I get locked up. I can't go searching for treasure in the treasure bin (ie: trash can), I can't get in the laundry room and tip over the stinky white stuff (ie: laundry soap) and I can't get into the waterbowl room to drink out of the big porcelain bowl (ie: toilet). Besides, that's where she keeps Turbo the Terror in lockdown. Apparently she doesn't feel he has enough house manners to deserve any further area to roam in when home alone. I have to agree. I think he should be kept in a locked box myself.
As if that's not enough, she feels compelled to control our outside behavior too. She's got Fuzzy and Duke completely bamboozled with her tall fences, but not me. If she dares to go out that gate with me outside, I KNOW how to get out and follow her. Next thing I know, I'm locked in the bedroom, she's yappin' about coyotes and owls and eagles... whatever that means.
Now I am six pounds of rough tough cream puff, that is six pounds of muscle I might add. I can take care of myself! Why does she feel the need to contain us so strictly? Is she afraid we might escape and find someplace better? That we might have too much fun? That her regimented lifestyle might be disrupted?

Feef's Human Speaks:
Contrary to what Fifi thinks, I do it for her protection. I live out in the woods and yes there are eagles, owls, coyotes, cougars, feral dogs, cats, skunks, porcupines, etc. Luckily I don't have to worry about traffic, beings as we live on a dead-end road far from town.
"But they are dogs, dogs roam! Dogs should be allowed to run free, it is in their nature to do so!" I have heard that excuse before and I am the first to shoot it down. Yes, dogs roam if given the opportunity. If people weren't so lazy in general they would realize that the dog would enjoy roaming much more if his owner was along to share the world with! Oh, but "my dog pulls too hard"... or "I am soooo tired when I get home from work, I don't have the energy to go for a walk." With adequate attention and a little bit of diligent training, your dog will no longer pull (as a PetSmart pet training instructor, I KNOW this can be accomplished). If you are dog-tired, go for a walk. The fresh air will do you good and the excersize will give you energy, not deplete it. Try going for a walk in the morning, like the dog whisperer guy suggests. I agree with him on that one, the morning walk sets the mood for your dogs whole day and wouldn't be a bad way to start your day either!
This is the one that kills me. "I let him out to run as he likes at night but keep him in during the day". The theory here seems to be "at night he can't be seen, ergo he won't get in trouble." I guess at night there are less dangers to the dog, or less chance neighbors will see him getting in trouble. More likely the owner is just a lazy fool who wants to think nothing is going on. Probably takes the dogs collar off so if he is caught by animal control, or causing mayhem somewhere he cannot be identified.
Suppose your dog didn't come home after a nights romp. Lets see if I can think of a few things that might happen and the possible results.

1. Hit by car. Possibly killed, meybe just maimed. Burial, or a trip to the vet. Possible lawsuit from car owner if damage is done to their car.
   
2. Shot. With a gun? Yes. I live way out in the country and people still shoot roaming dogs around here. The three S's rule is still the standby. Shoot - Shovel - Shutup. He might make it home, he might die on the spot. If you find his body, burial. If he drags himself home, a trip to the vet.
3. Skunked. Pew! No harm to the dog but oh my gawd the stink can linger for months! If you have a few gallons of tomato juice on hand, or if you can get him to a groomer soon enough you might get some of the smell out.
   
4. Stolen. You never see your dog again. You always wonder what happened.
   
5. Become prey. Whether attacked by another dog (or pack of), coyote (or pack of), cougar, bear, owl, hawk, eagle, or whatever, your dog could become something else's dinner.
6. Infested: ear mites, ticks, fleas, worms, ringworm, etc. Allowed to roam at large Rex can bring any number of "little friends" home with him.
7. Porcupined: And now we come to the reason I felt compelled to call Feef to the carpet on her imprisoned pup rant. I received an e-mail today with pictures of this particular pup who met a porcupine. He did NOT get this way in his own yard, he did not get this way at the end of his owners leash, he got this way because he was allowed to roam at large, alone.
   

I have had to remove quills from a dog or two, it is unpleasant for the dog and it is unpleasant for the person manning the pliars. Before you let your dog out again with no boundaries, please view the plight of this pathetic pit bull and reconsider:
This dog had over a thousand quills in him. He wasn't about to give up, was he? I have no idea whether the porcupine survived or not.
Even if the Feef never understands why I contain her I hope you will, and please, keep your pets safe!!