Find The Best Dogs For Apartments Or Make Your Dog An Apartment Dog: Part 1

For those of you who live in an apartment and are thinking about getting a dog here are some hints when it comes to choosing dogs for apartments. First of all, apartment living is not for everyone. It is not ideal for all people and it is certainly not ideal for all dogs. Here are some things to take into consideration.

Many apartments have weight, size, age, and breed restrictions. Check with your landlord before proceeding any further in this process. You will be surprised by some of the regulations, but rules are rules. You may be able to negotiate, but don’t try to go around the rules or sneak a dog in. You would not want your new pet taken away from you. Whatever you are able to negotiate, whether it just be a five pound increase in weight limit, get it in writing.

Once you know your apartment’s regulations you should have narrowed your choices down quite a bit. Or, you may be packing up and moving to a new apartment.  Now, the size of the dog you choose will play an important role. While most apartments tend to favor dogs on the smaller side these are not necessarily the best apartment dogs. Small dogs, or yippy dogs, as I like to call them are often much noisier than larger breeds.  This can be attributed to the fact that they feel the need to overcompensate for their small stature. Regardless of the reason, they are vocal and this can be very upsetting to neighbors. Also, the small breeds tend to be a little more difficult to potty train. This can make apartment living rather difficult. However, small dogs do have some advantages over large dogs for apartment purposes. Bigger dogs need more room to run and stretch. Most apartments are just too cramped for large breeds to be completely comfortable. Also, bigger usually means taller and it can be harder to dog-proof an apartment than a house. Your large dog left alone all day will be able to reach more places and potentially cause more damage than a smaller dog. Also, if you do get a large dog that happens to be a barker the sound produced will be much louder than that of a smaller dog. And in apartment corridors those barks will echo.

Age will also play an important factor in choosing the right dog for your apartment. You may just be set on getting a puppy and that is fine if your apartment allows it. Just know that you will have a considerable amount of work to look forward to. Potty training a puppy is a difficult task in itself; even more so if you do not have a backyard as most apartments don’t. Add to that the pleasure of having to go down flights of stairs or take an elevator to go outside every few hours. Think of how you will have to lock the door behind you and take your keys each time. All this and sometimes you will need to do it in a hurry if it looks like your puppy just will not hold it. With puppies there will be accidents and, remember, your apartment will require a deposit. So, you may not be getting back as much of that as you had hoped. For less stress, consider getting an older, already trained dog for your apartment. If not, you may have to learn to embrace the world of puppy pads for awhile. In addition to not needing potty training, older dogs are content to sleep all day and will probably fare better in the apartment environment.

When considering what kind of dog to get for your apartment the energy level of the dog needs to be addressed. Typically a dog that is very active will not do as well in an apartment especially if left alone all day. Dogs do get bored and without a sufficient outlet for their energy they become curious, destructive, and noisy. A high energy dog needs a yard to run around in or ,at least, a big house to explore all day. A small apartment will probably not meet this type of dog’s requirements. Try looking for more mellow breeds.

I have compiled a list of some of the best apartment dogs.

Greyhound- Try adopting one of these retired racers. Notorious couch potatoes, on the larger side so ensure enough room for stretching

Pug- These dogs do well without much exercise or a yard to run in. 

English Bull Dog- Low energy breed, obedient, easy to train

Basset Hound- Inactive indoors, likes to lounge and sleep, may require more cleaning and deodorizing of the apartment to get your full deposit back though

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel- Lovable, gets along with other dogs you may encounter in the apartment complex, quiet

But, don’t let this make or break your decision. All dogs can be apartment dogs and I will provide more information on how to make your dog an apartment dog in Part 2 of this article. So, stay tuned.