IMPORTANT!

AKC FORMAL STATEMENT ON TETHERING:

Canine Legislation Position Statement on Tethering -
The Board reviewed recommendations for a new canine legislation position statement regarding the tethering of dogs. This position statement provides a basis for AKC to comment, where appropriate, on proposed bans that have the potential for unintended harmful consequence for responsible dog owners.
In recent years the AKC Government Relations Department (GR) has tracked numerous legislative proposals that arbitrarily equate tethering to animal cruelty and establish bans or severe arbitrary restrictions on tethering. Such measures fail to recognize that responsible tethering may provide an option for restraining a dog in cases where other methods of restraint are inappropriate or ineffective. Arbitrary anti-tethering laws may also undermine positive canine activities such as field trials, conformation dog shows, dog training, grooming and other examinations that are part of responsible dog ownership and AKC events. Following a motion by Dr. Battaglia, seconded by Mr. Sweetwood, the Board VOTED (unanimously, absent Mr. Wooding) to approve the following position statement:

Tethering: The American Kennel Club recognizes that tethering is a practical and humane method for training and restraining dogs in a variety of circumstances. Dogs should never be tethered in a manner that could cause harm to them. Tethering is a common and responsible way to restrain dogs that do not respond well to other restraints (such as escape artists), or participate in activities that require acclimatization such as hunting, sledding and/or other obedience and performance events. Tethering may also be a responsible and appropriate option for handling dogs that are service dogs such as seeing eye dogs, dogs in training, and dogs that are being groomed or examined on a table. AKC opposes arbitrary restrictions on tethering, which can undermine the wellbeing of dogs, responsible dog ownership, and safe training and recreational activities.

UKC FORMAL STATEMENT ON TETHERING:

United Kennel Club opposes blanket anti-tethering laws on principle. Tethering is acceptable animal husbandry in many facets of dog sports and hunting. In those genres, it is completely different form of containment than dogs chained in potentially abusive situations: in inner cities and back yards where they never leave the chain for exercise and are often in basically abandoned situations. UKC is sympathetic to the intent of these laws, but they are most often over-inclusive and serve only to punish responsible active dog owners.

Hunting and sporting dogs such as sled dogs are often housed on tethers as opposed to kennel runs. However, these dogs are working dogs and are regularly exercised and trained OFF the tether. Comparing their situations to neglected dogs is apples to oranges, and any proposed tethering laws should be reflective of that. These dogs are most often tethered in groups together, which keeps them better mentally stimulated than the dog tethered alone in the back yard. Tethering is often done to ensure the safety of escape artists that can dig, chew, and climb their way out of kennel runs. Many tethering laws include temperature minimums, which is unrealistic for most of these dogs. Sled dogs in particular are bred for cold temperatures and are in fact happier in cold climes. Hunting dogs are conditioned to cold and also have proper shelter from the elements. Quite often these laws also restrict tethering to only short periods of time, which contradicts housing dogs on tethers.

UKC could not begin to consider any tethering restrictions unless there were clear exclusions for all hunting and working dogs and it would not impact competitions, trials, or other events. Otherwise, these laws are far too overreaching and do more harm to good dog owners than to punish the bad. Unless they are narrowly tailored to target truly abusive situations, UKC cannot support tethering restrictions.

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