dogs and apartments

[Tinker]

I live in a house with a backyard and a front yar, however we NEVER let Cash out alone without us. I agree it's irresponsible and he would be unhappy being outside without us. Luckily due to my and my BF's schedule he si with someone all day long with a two hour exception. During those two hours he is in his crate.

Kimberly, it's ok to crate while you are home as long as it is only for a little while. It's ok for a lot of reasons, first because like Kel said it's safer and also it teaches them to spend time apart. Cassius has a huge seperation anxiety problem and our trainer suggested that we crate him for an hour while we were at home to get him used to us being apart and to get him to understand that we will come back.

So i don't think it's bad as long as you don't use it to punish him.

 

[basak]

I don't crate Krose. My house is so little, I don't have the space for it. The most hours I leave him is 4 hours but I try not to do it whenever I have a chance. He goes to MIL's house most of the time. Someone comes to my house, for cleaning purposes but it was for Krose from the beginning. And she sometimes brings her grandchild, they play with Krose etc. She has been in the family for 15 years now.

My point is, I live ina very very small apartment, without a crate and Krose is just loving his life As long as he is loved, gets enough exercise everyday, no problem

basak

 

[Comet_Hailey]

We were in an appartment when we got Hailey and it was the best thing for us. It helps when training as it is not going to be your carpet forever :D We also left Hailey out to roam in the main room while we were at work and we found that she went into her crate and slept most of the day their anyways. We found it wonderful also coming into the building after a walk, Hailey's paws would be nice and clean by the time we got to our appartment and it saved the paw prints that we now get in the house. I think that if you train the dog correctly to enjoy their crate they will have no problem staying in it throughout the day.

 

[jray]

I will repeat what many have said you should never leave your pet outside when you are not home. I have heard many stories of animals coming into the yard and killing the pet or them getting into something. I do crate Oskar sometimes when I am home for cleaning etc. It is his "bedroom" he often goes in there to sleep even when we are home. I don't see it as a bad thing. It is very safe.
Jenny & Oskar

 

[marciafinn]

As long as the dogs are exercised whether you live in a house or an apartment shouldn't matter. The only issue I can see with an apartment is if you have to move and have to send the dog to a shelter since the new apartment won't allow dogs. That statement is ignorant but may have come from someone who lives in a complex where dogs have been a problem...excessive barking, etc. It sounds like the writer has generalized all apartment dog owners with crating their dogs all day and not giving them enough exercise. Many homes do not have large enough yards to exercise your dogs in either. I have plenty of friends that have to bring their dog to a dog park or beach for exercise.

I agree with everyone here that a dog shouldn't be left outside unsupervised. I have a friend who leaves her dog outside all the time in a fenced in yard and the dog has learned just to dig under the fence and he is free. She has almost lost him several times- it makes me so mad. After he dug out twice they bought something to go deeper than the fence. But the dog figured out all he had to do was dig deeper. It is amazing what a bored dog can do!

 

[xenaprincess]

The first 4 yrs of Xena's life was spent living in an apartment, and we had no problems at all! I was always annoyed when people would say "how can you keep a dog in an apartment...how cruel to the dog"!:mad: First of all, any dog can survive in an apartment, as long as the owners are willing to make the extra effort to excercise the animal. The insinuation that apartment dogs are neglected or robbed of a happy life is just pure garbage! I believe that this myth is slowly dying out because I have noticed that Animal Shelters are not as fussy about letting people adopt who live in apartments, like they used to be. So much of todays population are apartment dwellers. I think it's ludicrous to deny an animal a chance at a happy life based on a factor such as living in an apartment!! I am sure there are plenty of people who do live in apartments that wish they can have a dog to love, and I am positive that there are thousands of dogs wanting to be loved and they don't care if it's in an apartment or a house! Xena was crated as well, and she still is when I find it necessary. It's not a form of punishment...it's insurance for her safety!

Sharon

 

[Conradsmom]

we live in an appartment with Conrad, I really do not think it would make a difference if we lived in a house because I would not leave him outside unattended while I was not home.

 

[Tugga's Mom]

I also live in an apartment. My dog is one of the happiest dogs you'll ever meet. He gets plenty of exercise (parks, playdates, family member's houses) and lots of love. I gate him into the kitchen that way he gets a little room to run around if he wants but I'm sure that he sleeps most of the day anyway so crating would be ok too. I would refer this website and forum on your work forum to let everyone see from people who are experiencing it just how unimportant the size of your living corters are as long as they are clean and safe.

Jane, Tim, and Tugga

 

[scribe1128]

I've done it!

Up until a year and a half ago, I lived with Titus and Lady in an upstairs apartment with just a balcony. They had free run of the house and could go to the balcony to do their business. I just had to clean it up and run the hose when I would get home. First, it was just Titus for two years until we got Lady. Then a year ago May, we bought our downstairs condo with a little yard, just big enough for two boxers. We have a boxer-sized doggy door, so they can go outside to do their thing or get water, then back inside to their comfy beds. Lady is my little sun goddess and will go out in the yard for a short time in the morning when the sun hits the pavement to soak up a few rays. When we lived in the apartment, which was right across the street from the community center and its huge grass area, we would take walks there. We still have the ritual of morning and evening walks with weekend visits to the park. Since it gets dark early now, we can't go to the park after work any more. So long story short, you can live in an apartment with a dog, just be willing to go the extra step to keep the dog healthy and happy.:p
Cheryl, Titus and Lady

 

[Adelle]

Our first boxer "Hooligan" was an apartment dog his entire life and he was never crated as he didn't need to be and he was very happy and got lots of walks.

We now have a house and a fenced in yard but that doesn't change a thing my current boxers are still crated when I am at work, and they get a 30 minute break at lunch time.

So I would say it was very unfair for that person to reply as they did, it all depends on the owner and how much they are prepared to exercise their dog. There are plenty of dogs with nice big homes and fenced yards that don't get enough exercise because their owners think they don't need to be walked as they have a yard but if they have no one to play with in the yard they don't get much exercise :(

I never leave my 2 outside unsupervised, Finnegan was given up by his first home because they would leave him outside all day and he would then dig under the fence and take off. Also neither of them want to be outside if I am not with them.

The only difficult part is moving to another apartment down the road but if the person is really comitted to the dog they will find a way to find another apartment that will allow dogs - I know we always managed to find one even if we had to compromise on location or something, finding a dog friendly apartment was always more important to us

Kimber & Mac,
I ocassionaly crate Nessa for short periods when I am home, because she chews everything and anything, so if I am busy or taking a shower and cannot watch her I will crate her. And she is fine, I alwasy give her a treat or something to entertain herself and its only for short periods - its safer than her chewing an electric cord when my back is turned