If you are a dog owner who is considering moving into an apartment, or maybe you already live in an apartment and are considering getting a dog. There are certain things that you should keep in mind. Firstly, will your dog be accepted by the landlord if you are renting a property, and then the size, and personality of your dog. So what are the best apartment dog breeds?
Does size matter?
If you own a large dog, living in an apartment is probably not the best option for you, or your dog will not be happy if it is kept in the confined area with no garden. A large dog needs plenty of room to move around and play which they won’t get living in an apartment. It’s cruel to keep a dog in an apartment. These are all the things you will hear and more if people find out you have a dog, especially a large dog living in an apartment. While these comments can be true, they do not have to be an issue. I myself was living in an apartment that came with my job for a few years with my two Alaskan Malamutes, and for the last 12 months I was there I actually had 4 dogs, and they were perfectly fine and happy, as they had plenty of walks and exercise, so I myself would say it isn’t an issue having a dog in an apartment, and size is irrelevant as long as they get plenty of exercise. The main issue I would say for living in an apartment with dogs if you are renting anyway is finding a landlord that is OK with you keeping them.
Moving to an apartment with a dog.
If you do plan on moving into an apartment with your dog, make sure you do everything you can to help your dog adapt easily to the change in their environment. If you lived in a house prior to the move then your dog will need to get used to not just being able to go outside whenever they want, they may hear noises from neighbouring homes above or below that they wouldn’t of heard before, these things may take you some getting used to if it is your first time in an apartment so imagine how your dog feels.
Getting a dog when you already live in an apartment.
Some breeds tend to bark more than others which may be something to consider if bringing a dog home to live with you in an apartment, as If your dog barks or whines a lot you could well find yourself in some disagreements with the other tenants which could result in you being reported to your landlord. One of the main reasons your dog may bark or whine and cause a disturbance is because they are lonely or bored, so the best way to make sure your dog doesn’t bark when you are away from the home is to make sure they have had plenty of exercise if they are worn out and tired they are less likely to cause a disturbance to your neighbours or any damage to your home, you can also leave them with toys to keep them occupied, and if you are going to be gone for a while during the day, you could hire a pet walker to come around and give your dog some attention and exercise.
Other things to consider.
You should also remember that most apartment complexes may have leash laws so you will have to make sure when your dog does need to go out that you accompany them and keep them on a leash whenever they are outside. Also, a lot of complexes will not have areas where it’s safe for your dog to run free, in the UK it is against the law to let a dog run free in public areas, so you will need to check as this is as much for your dog’s safety as it is for the protection of other tenants.
When renting an apartment most landlords that will accept pets often require a deposit. This is usually to cover any damage your dog may potentially do whilst you are living there, as well as any cleaning that may be necessary in the future when you move out.
If you are searching for apartments that will accept dogs, You can find lots of websites and message boards online dedicated to this subject. When I moved from the apartment i was in, into a house I contacted some estate agents and they kept me on the list for any properties that came up that would take dogs. If you do this Just make sure you’re clear on what the agreement is regarding having dogs at the property before you sign any contracts.
So what are the best breeds of dogs for apartment living?
My answer to this would be any breed at all really, as long as they get plenty of exercise and space to run around there is no reason why you cannot have a large dog or a small lap dog live a happy life in an apartment. At the end of the day your dog just loves to be around you so as long as they get to go out they will be happy wherever you live.
If you take into account your dogs needs, as make sure your landlord is OK with you having a dog in the apartment, you and your dog can be happy living anywhere.
This is something that always seems to divide peoples opinions, so we would love you hear your thoughts on the topic, please feel free to leave a comment.
