The Apartment Dog | by Diana Bocco
“I want a dog, but I live in an apartment.”
How many times have you worried that apartment living means you can’t get a dog? The truth is that a lot of breeds do surprisingly well in apartments and many actually thrive there. Apartment living has many benefits, including a reduced risk of injury and accidents (less exposure to the elements or risk of escaping) and a closer animal-human bond. It also has its drawbacks.
EXERCISE PROBLEMS
When it comes to choosing an apartment dog, make sure you pick a breed with a low to moderate need for activity. Size is not as important here, as some large dogs (including French Mastiffs, Chow Chows and St. Bernards) do well in apartments if walked at least twice daily. High-energy dogs, on the other hand, may end up with behavioral problems if confined to apartments all day long. “I’ve seen this sad mistake far too many times with my clients; people who get a particular breed without researching it first,” says dog trainer Victoria Schade. She mentions the case of a young apartment dweller who got a German Shorthaired Pointer because she thought it seemed like a cool dog. “I walked in the door to her tiny apartment and knew without a doubt that this woman, still in the throes of the early 20′s party lifestyle, was not going to be able to keep the dog. It was re-homed two weeks later.”
The keys to successfully living with a dog in an apartment are to make sure you choose the right breed and to exercise the dog enough on a daily basis. Most hyperactive dogs are that way because their owners skip walks or limit outside time to a five minute run.
TRAINING
Having a well-behaved dog is essential to living in an apartment and keeping a civil relation with neighbors. Nothing spells trouble faster than having a skittish dog that barks every time somebody steps off the elevator or that gets scared by the comings and goings outside your door.
SOCIALIZATION
Because of the reduced living space, it’s imperative that humans and dogs learn to live in harmony if they are going to coexist in an apartment. “Whether or not there are children in the apartment can be a huge consideration,” says Paul Owens, author of The Dog Whisperer. For children under three years of age, it’s equally a matter of protecting the dog as much as the child. Young children can be taught how to gently pet toy dogs (dolls). They should be taught to never hit a dog but to always play gently. “Children can be taught about a dog’s ‘safe spot.’ This is an area that is off limits to the child and the dog must be left alone. These safe spots can be a kennel or under the kitchen table or the dog’s bed.”
According to Owen, the most important thing for the parents to realize is that they will, in essence, be bringing another “child” into the home with the same needs of feeding, educating, socializing, protecting and caring for them as their own human children. “The parents will be the primary caregivers and if they do not have the time, energy and money, a dog should not be adopted.” Bringing an animal into a home is a major commitment. As one saying goes, “A dog is not just for the holidays…it is a lifetime commitment.”
BEST APARTMENT DOGS: Spaniels (English and American, Sussex, Clumber), Beagles, Boston Terriers, Chihuahuas, Dachshund, Bichon Frise, Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Pomeranians, Pugs. Despite what you may think, large breeds also do well in apartments because they usually tire fast and need little to no exercise to burn excess energy.
DOGS THAT DON’T DO WELL IN APARTMENTS (includes high-energy and noisy dogs; some guardian dogs may become agitated by the coming and going of neighbors and end up causing a lot of noise and destruction): Dalmatians, Jack Russells, setters and retrievers. The German Shorthaired Pointer and the Alaskan Malamute are perfect examples of large dogs that needs a yard to thrive.
Hi,
Unfortunately, some of the breeds that you’ve mentioned as doing well in an apartment setting are not very good apartment dwellers, especially in a city with lots of noises! Dogs known to be barkers in your list include Pomeranians, American Cocker Spaniels, English Springer and Sussex Spaniels (very high energy hunting dogs),Lhasa Apso (a guarding breed, they’re bred to alert bark!), Dachshund (HUGE barkers) — and especially beagles!
Beagles are *not* good apartment dogs at all; they’re a high-energy hunting breed with a very lovely, LOUD bay. They need a LOT of exercise (as do Bassets), both mental and physical, in order to keep their destructive and noisy habits at bay.
One of the best apartment dogs you can find is the Greyhound. Retired racers make great apartment dogs. If you adopt from a rescue that fosters the dogs and matches them up with the right owner (in NE, GreyhoundWelfare.org is an excellent organization), then they’re already house trained and settle in quickly to a home environment.
I agree with the above post. While any dog can be made to work with plenty of exercise and training, recommending some of the dogs in the original article as ‘apartment dogs’ is just wrong! A lot of them are barkers and half of them are hunting dogs. Hunting dogs are bred to run a field, all day long! That’s a LOT of energy! When choosing a dog, it is always important to consider your own hobbies (hiking or TV? Jogging or cooking?) and THEN the breed, and then do some footwork to find your perfect dog! And to make it a successful match, follow through with the training required for every breed!
i really want a dog i always have but i do work 9-5 every day other than weekends and mondays. I have a boyfriend but he doesnt live with me there for i go and see him from work some nights although he does stay down mine alot. I live in a apartment i really want the company of a dog i love going on long walks through forestries and things and miss having a dog to do it with any answers?