Overview

Standards of care for dogs kept outdoors and dogs tethered outdoors are specified under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act. Meeting the standards is required by law. All the requirements, except providing a dog shelter, apply to livestock guardian dogs and dogs housed with livestock.

Learn more about the standards of care for dogs kept outdoors.

Definitions

In the standards, livestock means:

  • sheep
  • pigs
  • goats
  • cattle
  • horses and ponies
  • mules and donkeys
  • poultry

A livestock guardian dog:

  • is a type of dog that is generally known for protecting livestock from predators
  • lives with a flock or herd of livestock

Some examples of common livestock guardian dog breeds include:

  • Great Pyrenees
  • Maremma
  • Komondor
  • Akbash

Dogs housed with livestock are any dog with access to a structurally sound building where livestock is housed at the same time.

Meeting the standards of care

The standards of care for dogs kept outdoors apply to both livestock guardian dogs and dogs housed with livestock. This includes:

  • taking dogs tethered outdoors off the tether for 60 continuous minutes to allow for exercise and play, with some exceptions
  • ensuring dogs kept outdoors have:
    • shade and protection from the elements, including wind, rain, snow, cold, heat and sun
    • adequate and appropriate food and water in safe containers
    • daily health and welfare checks
    • safe and appropriate tethers, collars and harnesses
    • safe and an appropriately sized housing pens, for dogs kept in one
    • sufficiently sized, clean and sanitary tether and housing pen areas

Learn more about requirements for dogs kept outdoors.

Shelter requirements

Livestock guardian dogs

Shelters are not required for livestock guardian dogs as a flock or herd can provide warmth and protection from the weather to the dog. For example, some livestock guardian dogs will burrow into the centre of the flock to block out the wind.

However, a dog must not be kept outdoors if it has an injury or illness that:

  • affects the dog’s ability to keep itself at its right temperature, or
  • restricts its mobility

A veterinarian must advise in writing that the dog may be kept outdoors while injured or ill.

Dogs housed with livestock

A building, such as a barn, is often warmed by the livestock also living in it. This can provide warmth and protection to any dog that has access to the building.