OK, let me explain the situation. I have been teaching classes at my shelter for almost 10 years, and always outdoors, year-round. When it rained, we had a
covered sidewalk. When it was dangerous, class was postponed (a nightmare). I actually enjoy class outside for a number of reasons, and I will continue to
teach outside most of the time, despite the drawbacks. I like the extra room, and I like the distractions (they are more helpful later in the sessions than
weeks 1 and 2, but still). I like it very much in the fall, spring, and early summer, when the weather is gorgeous.
That said, I always wished for a structure that would allow us to get out of the rain and wind, etc. when we needed to. So, through sheer luck, happy accident, or Dogly intervention, I have been given a gift: an indoor training space. It's half of a basement area that was cleaned up for me, so there is a garage door, and a walk-through door, and a cool cement floor. It's too small to be my primary space each week for the 9-10 dogs I have in every class, but it will absolutely do--and I've noticed several differences in the training I've been able to do in it (both positive and negative). I am excited about figuring out the best way to use it, and have already started, both for my owned-dog classes as well as my shelter dog classes with volunteers (which involve 4-5 dogs and volunteer handlers).
The space that contains my new training area is bisected by a chain-link fence that is about 35-40 feet long. I get the northern half of the space, so the fence is one boundary. There are four posts, sunk into concrete. I currently have placed a tie-back on each post, because that is where the fence is strongest, and I don't trust the places not near a post to hold a strong dog. So, for now I have 4 tie-backs. They are spaced well for dogs (any closer wouldn't work as far as I can see).
Here's my question. At what height should the tie-backs go? Right now, they are about 15-20 inches off the floor, my reasoning being that this height will encourage dogs to lie down as a default behavior. However, the shelter dogs tend to get tangled up as they try to understand the exercises, so I am thinking of moving them high enough to eliminate that, and making them long enough for the dogs to down easily...but this may mean they are now long enough for the dogs to meet each other on leash (which I do not want).
Given that I want no contact between tied dogs, and a situation where "down" is encouraged (especially when working with the shelter dogs), what should I do? Those of you who use tie-backs, are they in the floor? The wall? What height? What length? Why?
One other thing: the space may not be mine to keep. So, no permanent bolts or hooks, at least for now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but I realize it may be co-opted in the future (though part of me thinks, if I set it up as an unmistakable training space, they'll be less likely to take it away
).
I can post a picture of the space, if you like.
Thanks!
That said, I always wished for a structure that would allow us to get out of the rain and wind, etc. when we needed to. So, through sheer luck, happy accident, or Dogly intervention, I have been given a gift: an indoor training space. It's half of a basement area that was cleaned up for me, so there is a garage door, and a walk-through door, and a cool cement floor. It's too small to be my primary space each week for the 9-10 dogs I have in every class, but it will absolutely do--and I've noticed several differences in the training I've been able to do in it (both positive and negative). I am excited about figuring out the best way to use it, and have already started, both for my owned-dog classes as well as my shelter dog classes with volunteers (which involve 4-5 dogs and volunteer handlers).
The space that contains my new training area is bisected by a chain-link fence that is about 35-40 feet long. I get the northern half of the space, so the fence is one boundary. There are four posts, sunk into concrete. I currently have placed a tie-back on each post, because that is where the fence is strongest, and I don't trust the places not near a post to hold a strong dog. So, for now I have 4 tie-backs. They are spaced well for dogs (any closer wouldn't work as far as I can see).
Here's my question. At what height should the tie-backs go? Right now, they are about 15-20 inches off the floor, my reasoning being that this height will encourage dogs to lie down as a default behavior. However, the shelter dogs tend to get tangled up as they try to understand the exercises, so I am thinking of moving them high enough to eliminate that, and making them long enough for the dogs to down easily...but this may mean they are now long enough for the dogs to meet each other on leash (which I do not want).
Given that I want no contact between tied dogs, and a situation where "down" is encouraged (especially when working with the shelter dogs), what should I do? Those of you who use tie-backs, are they in the floor? The wall? What height? What length? Why?
One other thing: the space may not be mine to keep. So, no permanent bolts or hooks, at least for now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but I realize it may be co-opted in the future (though part of me thinks, if I set it up as an unmistakable training space, they'll be less likely to take it away
).
I can post a picture of the space, if you like.
Thanks!
