NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

Talk to the Animals: Put a stop to chained dogs

By Sally Hibbard
Herald online·
26 Jan, 2015 09:45 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Opinion

What I find most frustrating about the all too common practice of chaining up dogs for months and even years on end is the pointlessness of it. Long term chained dogs have no value as a pet, companion or guard dog, they have an utterly miserable life and serve no purpose whatsoever. The two canine behaviorists I consulted over the subject both gave unprintable responses as to what they thought of this practice and the people that perpetrate it.

What's wrong with chaining up a dog?

As a temporary measure, perhaps while at someone else's property, tethering a dog for a few hours is fine with adequate shelter and water available. However when these few hours turn into a way of life, this is where the problems start.

As any dog owner knows, our canine companions typically fill their day with a variety of activities. Patrolling their domain, play, interacting with their family, being taken for walks, anticipating regular meal times and choosing just the right spot for a snooze are just some of the things a properly cared for dog should expect.

For those unfortunate animals at the end of a chain their experience becomes one of boredom and frustration. The following behavioral aberrations are often seen in chained dogs:
• A heightened defense drive due to lack of any escape mechanism can cause extreme aggression in chained dogs
• Excessive barking
• Destruction of items within reach even their own kennel as a result of extreme boredom
• Inappropriate toileting behavior
• Self mutilation and excessive grooming

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It is safe to assume that those dogs left chained are not treated for fleas or internal parasites on a regular basis and will suffer the resulting discomfort. Feeding is often irregular with some of the dogs uplifted literally starving to death as a result of having been ignored by those that placed them in such a vulnerable position.

Chaining a dog suggests there is no physical barrier to a property which means there is potential for children to come into contact with what may well be a dangerous dog. The dog itself is vulnerable to attack from other animals.

Is it legal to chain a dog permanently?

In my mind, chaining a dog permanently is an act of neglect and long term abuse. The SPCA says that current law requires chained dogs have a minimum of one hour of exercise each day. Not only does this mean that is legal to chain a dog for 23 hours a day, it is also unenforceable to ensure any exercise is given. The standard excuse owners give as to why these dogs are never seen off the chain is 'they are walked very late at night'.

A dedicated group of individuals endeavoring to improve the plight of these vulnerable animals is the Chained Dog Awareness Trust. Although it makes for some quite disturbing reading; their site certainly makes a compelling point that this is not how we should allow animals to be treated in NZ.

What can you do?

The aforementioned Trust offers a variety of ways to support the cause including details for contacting the Ministry for Primary Industries to voice your concern.

Currently the SPCA is unable to act when a chained dog has adequate shelter and water and is in a healthy condition. They will intervene when an animal is suffering physically or their environment is substandard.

Discover more

Opinion

Talk to the Animals: The truth about horse racing

03 Nov 10:40 PM
Opinion

Talk to the Animals: 8 outrageous animal myths

10 Nov 07:20 PM
Opinion

Talk to the Animals: 5 of NZ's worst animal invasions

22 Dec 08:20 PM
Opinion

Talk to the Animals: We're going overboard with beach rubbish

13 Jan 01:20 AM

Take note of any of the following when contacting animal welfare agencies about chained dogs:
• Poor coat condition
• Parasite infestation
• Lack of or unclean water
• Deteriorating condition of the animal
• Inadequate shelter from the elements
• Lack of a comfortable place to sleep
• Build up of faeces in the area the dog is restricted to

Where there is excessive barking or the dog has no registration tags, animal control may be contacted. They will then pass the matter on to the SPCA if they have welfare concerns.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

In some situations, you may be able to offer to exercise a neighbour's dog yourself which can vastly improve the life of an otherwise permanently tethered animal.

Do keep your own safety in mind however, as a dog that has been restricted for a long time may not be used to a lead and could be difficult to control. Your own safety and that of others is paramount.

A law change is well overdue to give animal welfare agencies the power to intervene in the pointless act of neglect that is chained dogs.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

LifestyleUpdated

Iconic Kiwi lolly Jaffa comes to end, quietly discontinued by manufacturer

01 Jul 04:49 AM
Lifestyle

Atlantic diet: The healthy meal plan taking on the Mediterranean diet

01 Jul 12:04 AM
Premium
Lifestyle

Advice: How can we get my ageing stepmother to cull her belongings?

01 Jul 12:00 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

Iconic Kiwi lolly Jaffa comes to end, quietly discontinued by manufacturer

Iconic Kiwi lolly Jaffa comes to end, quietly discontinued by manufacturer

01 Jul 04:49 AM

When shops run out of the Kiwi favourite there will be no more packets to buy.

Atlantic diet: The healthy meal plan taking on the Mediterranean diet

Atlantic diet: The healthy meal plan taking on the Mediterranean diet

01 Jul 12:04 AM
Premium
Advice: How can we get my ageing stepmother to cull her belongings?

Advice: How can we get my ageing stepmother to cull her belongings?

01 Jul 12:00 AM
‘Heart and soul’: Miss NZ finalist champions mental health journey

‘Heart and soul’: Miss NZ finalist champions mental health journey

01 Jul 12:00 AM
Sponsored: Get your kids involved in your reno
sponsored

Sponsored: Get your kids involved in your reno

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP