Chaining as a Primary Source of Containment
1. Chaining will only be used under the following circumstances: (When
chaining is used in the below circumstances, the owner will insure that the
wolfdog is supervised at all times.)
(a) Camping or other recreational outings;
(b) Cleaning pens;
(c) Quick repair or pen maintenance;
(d) Moving animals.
2. Chaining can be used as a longer term of temporary containment following
natural or unforeseen disasters to enable the owner to replace permanent
fencing. Chaining will not be accepted as a form of permanent long-term
containment or as a replacement for a primary source of containment. When
chaining must be used as a source of long-term temporary containment, the
chain must be short enough to stop the animal at least 2 feet before reaching
any fence so the animal can not jump over the fence and accidentally hang
itself and all obstructions must be removed within the perimeter area. An
owner will ensure that there will be no public access by children, other
animals, or the general public to any animal that is being temporarily
contained by chaining. For this section, temporary containment by chaining
shall be limited to not more than a 2-week period.
A. A primary containment area is defined as any place a wolfdog is kept
for more than four (4) hours per day.
B. A primary containment area will be inspected by the
owner at least once each week to ensure that the enclosure remains in good
repair.
C. A primary containment area will contain enrichment.
D. A primary containment area will be kept clean and free
of debris.
E. A primary containment area will allow each animal a
safe area away from outside influences.
F. A primary containment area will prohibit unauthorized
access to any animal that exhibits strong aggressive tendencies.
G. At a minimum, a primary containment area will meet or
exceed the following standards.
Outdoor primary containment areas will do the
following:
1. Be sufficient to contain each wolfdog in an owner’s
care and will prohibit a wolfdog from digging under, climbing or jumping over,
and/or chewing through the primary fence. If a primary containment area allows
escapes, then the owner will upgrade either the height and/or type of fencing,
dig wire, lean-in’s and/or electrical fencing to prevent future escapes.
2. Contain fresh potable water; shade; dog house(s), and/or
other structure(s) sufficient to protect each wolfdog in the enclosure from
the elements. Shelters will be located far enough away from fencing so that a
wolfdog can not use the shelter as a launch pad or ladder to jump or climb
over a containment fence.
3. Meet or exceed the following pen size requirements:
(a) If the containment areas serves as the only source
of containment, and the wolfdog does not receive daily exercise outside of
the primary enclosure, then said enclosure will be at least 25 feet x 50
feet (1250 square feet). For each additional animal in a primary enclosure
500 (10 x 50 square feet) will be added to the minimum size of the pen; or
(b) Wolfdogs kept in enclosures smaller than set out in
3(a) above will be given daily access to an exercise area for a minimum of
1 hour per day or otherwise exercised by owner.
4. A primary source of containment must be well drained.
5. Containment areas will be situated with a minimum
distance of 3 feet between enclosures or contain a sufficient barrier to
prevent fence fighting.
6. Containment areas will have locked entry gate(s) or
gate(s) that are otherwise inaccessible to the general public.
7. It is recommended that there be a double gate entry to
prohibit escapes.
8. It is recommended that containment areas have a fence
that discourages the general public from placing their hands or arms inside
the pen to touch or pet the wolfdog(s) by one of the following:
(a). A sign on the fence stating the yard contains a
dog;
(b). Electrical wiring placed three feet inside the
fence that will not allow the dog to reach the exterior fence;
(c) A privacy fence or small enough mesh fencing that a
child cannot place their hands or fingers through the fencing; or
(d) A perimeter fence located three feet from the dog’s
interior fence.
HOME OR INDOOR FACILITY:
1. A wolfdog kept indoors as a primary source of
containment will be behaviorally suited for living indoors. In this instance
"behaviorally suited for living indoors" is defined as an animal
that will not harm itself or be destructive in an effort to get outside.
2. Chemicals, poisons, rat or fly bates or any other
harmful substances will be kept in an inaccessible place such as a locked
cabinet, or upper shelf that a wolfdog cannot reach.
3. If a wolfdog has a tendency to chew on or bite into
electrical cords, then the cords will be treated with a substance that will
prohibit chewing or placed inside some type of tubing or conduit that the
wolfdog cannot bite through.
4. Knobs to gas outlets should be protected to keep a
wolfdog from accidentally turning them on.
5. An owner will have a room, crate, or outdoor containment
area where a wolfdog can be placed if visiting children or other individuals
make the animal nervous.
6. Any wolfdog that shows aggressive tendencies will be
contained in a separate enclosure that is inaccessible to visitors when the
owner has visitors in the r home..
7. Owners with small children will provide separate play
areas for the children and the wolfdog. Only supervised interaction will be
allowed between the two.
8. A wolfdog kept inside will be provided with outdoor
containment, taken for walks, or provided other means of exercise on a regular
basis.
9. All exterior doors will be kept securely fastened in
order to prevent escapes.
10. A wolfdog will be trained not to approach an unsecured
entrance area, blocked access to the entrance area, or be placed on leash
before a door is opened. (In this instance an unsecured door or entrance
area" is defined as any door that opens into an unenclosed area.)
OTHER CONTAINMENT:
1. Pens used for short-term use are isolation pens,
birthing pens, puppy pens; medical/quarantine pens, and those used for
wolfdogs that live indoors for the majority of the time. Unless specifically
prohibited by a veterinarian, a temporary containment area will at a minimum
meet the following requirements:
Said temporary pen shall be at a minimum 10 feet x 20
feet. The pen must be sufficient to contain a wolfdog and prohibit a
wolfdog from digging under, climbing or jumping over, and/or chewing
through the primary fence. Said containment must include fresh potable
water; shade; dog house(s), and/or other structure(s) sufficient to
protect each wolfdog in the enclosure from the elements. Shelters will be
located far enough away from fencing so that a wolfdog can not use the
shelter as a launch pad or ladder to jump or climb over a containment
fence. If this temporary containment area is six sided, then said
enclosure should be at least six (6) feet tall.
COLLARS AND LEASHES:
1. A collar will be strong enough not to break or come
unfastened while being used as a primary source of containment. It is
recommended that double collars and leashes be used outside of a primary
containment area.
(a.) A choke chain will be used as a training devise
only and will be removed at the end of each training session.
(b.) A collar will fit securely enough that the wolfdog
cannot back out of, or otherwise remove the collar while it is being used
as a primary source of containment.
(c.) Every precaution will be made to make sure that a
collar will not hang on a foreign object, or otherwise cause harm to an
animal.
(d.) If a collar is permanently left on an animal, the
owner will check it on a weekly basis to make sure that the collar is not
too tight or too loose. The owner should be able to place 3-fingers
between the collar and animal’s neck.
2. Leashes shall be strong enough not to break and short
enough to enable the owner to maintain complete control over a wolfdog at all
times.
(a.) It is recommended that a leash be fastened to both
a permanent collar and any other collar that is known to break or spring
open (i.e. such as training collars) while outside of a primary
containment area.
(b.) All leash fasteners, seems, and stitching should
be examined on a regular basis to make sure the leash is in good repair.
CRATES
1. A crate will be large enough for the wolfdog to
comfortably lay down, sit, stand, and turn around in. The crate will be made
of a material strong enough that the animal cannot bite through or chew out of
it. If a wire crate is used, then the wires should be close enough together
that the animal cannot harm itself by biting at or clawing at the wires. A
crate should contain a removal tray that will allow easy cleanup. A crate
should be well ventilated.
2. A crate may not be used as a primary source of
containment except in the following circumstances:
(a.) During transport;
(b.) During camping trips;
(c.) During exhibition;
(d.) Under veterinary suggestion for a medical or
health condition.
3. A crate should be double locked by either using zip ties
or other means to reinforce all latches, and hinges that might otherwise pop
open during use as a single source of containment.
4. If a crate is used for containment while camping out,
then the crate will be placed in an area that will be protected against the
elements. (In this instance "the elements" are defined as sudden
rainstorms, electric storms, hail, flooding, etc.) The crate will also be
placed in an area that is not accessible to others.
5. A crate used indoors to keep a wolfdog contained, shall
only be used for short periods of time during the day and for overnight use.
Combined periods of day use shall not exceed two hours per day. (An Exception
to this would be a veterinarian’s recommendations to keep an animal immobile
due to surgery, or injury. The size of the crate should be discussed and
approved by the veterinarian.)
6. A crate used during transport should be secured in the
vehicle so that it will not tip over, be flung out, or cause injury to an
animal in case of a wreck.
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