Dogs and apartments: do they mix?

In My Humble Opinion
1

My fiance and I live in a small (roughly 780sqf plus balcony) 2 bedroom apartment - we love where we live and we are very unlikely to ever move back to the suburbs.

I want our next pet to be a dog, in particular an Italian Greyhound which I believe would suit our lifestyle quite well. But everyone I’ve mentioned the idea to believes it would be cruel to have a dog in an apartment, especially one in the inner city. Seriously, they looked at me like I was a monster.

But then I figured that people in places like New York and Hong Kong must have dogs and cope somehow right? And it’s not like I’d be getting a high-energy breed like a border collie or a lab. Plus the way I see it, because I don’t need to work, he would have someone around all the time, instead of being alone for 8 hours a day. Although we’re in an urban area there’s a large park just a 5-10 minutes walk away, and several others 20 minutes away. So the exercise regime would probably be something like a 30-60 minute walk every day, and a 2hr play in the park on weekends. I would enroll him in puppy kindergarten and obedience school, but probably not agility or anything advanced like that. I tried to explain that to my friends but they still believe that it’s not enough exercise, and that dogs belong in houses with backyards. They said that dogs need space to run, that barking dogs will annoy neighbours, and that anyone who owns a dog in an apartment isn’t thinking of the welfare of the dog.

Am I just rationalising away legitimate objections to having a dog in a small apartment? Does anyone here have experiences with dogs in apartments, good or bad? Any advice or warnings would be greatly appreciated, especially with regards to housebreaking, exercise, noise, etc. And please, let me know straight-up if you think owning a dog in an apartment is cruel.

2

I don’t think it’s cruel since you won’t be working and will be home a lot. Daily exercise is good for dogs and he/she is a pretty small breed. Have you checked with your Landlord to see of pets are allowed? I would check there first. :cool:

3

We own, so thankfully that won’t be a problem. Incidentally, we’re very lucky we own because according to my friends who are looking for places to rent, it’s insanely hard to find places at the moment, with people bidding higher rents in order to secure the place, and with some places rented out even before the first inspection. I can’t imagine how much harder it would be with a pet!

And unobtrusive pets are definitely allowed by our body corporate (the organisation that makes the rules for our apartment block) - it was one of the things we asked our lawyer to specifically look for. :slight_smile:

4

Italian Greyhounds are extremely high energy dogs, more so than a lab. The love to run and need lots of exercise not only because they are extremely active but they have to stay thin.

One of my friends has two, and there are several at the dog park that I go to. I don’t think there’s a dog that can outrun an italian greyhound. From the moment they get to the park they’re practically non-stop. They’re great dogs, but they can be a handful. She works and someone dogsits her dogs during the day because they can’t be left alone. Her dogs actually learned how to open the refrigerator. They’re jumpers too. They can jump over pretty much anything.

Another person’s dog isn’t quite so active but it is an active dog. They can have lots of problems with their legs if they aren’t kept at a proper weight. I know my friends dogs look downright skinny to me but the vet always has them on diets.

I don’t think it’s cruel to have a dog especially one that size in an apartment provided that they get lots of exercise and you keep them stimulated. No dog really romps around by themselves in a backyard. My dog hates to go in the yard alone. She’d always prefer to go for a walk.

5

My dog (lab) and apartment mix excellently. However, the exercise issue doesn’t come up, as he’s a guide dog-in-training, so he walks to classes with us all day. As long he gets good regular walks that are long enough for his breed’s energy level and he isn’t left to his own devices for entertainment all day, it should be fine.

Housebreaking is probably worlds easier from a ground floor apartment. As long as there is grass available for your pup to relieve on, that’s important, since other surfaces get messy and gross for neighbors. I assume you’ll take responsibility for cleaning up your dog’s ‘deposits’.

Noise: just don’t get a yappy dog! Mine never barks, although he went through a short phase when he did. He got over it after we corrected him EVERY TIME, if its only sometimes then its no use trying to unteach it. Also tell your neighbors to let you know if its barking when you aren’t home, so you can try to do something about it.

6

This information is pretty accurate. My friend has two black & white italian greyhounds.

My dog’s all time favorite dog to play with is an italian greyhound, but my dog is very active too. I think they’re great dogs as long as you know that they’re active.

7

No crueler than owning a dog in a 10,000 square foot home. The basic fact is that a dog will not be happy just sitting around inside and alone no matter what the size of the space.

Like other posters have mentioned - you just have to actually walk and exercise the dog. (Two separate things, as the Dog Whisperer would say).

I have a small dog in my apartment - she’s been through 2 apartments now, one smaller than yours, one slightly bigger. No problems whatsoever. But she goes out 4 times a day, and at least one of those (hopefully two) are longer walks to really tire her out.

I only have a couple of other points:

(1) consider getting an older Italian greyhound - the reason is that puppies are extremely hyper and destructive no matter what the size of the home. It’s just a lot more noticeable when the puppy starts destroying your tiny apartment. Plus, this is one of those breeds where there are always plenty of rescues to be had. No pressure there - there are pluses and minuses between all dogs: old/young/shelter/breeder etc. Just something to consider.

(2) And Caridwen? My mixed breed dog regularly catches a couple of greyhounds she plays with at the park. I don’t know if you know this, but greyhounds hate to be caught. They scream bloody murder when they realize that another dog has caught up to them. It’s really quite humorous. :stuck_out_tongue:

(3) And on preview - I’ll totally echo hawksgirl on the barking / yappy thing. We corrected our dog so much that she was essentially mute while inside our apartment. If you do get a puppy - definitely watch the noise and crate train her. Much better results in the long run.

8

[QUOTE=Caridwen]
Italian Greyhounds are extremely high energy dogs, more so than a lab. The love to run and need lots of exercise not only because they are extremely active but they have to stay thin.
[/quote]
The impression I’d gotten from reading breed FAQs (although I certainly bow to your real-life experience!) was that Italian Greyhounds required regular bursts of exercise but were tired lap-dogs the rest of the time.

[QUOTE=hawksgirl]
Housebreaking is probably worlds easier from a ground floor apartment. As long as there is grass available for your pup to relieve on, that’s important, since other surfaces get messy and gross for neighbors.
[/quote]
We’re on the third floor, so it wouldn’t be too bad. I had a scout for grassy patches just then, but my block is pretty much concrete where the nature strips would be. I was considering getting the Pet Loo and putting it on the balcony.

[QUOTE=Doctor Who]
Like other posters have mentioned - you just have to actually walk and exercise the dog.
[/quote]
Heh. Part of my dog research involved looking up some Dog Whisperer episodes online. I was pretty stunned at the people who owned dogs and didn’t seem to realise they needed to be walked! Am I right in understanding that a walk is just a walk, and exercise involves the dog running and fetching, and generally tiring itself out? Should I schedule a play in the park more frequently?

9

I know! When my friend got her little male she brought him to the park and a couple of the older dogs caught him and he let out such a shriek that we all ran over to see what happened to him. He didn’t like it!

My dog is great with the older female because the greyhound loves to be chased and my dog loves to chase. She’s fast but not that fast.

She left her dogs alone one day and when she came home she couldn’t find them. They chewed through her boxspring and wiggled up into her mattress. They can jump right onto her counters like nothing and can practically climb a fence. You definitely have to crate train.

10

There are a couple things I want to point out (sorry if these have been brought up, I haven’t read the thread)…

I had two dogs in my old apartment. A Pekinese/Pug mix, which was fine, and a hound mix, which had some issues. Our hound wanted to be outside, and our single-lot grassy area beside the house and nightly walks were not nearly enough for him. He needed a farm. He is at one now and never seemed happier. I know it sucks, because it breaks my heart everytime I realize my lil pup has been living without me for almost a year, but it’s best for him.

My pug, she couldn’t make it anywhere else. She is spoiled and small enough to be babied a little. We got rid of the hound before we moved in here, but our landlord was a little leery of having a puppy around. Mostly, he worried about the carpet and woodwork in the apartment. It was brand new when we moved in, and it still looks close to it. Our dog was very well trained from the time we got her and she knows that if we are gone, for whatever reason, and she has no one to let her outside, she is to use the bathroom in the bathroom or basement (bathroom is tile, basement is cement) that way it isn’t a problem to clean up for us. She has never had a problem with this.

The biggest issue with dogs in apartments is that they often see it as there house, so if you move apartments often, as we did, they might get confused. The other thing is taking care of the dogs needs while living your everyday life, which would be an issue if you got the dog in an apartment or on a 10-acre ranch - it is important that you can provide a good home for the dog.

Brendon

11

What I don’t get is that if one is “on the fence” in general about getting a dog in an apartment. . .why on earth would you think that getting a dog that has been bred over centuries to RUN!!! would be a good choice?

Is it a case of “OMG Italian Greyhounds are soooo cute?”

They’re GREYHOUNDS. They’re bred to run.

IMO, if you want a dog for companionship, find something more appropriate. Keep in mind that small dogs aren’t always the best choice for apartments. They can be very “barky”, for one, and a lot of them need a lot of exercise. A big dog doesn’t need a big house; no dog gets its exercise indoors.

12

[QUOTE=Trunk]
What I don’t get is that if one is “on the fence” in general about getting a dog in an apartment. . .why on earth would you think that getting a dog that has been bred over centuries to RUN!!! would be a good choice?

<snip>

… no dog gets its exercise indoors.
[/QUOTE]

I’m finding it pretty tough to reconcile these two concepts, Trunk. On the one hand, the dog is bred to run, so it shouldn’t be kept in an apartment. Presumably because it can’t run around? On the other hand, no dog gets its exercise indoors so the size of the shelter space shouldn’t matter right? I understand where you’re coming from, but I would be more worried about a hyper dog than a fast one. Greyhounds, in my opinion, are not that hyper - just fast when they get going.

Anyways - sure, there will be problems if the dog doesn’t get the proper amount of exercise, but those same problems would exist in a mansion. In fact, there would be problems with any breed if the dog is not getting its exercise.

Caveat: The general rule is that most breeds will be okay in an apartment if they get their daily exercise. Please do not think that this applies to Border Collies which should never be kept inside or in a yard that is smaller than 200 acres. Also, this rule does not apply to dachsunds who will engage in deliberate chicanery and destruction in your apartment even if you hook them up to a treadmill 23 hours a day.

13

Doggie Day Care is another option for apartment dwellers who may be pressed for time. Most towns and cities have one these days. When I used to take my pup, it was about $15 for an eight-hour stay.

My dog *loved *it there. They had a giant gymnasium with a rubber floor that had all sorts of slides and other equipment for the dogs to climb and a small swimming pool. The staff had game times for the dogs, like sessions of fetch where they threw tennis balls with some atlatl-like device and “Laser Pointer Time” when they would turn out the lights so the dogs could chase the red dots.

Every evening, she came home absolutely exhausted and very happy.

14

[QUOTE=Doctor Who]
I’m finding it pretty tough to reconcile these two concepts, Trunk.
[/QUOTE]
I get ya.

I didn’t totally think it sounded like the OP was gung ho about running that dog as a rule.

A large park 5-10 minutes away is good, if you partake. And, by that I mean 30 minutes in the morning every morning, at least 45 in the afternoon every afternoon. For the next 10 years.

Dogs don’t think, “oh, well, I got a lot of exercise Monday through Wednesday so I can take Thursday off,” like a person might. Exercising the dog has to be as much a part of the routine as your morning cuppa.

But, some dogs can get by on a couple of strolls per day. One of these might be a better choice.

15

That makes sense, Trunk - thanks for clarifying.

16

[QUOTE=Kayeby]
And please, let me know straight-up if you think owning a dog in an apartment is cruel.
[/QUOTE]

I think it is cruel - for the owner. You need to take the dog out for a walk 3 or 4 times a day, every single day. You can’t sleep in on Sundays. You can’t stop by a bar on the way home from work. You can’t make weekend trips without making prior arrangements, with associated expenses. If you let the dog get bored, it can do considerable damage in an apartment. When the dog is sick you have to clean up after it - think vomit and diarrhea.

But I don’t think it’s cruel for the dog, depending on the breed. My Rat Terrier mix is very active when I take him for a walk, but the rest of the day he seems content to lie on the couch and sleep.

17

My friend had a whippet for 16 years. He didn’t have the urge to constantly run. In fact, they’re great at hanging out and just being in love with you. I’ve heard other reports that they don’t need to be run like a machine. Daily walks, just as you do with any other breed, are more than adequate.

18

Italian Greyhounds do great in apartments. A word of warning, don’t ever let them get loose because you’ll never catch them. Puppy school is a great idea because it’s fun for both you and the dog.

The ones I’ve been around are very sweet and will pop on your lap. They’re a nice dog and I’m sure you’ll enjoy having one. It said in the article they’re hard to housebreak but she didn’t have any trouble at all.

My friends got her first italian greyhound as a young dog but it was a rescue situation and her dog had some separation anxiety. Once she went to her car and her dog almost climed a 6 foot fence trying to get to her. There was a huge improvement when she got her second dog although they fight like little kids.

If you do get one make sure to post pics!!

19

My sister had an Italian Greyhound she got from the Humane Society. Her eldery owner had to enter a retirement home and couldn’t take Daisy with her, so Lea adopted her. She was a sweetheart, and she could have easily lived in an apartment.

Another one of my sisters had a Greyhound she got from a rescue organization. For the most part, he was a couch potato. A skinny couch potato, but all the same. Still when he was outside, he could run like the devil. After the first few years, any slight interest he had in running he lost. He was happiest inside. He lived to a remarkable old age. Greyhounds have such thin skin walks and other supervised play seem to me more advisable than time alone in a yard.
-Lil

20

[QUOTE=Trunk]
What I don’t get is that if one is “on the fence” in general about getting a dog in an apartment. . .why on earth would you think that getting a dog that has been bred over centuries to RUN!!! would be a good choice?

Is it a case of “OMG Italian Greyhounds are soooo cute?”

They’re GREYHOUNDS. They’re bred to run.

IMO, if you want a dog for companionship, find something more appropriate. Keep in mind that small dogs aren’t always the best choice for apartments. They can be very “barky”, for one, and a lot of them need a lot of exercise. A big dog doesn’t need a big house; no dog gets its exercise indoors.
[/QUOTE]

I think it’s time to fight some ignorance on sighthound breeds here.

Yes, they can run fast, but not all of them have been bred for long-distance running, and even of the ones that are, they don’t need to run for miles to be content. Salukis have been bred for great stamina and can run fast for long periods of time if properly conditioned (there’s some videos on YouTube of Salukis coursing deer somewhere in the Middle East. Dog basically runs the deer down). Deerhounds also have been bred for stamina, as they have been used to walk the moors for miles, interspersed with short-distance running to catch rabbits and other game. Yet, given nice long walks everyday to keep them both mentally and physically healthy, they are clean, quiet animals that can make good pets for people in small living quarters.

Greyhounds and Italian greyhounds aren’t distance runners. The modern Greyhound has been bred to run very fast for a short distance, and after that they need themselves quite long naps. The expenditure of energy in that short time is phenomenal and they don’t need or want any kind of sustained running. Most of my hounds over the years have been more than content with a 3/4 mile walk every day. I lived with two Greyhounds in an apartment for about 4 months when we moved to a different state, and while my one hound was a little bummed, I think, to not have a yard, they both did just fine with leashed walks. Taking them to a field to let them run all out was usually a waste of time - they run for 5 minutes (if that) and then they are quite done. Walking is actually the best exercise you can give any dog anyway - it is gentle, sustained and low impact, so it is good for the cardiovascular system and easy on the joints.

Italian Greyhounds, while most likely originally bred as ratters, have been bred for hundreds of years now as pets. It is not necessary or even desirable to run them for long - while they enjoy running they have their limits and too much running could actually cause serious injury. They are NOT sporting animals, and those tiny little legs are actually quite fragile.

That said, Italian Greyhounds are small dogs, and share certain traits with other small dogs - they can be hyper, they can be prone to separation anxiety, and (most importantly I think, for an apartment dog) they can be hard to housebreak. If you don’t have somewhere immediately outside the apartment where the dog can relieve itself, that could potentially be a problem. If you decide to get a rescue IG, you will be taking the risk that the reason that dog was given away was due to housebreaking issues, so if you go that route just keep that in mind.

Other folks have brought up the noise issue, too - no one wants to listen to a dog barking all day so it is important to train your pup to be quiet from the outset. And please, whatever you do, pick up after your dog. It can be very hard here in this country to find rentals that take pets, plus some public parks have banned dogs, and this is one of the reasons why. People are just too damn lazy to be arsed to pick up after their pets. It pisses me off, because it makes me look bad as a pet owner even though I’m responsible about that, and I can imagine how much it pisses people off that aren’t pet lovers.

I think that as long as you are around during the day and are willing to take the dog out whenever it needs to go, you’ll be fine in an apartment. The biggest issue is how committed you are to this - as scr4 said, you have to make sure you’re around to let the dog out on a regular schedule, and you have to be prepared to give it the attention and exercise that it needs. In an apartment that also means when it gets sick in the middle of the night and it’s freezing/frying/rainy/snowing/ whatever outside, you’ll be having to throw a coat on and go out with it. I don’t know if you have pet insurance in Australia or not (I know it’s popular in the UK), but if you don’t, you’ll also be committing yourself to a lifetime of vet bills too, and here in the U.S. that’s not a small commitment at all.