Owning A Dog In An Apartment: What You Need To Know
Apartment Living with a Dog
Having a dog offers so many benefits to people of all ages. Medical studies have shown that owning a pet helps to reduce anxiety and depression, to reduce cardiovascular disease and even to help to increase fitness levels. Regular dog walking and exercises have positive aspects for interactions with others, which is often a challenge when living in a larger city. There are many things that you should know about owning a dog in an apartment.
Some people assume that apartment living makes it impossible to own a dog. While it does pose some additional considerations, many dogs do very well in apartments provided they have regular exercise, lots of attention from their owners, and also have the opportunity to socialize with other dogs.
The more people are home in the apartment with the dog, the less time the dog is on his or her own. In these situations, the activity levels for the dog are easier to accommodate than if the dog is on his or her own while the family is at work and school.
When considering a dog for an apartment, there are a few important factors to consider. By choosing the right dog and the by making some adjustments in your routine, you can live anywhere and still have your best friend by your side.
Breed of Dog
Small is not always better when it comes to dogs for apartments. Many small to medium breeds of dogs, including most of the terriers, are high energy dogs. While they will self-exercise somewhat, they really do need to have space to get out and burn off their excess energy, or they can easily become destructive or constant barkers.
Medium to large dogs tend to have a lower exercise requirement, but be careful with the breed or mix. Dogs such as Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Weimaraners, Dalmatians, Corgis, and Huskies are all high energy medium to large breeds.
Breeds that are low to moderate energy and can easily adjust to a couple of longer walks or runs a day include Chihuahuas, Pugs, Bichon Frise, Poodles, Mastiffs, and even Greyhounds can make ideal apartment dogs.
Obedience Training
Regardless of the type or size of the dog you choose for an apartment, early obedience and socialization is a must. The two biggest reasons dog’s get into trouble in apartments is noise from barking and aggressive or anti-social behavior towards other animals or people.
Obedience training and socialization should continue on throughout the life of the dog. Taking your pooch to the dog park on a daily basis is a great way to burn off energy and to build in socialization, creating a content, happy dog that is less likely to bark or cause any problems for neighbors or the owners.