Dallas Diva Dog or Maybe Somewhere in the Middle?
Some Dallas dogs live the diva lifestyle. They eat home-cooked meals out of artist-inspired, handmade, ceramic bowls. They wear designer clothes and sleep on doggie feather beds. These dogs have pet-sitters and spend time at doggie daycare when their families are at work. No boredom-filled days for these Fidos in the the dog days of summer – no way! These dogs have it pretty good.
Then there are the dogs that live outdoors. They may have a shady area, or a patch of cooler dirt to spend the hours of the day. The water bowl will get hot and stay hot throughout the day. Any neighborhood sounds punctuate the hours with some small, unattaiable excitement. The bringing out of food would be the days’ highlight. But the oppressive heat would be their sole companion.
My Other Half’s work involves going to people’s houses where he sees their dogs at home. While many dogs are put in the backyard to accommodate his arrival, there are also a great many that live entirely outdoors. This baffles us. Dogs are pack animals and thrive on companionship. When living within a family unit, they consider that family as their pack. Why bother bringing home a dog just to leave it isolated outside for the remainder of its days?
Arguments can be made for the dog as protector, but what happens when the threat comes from the opposite side of the house from where the dog is kept? How will a backyard dog thwart a robbery? Personally, I store my valuables inside my home, not in the backyard. Arguments can also be made for the dog being too big or too dirty. The size of the dog was no mystery when you brought her home, and without a bath, any one of us would be dirty, too. She can’t exactly shampoo herself.
Having lived in other regions, we were struck by the high number of outdoor-living dogs here in the Dallas area. The availability of a yard in Dallas is most likely a contributing reason, while other regions, such as the Northeast, are more crowded, thereby limiting sprawl.
Backyard dogs are more likely to escape, become injured or stolen, and suffer from heat stroke, snake bites and attacks from other animals. As a member of the family, they deserve to be an active part of that pack, especially in times of extreme heat like in our present days. How do you feel after being outside in the heat and then entering the comfort of your air-conditioned home?
One dog’s normal is another dog’s idea of the diva life. There certainly must be some middle ground there -- a bit of romping good outdoor time and then some lying about indoors on the cool hardwood floors? Dallas dogs can have the best of both worlds, if you'll let them.
Posted on Aug 8, 2011 by Grace Foley
