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Dog left in yard by allergic owner

By Gina Spadafori

published 01/24/1999

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Q: I am concerned about the emotional well-being of my new boyfriend’s dog. He is “deathly allergic” to his dog, an older black Lab, so he keeps him in the back yard. The dog has a dog house, food and water, but little else. He rarely ever takes his dog out of the yard, and when he does it is for a brief period or a trip to the vet. As he is so violently allergic to this animal, he rarely touches him.

Can this possibly be a healthy thing to do to an animal? I believe dogs need love and affection, and I don’t understand why people like this have animals. To top it off, he boasted to me one day about his authoritative training methods, telling me that when his dog refuses to come when called, he kicks him! Can you give me any advice on how to educate him to the needs and care of his dog? — B.R., via the Internet

A: My gut reaction is to tell you to grab the dog and dump the boyfriend, but let me give you a few other suggestions first. People have a tendency to repeat their mistakes when it comes to pets, and that means if he is not properly educated, the man will be neglecting his dogs (and kicking them when they disobey) for years to come. Education is always worth a try.

No dog can be happy in the back yard with nothing more than food, water and shelter. Dogs are social animals, as we are, and they are at their best — and their happiest — when in the company of others.

Probably the best thing this man can do is find a new home for the dog and vow never to get another. If that’s not acceptable, he should spend some time with the dog every day — playing fetch would be good, as it’s low on contact and high on exercise and interaction. If the dog is kept bathed and your boyfriend washes his hands after touching him, the allergy problem should be manageable. (Seeing an allergist would also help.) Another alternative: Hire a neighborhood kid to walk or play with the dog.

As for his training methods, not only are they cruel, but they also don’t make any sense. Why would anyone come to someone if he knew he would be kicked or otherwise punished?

My advice would be to push your new boyfriend either to place the dog in a new home or work to improve the animal’s life. Also, have him read up on some dog training. You’ll find lots of great books at the nearest library or bookstore, and not a single one will suggest kicking as a training technique.

And if your powers of persuasion get you nowhere with this man, I go back to my original advice: Run, and take the dog with you.