Tie Out - Page 2

SS i would deff. have his leather agitation collar on while he was out there. IDK about that whole clothes line deal because as Jackie pointed out GSD ( esp. working line) can have a lot more drive and energy pulling and the such so idk if that would stand up aginst him which is why i wanted something more heavy duty and something i could stick in the ground. 

Almost like something used as a backtie that someone would use during protection training.

If you're going to tie him out, then set your dog up on a "runner" line instead of a tie out. If the dog is tied out at ground level he can easily tangle himself up and possible hurt himself. Instead, run an elevated line between two trees or posts and run a small line through a loop down to ground level. The dog should have enough slack that he can lie down but not enough to get tangled. This will give your dog a chance to move about naturally without the risk of getting strung up. We do this with our dogs when we go backpacking with them, to keep them from running off chasing critters in the middle of the night.

I like SchHBabe's suggestion.  If you aren't somewhere that you can run an elevated line can you screw an eye bolt into the side of the house and clip a chain on to that? I would have him somewhere quiet where he won't see the front door activity (for example) which might agitate the dog. If so and if you are only chaining him out for a few hours make sure the chain is short so that he can't build enough momentum by running to pull it out or tangle himself up as mentioned by SchHBabe.  He will learn to lie quietly for a few  hours. 

The only other thing I would caution you about is kids.  If the dog is in an unfenced yard there is a real chance kids might try to interact with him and end up getting bit.  Dogs tied out even for very short periods of time can become frustrated or possessive over their areas or even overly hyper if a person approaches them. 

Great way to end up with a few broken teeth.
SS

True. My male was chained 24/7 by his previous owner. He'd get so bored, he'd chew on rocks. All the points are gone off his teeth, and his lower canines are just little stubs!

Oh come on guys! The owner already said "for a few hours" while he cleans, not as a means to house the damn dog FOREVER! I rented a house with no fence and had to tie out one of my GSD's at teh time. Someone was always home(worked sep shifts) I peeked out the window all the time to check him. At first it does take them soe getting used to, how to untangle themselves, how to avaoid getting tangled at all. Many trips out to the dog to "fix" his "situations", until he figured it out.

orange tie outs at walmart work good take a look at them .just make sure dog cant get tangled up in any thing.this is why i dont use tie outs any more .baby sitter tied  my male out 2o feet behind the house beside fence while i was at work and he got tangled and died. the site was horriable!! she was to busy watching tv and said she did not hear it. Ya right!  good luck!

I forgot to add I prefer to use the coated steel cable over link chain.  You can find these tie out cables every where at various lengths and thicknesses.  Here is an example:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3635620&sourceid=1500000000000003260550&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=3635620

Also check out this guys tie out set up:
http://www.gundogmag.com/training/dog_tie/

I use a chain and a car axle driven into the ground, a ring around the axle with two swivels,
one at each end of an 8 foot  X  3/8" chain with a shelter at the south side of the circle facing north, away from the sun.
A strong collar that won't stretch and fit snug.
Nothing can be in its path that would catch the chain, water at the parameter.
Soon you will have a dirt circle and there should be drainage away from the center.
The axle needs to be driven down until it almost touches the chain, lugs removed, the chain is heavy to stop the dog from fighting it and it will learn to pull the chain out preventing it from balling up, the swivels keep the chain from balling up also.
The dog must be able to get into its shelter so this has to be within the radius, the water bowl must be located where the dog wont be most of the time, off to one side or the other standing alone, not beside the shelter.
The dog must be watched and supervised and never left alone until it gets used to the chain and knows how to use it.
This is no worst than a kennel in that the dog must be let off , just as you would not leave a dog in a kennel without freetime, excersize, attention, training,etc. 
Same thing applies to the chain.   Its not a life.  Dogs need your attention.
A dog cannot dig its way out of a chain or chew through it, climb it or get away by any means other than slipping the collar over its head.  A choker behind the soft collar is a safety measure if the dog tries to slip the collar.
Confinement is only cruel when thats all the dog knows.
Chain or kennel, its only how you use them that makes them cruel.
A chain can be safe and effective.