Argument for Anti-Housing of Dogs
Would you imprison a wolf in your house? Well, the dog is adescendant of the wolf. DNA studies show conclusively that the moderndog's heritage comes from the wolf. In spite of the manycharacteristics, traits, behavior, and instincts passed to the dogfrom the wolf, we as a society ignore nature and insist on confiningthese animals to the very unnatural environment of that of the humanhouse.Dogs have claws for digging in earth and the drive to do so. This is how they make their homes.
Look at the Australian Dingo....a feralbreed of dog that lives in Australia. However, living in a houseputs unnatural restrictions on these very normal behaviors andfrustrates the dog creating a plethora of behavioral and healthproblems while it seeks to sublimates these drives.
Digging allowsfor maintenance of nails, stretching of flexor ligaments, whole-bodyexercise contributing to skeletal strength and muscular tone, andaerobic activity that maintains the circulatory system (heart andlungs), and detoxifies the body of free radical buildup.
Dogs have teeth for chewing with jaws that need to be constantlyexercised to remain in good health and support dental hygiene. In thegreat out of doors they have bones to gnaw on from kills, and treebranches to enjoy. Many dogs enjoy eating dirt as trace minerals arecontained in dirt that add to their nutritional requirements. Theyalso drink from streams containing more minerals and phytonutrients(plant-derived) not contained in our chlorinated, processed tap water.Studies have shown that chlorine is very harmful to dogs.
Fresh air and natural light are VITAL to dog health. It establishesi nternal biorhythms triggering the pituitary gland to do its job ofregulating the dog's weight gain and loss, hair growth and sheddingcycle (and in some breeds seasonal hair color), breeding cycles,promotes metabolism and the production of essential vitamins such asvitamin D, and stimulates brain activity through the triggering ofproduction of endorphins and neurotransmitters which contribute to thewell-being of the dog.
The dog's body is adapted to handle natural materials of theenvironment. However, in a synthetic human home, the may ingest itemsthat would not be found in the ecosystem such as gaseous toxinsemitted from carpets, cigarette smoke residue, cleaning materials,odor removers, pesticides, etc. Breathing such toxins lead to allsorts of cancers and diseases that are unknown in outdoor dogs and wolves.
Being contained in a house with artificial lighting, artificialbehavioral constraints, unnatural environmental substrates andmaterials does nothing but undermine the psychological and physicalhealth of the dog.
Trainers and Veterinarians are inundated with dogsthat have behavioral problems and health problems due to thefrustration of living the unhealthy lifestyle of an "indoor dog". This is not how the creature evolved, and we are doing it a hugedisservice by trying to force it to live a human lifestyle.
Please, in the best interests of dogs, move them OUT of the HOUSEwhere they don't belong, and where they are at risk for all sorts ofhealth and behavioral problems, and back into the environment which isthe natural place for them to thrive.
Deb T.
