Whether you're a renter or city dweller, living with a yard can come at a premium. The absence of a yard can also seemingly make life for your pet unpleasant, but after six years I can attest that not only can living without a yard be fine, but even fun!
For the past six years my husband and I have lived in Chicago — a city notorious for its lack of yard space. But for each of those years, we've lived with a cat, and most recently added a dog to our family. We keep our cat indoors, so save for a few attempted escapes, it hasn't been an issue for him. Here are some tips we'd reccommend for other pet owners without a yard:
Consider The Level You'll Live On: We currently live on the first floor of our building, and have direct access to the outdoors. This makes potty trips quick, easy and hassle-free. If we lived on an upper floor, I'm sure going outside would be more time consuming and a nuisance. I can't personally vouch for these, but many high-rise dwellers swear by training pads and patches of grass such as PetAPotty to get the job done.
Choose Your Breed With Care: Whether your pet is purebred or mutt, it's important to choose a dog who is well-suited for apartment living and confined spaces. Some dogs need to have a large space to expend their energy and get sufficient exercise. We specifically chose our dog because he is small, well-suited for apartments, and doesn't need a huge amount of exercise. If you insist on getting an rambunctious and energetic pet, just be prepared to give them tons of playtime and exercise, which brings me to my next point...
Give Them Plenty of Exercise: This is where the fun part comes in. Too many people probably rely to heavily on their yard for their pet's exercise. But, having a pet is a great excuse to get outside, explore your surroundings, and meet your neighbors and other dog owners. A good rule of thumb would be at least 2-3 walks a day, and the length of time really depends on your pet's energy level and needs. Also be sure to have a good variety of toys and treats to keep your pets stimulated while at home. If your dog is being crazy, it probably means they're not getting enough walks and playtime (and your neighbors probably aren't too happy either).
Frequent The Dog Park: We walk outside so much more, and LOVE our neighborhood dog parks. We're lucky to have three parks within a half-mile. Dog parks are a great way to let your dog go loose (responsibly) and socialize them with other dogs. We try to go as often as possible (several times a week), and it's not only fun for my husband and I, but our dog also has a blast. Just be very attentive to your dog and others' to prevent any problems and stay safe. Many park systems also require that a dog be registered and have a special dog park tag, so check with their rules and regulations.
Invest in a Dog Walker or Doggie Daycare: If you work full time away from home, hire a dog walker, take them to doggie daycare, or drop them off at a pet sitter. No pet wants to, or should, be left alone for extended periods of time — whether indoors or out — for their mental and physical wellbeing. For us, hiring a dog walker was crucial, particularly when we were house training our dog. We were able to have the walker come for several short walks a day, and now we've reduced it to a longer single walk. Doggie daycare and and pet sitters are great options if you don't want your dog unattended, and if you want to keep them active throughout the day.
Bring the Outside In: If your pet is particularly fond of plants, give them their very own to play with. Cats are notorious for eating plants, but some can be toxic. Check out this list of non-toxic plants, and definitely become familiar with this list of common house plants that are toxic to pets.
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I'm really liking this series of renters solution posts.
houseofthebonestorm.blogspot.com
Consider the level you'll live on:
AMEN! When we first adopted our dog, we had to take him down 20+ stairs to use the back "yard" (a gravelly parking lot. We lived in the heart of the city). Additionally, the stairs were metal with no risers. Made the dog scared of climbing them, so we had to carry him upstairs! A nuisance, but luckily he is only 16lbs.
Thankfully, we have a small yard at our current rental.
Have to disagree about the small dog remark... I live in Seattle - a city almost obsessively dog friendly - and large dogs are everywhere. In fact, some large - giant dogs have the perfect energy level for apartments where a few walks is enough for them. I've yet to go to the park and not see a Great Dane, Mastiff, Rottweiler, etc.
http://solorya.hubpages.com/hub/Best-Dog-Breeds-for-Apartments
We own a yardless condo, and I'd be willing to bet money that our dog is one of the happiest and most-exercised pets on the planet. I take her for a morning walk before I head out for work. Depending on my husband's schedule (he often works from home when not on business trips), he and the pup get out for several long walks - during calls or breaks - over the course of the day and also make a daily trip to the dog park. If he's traveling, we send our pup to a great doggie daycare/playgroup at the home of a licensed and bonded petcare provider. The dogs play together all day in a big yard, which is great for socialization and burning off energy. Another walk when I get home from work and a final one before bed keeps all of us - hubby, pup and me - happy and healthy. And watching our otherwise overly energetic contented pup snooze while us humans watch tv, eat dinner, and spend time together in the evenings is paradise!
On the Consider your Breed section I would add that large doesn't necessarily mean more active. We adopted a greyhound and they're very low energy most of the time. A lot of people consider them "cat dogs" and their nickname is the 45 mph couch potato.
I think one key thing to keep in mind is the dog's age. Ours was 2 when we adopted him so he has more energy than your typical greyhound (they're usually adopted around 4 years or so) but that's great for us cause we're big explorers and hikers. So I would not only consider breed but also age. If you're thinking about getting a dog but worried about the house training side of things and/or energy level an older dog might be great for you.
Plus everyone seems to want puppies so a lot of wonderful older dogs (meaning any dog no longer in the "puppy stage") are i shelters and rescue organizations in need of homes. Many of them already come house trained if they've been fostered ahead of time.
Just a friendly plug for adoption and rescue dogs!
^like
I have to agree with BECKER.SEA. Matching your lifestyle to your intended dog's needs is the way to go - size is not always a great indicator of exercise needs. Many of the giants are very sedate while many smaller breeds need large amounts of exercise. Additionally, an avid apartment living runner would do well with a dog capable of a daily 5 mile run, despite smaller accommodations.
A good resource is the book The Right Dog For You by Daniel Tortora.
I'm on the 12th floor of a condo (with elevator) and agree if you can get it that direct access to the outdoors is ideal. However, my mini poodle and I manage just fine going up and down in the elevator, especially now that he's older and doesn't need to go out as often. Puppy training was tough and resulted in lots of accidents.
The key for us is lots of walks and runs in the dog parks, some time at my parents' house where he can charge around their backyard and taking dog classes when we can (currently we're doing agility). He's a happy boy and is very downtown savvy!
I also agree with the commenters who mentioned that size isn't always an indicator of activity level. I own a greyhound now and he's just a big couch potato. I've also rescued large breeds in the past and many have been low energy and mellow. I've also observed the opposite with many small dogs.
The "large dogs need tons of space and exercise" idea is a dangerous myth and it likely part of the reason many shelters are filled with large breeds. Please give gentle giants a chance. I am a little disappointed to see such an ignorant view supported on AT.
A smaller dog doesn't necessarily mean it's a better fit. My whippet mix is the laziest dog ever and around 45 lbs. My friend's little boston terrier mix is a never ending whirlwind of energy.
Another thing that always bothers me about landlords vs. dogs is the size requirement. Many landlords will say they only allow dogs up to 25lbs. I find this funny because the majority of dogs that I've seen that have been a problem are the little ones. They can tend to be very yappy and nippy where the big ones are usually gentle giants. Not always the case I know.
Small doesn't mean good for an apartment nor does big mean bad. I live in a building made exclusively studios and my neighbors have big dogs. My next door neighbor even has a Great Dane! A lot of large dogs are content to sleep all day.
On the flip side, I take in the family corgi when my parents are travelling. While he doesn't take up much space, his herder instincts kick in and he likes to chase the cats. He's also an alert and talkative dog and barks at street noises he's not familar with.
Size has nothing to do with how well suited a dog is for apartment life. 120 lb. Great Danes make great apartment dogs while I would hesitate to adopt a 25 lb. cattle dog.
Doggy daycare is a must for my active large dog (65 lbs.). He's a mutt but mixed with some kind of shepherd breed that makes him pretty high energy. The daycare folks pick him up and drop him off. Completely hassle free.
Also, please consider adopting or if you're deadset on a certain breed, check petfinder for rescues.
Agreed, tired dogs are good dogs, and senior dogs can be the greatest--slower, calmer, quieter, reduced prey drive, even pre-trained! My sister always gets shelter cross-breed dogs. She's considering rescued papillon or havanese crosses for when she downsizes to a smaller home and smaller dogs in the distant future. I lean toward smooth-coated, small terriers, and am wondering which are relatively gentle and quiet. It is harder to find a small dog that doesn't yap, snap, or require grooming excessively. OTOH, big dogs cost more for food and vet care, plus I literally could be knocked over just by her lovely old Dane cross welcoming me. I prefer a dog I can carry when necessary. I'm reading that, due to the economy, a quarter of the dogs in shelters may be pure bred.
Large dogs can be great apartment dogs. This post obviously wasn't well researched because there are a ton of medium-large breed dogs that are perfect for apartments.
I have to comment on what a wonderful apartment dog my 5 year old cattle dog would make. I do happen to live in the country, with 1.25 acres fenced in and a few more for her to roam in if she wishes, but she really likes being in the house and chooses to stay there most of the day. I have to coax, cajole and goad her into coming outside to play! That said, if we go out to a nature trail, she'll gladly hike 8 or 10 miles and then some, but otherwise she is happy with a couple of half hour to hour long walks per day. Judging by her and my newest rescue, who is also a cattle dog mix (and preggers, at that) cattle dogs don't even need as many potty breaks as other pups might. I never, ever would have thought of getting an ACD before adopting the Sydster - she's the most awesome dog ever, even for a basically lazy long-distance commuter like me. She's lucky to have a dog nanny who walks her at noon while I'm at work, but she'd probably be okay even if I could only walk her mornings and evenings. Older dogs make great pets!! Especially rescues :)
We live in a 6th floor walk-up. Our 4 beagles are the happiest 4 dogs compared to either solo dogs or ones which have a backyard. They frequent two nearby dogparks and we take them out at least 3 times a day, much more than most suburban dogs. Also, NYC is surprisingly dog friendly - most stores will allow dogs inside. They are really well socialized and do not freak out about traffic or sirens etc. No, they do not howl all the time and yes, 6 flights is great exercise for them. We are lucky in that one of us is home for most of the day, and also we have a great HUGE doggy daycare down the block.
I think the trick to finding a dog that can be happy without a yard is to be honest about what I am, and am not, willing and able to provide to meet a particular dog's needs. I can't walk a dog (my husband can), so for the distant future I'm considering tiny dogs that I read can be toileted indoors, and exercised indoors using games and toys. I guess they would be more like house cats than are most dogs. That could reduce the need to hire a dog walker. I notice in the breed-specific rescues it's mentioned sometimes that a dog needs a new home because her elderly owner no longer can care for her. That must be heart-breaking.
I have to agree with everyone on the breed size. I have two greyhounds, and I honestly could probably live with them in a studio apartment if I had to. They get two 10 minute walks a day... that's it for exercise. Honestly, I feel like greyhounds (and lots of other large breeds) are better in apartments than a lot of small breeds are. My dogs are low energy, don't bark, and are extremely well behaved. I feel like 99% of the small dogs I meet are exactly the oposite of that!
I live on the 4th floor of our condo and have a german shepherd and shepherd/husky. Our husky is definitely high energy and we run a lot with him because of it. I don't think it would make a difference whether we had a back yard or not. He needs his runs and then he happily sleeps the rest of the day by our feet.
I live in Chicago as well. My 1 1/2 yr old frenchie is a great apartment dog. Many stores in the city allow people to bring their dogs in so we accomplish many walks, socializing and errands together. There are also patios opening now and most are dog friendly. I am also lucky to live doors away from a small neighborhood bar that is extremely dog friendly. He loves to stop in and play with his human and canine friends alike!!!
Hey guys -- just wanted to clarify the section about choosing your breed with care. I did not mean to imply that ALL large dogs are bad for small spaces. I do agree with others that there are large breeds who are good for small spaces, and small breeds who are incredibly energetic. Our dog is small, low-key, yip-free and a great city dog, which what attracted us him (and he's super adorable). And the point was just that - not just size, but what will suit your home and lifestyle best. Many shelters have helpfully categorized their dogs with personality types and energy levels, and these should be taken into consideration when selection your new family member. Cheers!
Husband & I live in an apartment with our medium sized mix-breed, and I just want to say thanks to AT for the article. Unfortunately, I have previously run into people online who must've had some unpleasant experiences & seem to believe that if you live in an apartment, you should not make a dog "suffer" through living without a yard.
However, like most of the above commenters, we take our dog for long, long walks, play with her tons, and get her out a lot, and she's happy as a clam...and so am I! I really couldn't do without her love & companionship. Thank you for supporting the apartment-dwelling pet-lovers. :)
Another advantage of crosses, mixes, mutts, or however you call them is that they may be better-tempered and less likely to develop the hereditary illnesses common in certain dog breeds.
Just wanted to add another RELATED PET POST ON APARTMENT THERAPY to make sure your pets are comfy in their apartments.
www.apartmenttherapy.com/pads-for-the-pampered-pooch-th-163722
I agree, I really like these Renters Solutions category/posts. I'll be getting a puppy soon and since I'm an apartment renter (and always will be) this particular post has been very helpful! Thank you all for your comments and suggestions!
I've got a medium/large breed dog that has been a happy apartment dweller since day one. He's got a bit of energy that he lets out with a frolic around the living room between naps. We go for walks and to the dog park for socialization and exercise. As long as he's got a window to look out of and toys he's a happy boy.
Whippets are wonderful, much like greyhounds, just smaller. Do other readers have experiences or opinions either way with regard to Manchester terriers? They seem to have the attractive qualities of my whippets, who are happy in this house and yard. Manchester terriers might be a better fit for the distant future in an apartment without a yard after my whippets die, hopefully of old age, since Standard Manchester terriers are smaller and slower than whippets.
Wonderful to see that you are debunking the 'dogs need to live in a place with a yard' myth. I foster rescue border collies in a teeny tiny city apartment and they are happy - as long as I give them the time they need and exercise their bodies and minds. We use public parks, nearby trails and agility facilities to do this. It wouldnt work for dog aggressive dogs, but for most, it's fine... :)
As a dog owner moving from an apartment without a yard to a townhome without a yard, this topic is dear to my heart. I inherited a 26lb. terrier mutt who has both a ton of energy and a big dog bark. She was built to run around, bark at things, and dig. I take her out for at least two walks a day, usually three. One of those walks usually ends up with both of us running. I'm not a regular at the dog parks, since there are none convenient to me, but we go sometimes. We also visit friends and family with backyards; our favorite spot is my brother's backyard because it's in complete disarray and Missy can dig to her heart's content.
The most valuable thing I've done was to teach Missy how to be quiet on command. At first, I'd just let her bark. When she was quiet, I'd say "Quiet." Then I'd shower her with praise and love. Once she was used to that, I'd tell her to speak. After a little bit of speaking, I'd say "Quiet," praise her, and give her a treat. Now she's at the point where I can stop her from barking at the door by saying "Quiet." It's a hard command to teach; she wants to bark at everything and is hard to distract when she's busy protecting the house, but it's worth it.
What a great post! It makes me so happy to see things like this! We live in a 2-bedroom in Chicago with our 2 seventy-pound dogs (and the occasional foster dog). So many people think they can't have a dog without a backyard, or that they can't have big dogs in the city. Like you mentioned above, the key is making sure that you do go on enough walks and your dog gets enough exercise regardless of size or breed. I initially thought it would be so hard to walk a dog so much, but it really has gotten us out there exploring the city and meeting new people. And we have happy socialized dogs. We actually get so many questions from people, we started our own blog "Two Pitties in the City" about living in the city with big dogs and all the things we can do. People are also surprised that you don't have to give up style just because you have large dogs. Even with our big guys, we still have white furniture and a place that integrates our pooches well: http://pittiesincity.blogspot.com/2011/05/doggystyle-sharing-house-with-dogs.html
Thanks for sharing; we love seeing dog-friendly posts on Apartment Therapy!
BIKE with your dog! and take them to school yards!
I adopted a border collie mix when I lived in an apartment, and I found that walks weren't cutting it for her exercise. Turned out, I wasn't fast enough for her. I started biking with her (at her pace) and taking her to the fenced in school yard across the street (she LOOOVES children's playsets) and everything was fun and dandy! You just have to be careful with the bike that you keep the leash short enough that they can't run in front, but arent' being pulled against the pedals and wheels.
Word of advice if you're considering a Pet-a-Potty: These can be really great solutions for apartment dwellers but only for the right doggie. We didn't know this before we bought a Pet-a-Potty, but Beagles are notoriously difficult to potty train. Trying to use one set us back by months in the potty training department with our little Beag. We think she was just really confused. Once we got rid of it it's like a switch went off in her little furry head. But for easily potty-trainable doggies I've heard they work really well!
My 14 pound jack russel mix agrees size is not indicative of energy level! The shelter we got him from was pretty adamant that a yard should really only be used for potty breaks. It is no substitute for going out for walks and socializing. We live in a one bedroom yardless condo and we do just fine. Our little guy is pooped (figuratively and literally) and happy at the end of the day. I think the key is a committed owner, not a yard - or even the dog within reason.
Great article! I founded BringFido.com to help other apartment dwellers (and dog owners in general) find information on dog parks, outdoor restaurants, off-leash beaches, pet-friendly hotels, and other fun places to bring Fido. After seven years in business, we now have more than 60,000 pet friendly locations posted all around the world!
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@Q85 - I bike with my 60lb high-energy Boxer and he absolutely loves it! He can get a run that leaves him content (maybe not completely exhausted) and it only takes me 10 minutes of light biking. I am lucky enough to have a fairly sizable yard right now but dogs don't want to just play by themselves out there!
We have an 8 year old Scottish Terrier. The characteristics of Scottish Terriers are constant barking, difficulty to train, high maintenance grooming and they lick their front paws whenever they are bored. They average a weight of 18-22 pounts, are known to have sensitive skin. One of the Scotties I owned became very protective of my children and she bit anyone who would come onto our property when she got older. I had to put her to sleep when she was 7 because she developed cancer. The current Scotty developed a skin condition while she was still under a year. She must be washed in an certain medical shampoo every 10 days. I know because everytime I tried to stretch the time between shampoos she has a flare up. We buy a food for her sensitive skin or I make her food. Her hair grows very fast and she needs a small touch up grooming ever month and I take her to a groomer for a full grooming every 3 months. So she costs us about $100.00 a month. I am writing all of this so that if you think Scotties are cute and are thinking about getting one you will know from me what their bad characteristics are. I have had 4 Scotties over starting when I was 12 and I am now 62. We live in apartments with this Scotty. I have worked in training with her for the first 2 years of her life, she is extremely well trained. For the past 3 years I have been able to take her on twice a day daily walks without a leash but of course, if we are deviating from our known usual path then she gets her leash again. After she poos she waits near it until I've bagged it and then tell her 'Ok! Good Girl' She doesn't bark except when we are in the country because she has been trained to be silent. She has a marvelous personality and a sweet disposion. But I am early retired and I kept her at my side until she was fully trained because I knew what to expect if I didn't.
I wish all of you awesome dog owners would move to New Mexico. People here treat dogs like car alarms (that they ignore).
Love seeing an article that supports pets in apartments. I live outside of Philly, and we had to travel to adopt our dog, because none of the shelters around here will let someone without a yard adopt. Insane. We have a mutt, pretty sure there's border collie in her, and she's very high-energy. We're young and without kids, so my husband and I are happy to spend lots of time giving her exercise, and we hired the high-school kids of a family friend to walk her during the school year (I'm a teacher). We also live in a suburban area, and we have friends with yards who let us "run her out" on afternoons when we're short on time. It's been great for us, and she's the perfect size (35 lbs) for our small apartment.
@MissRuth773, I too am a Chicago dog owner (a Boston Terrier and a Boston mix) -- would love to hear the places you've found that are dog friendly -- we are always looking for more! One place I love to bring my little dog is the sidewalk garden/patio at Uncommon Ground. Wonderful food, and great setting with Earthbox edible gardens all around. We've been spending a ton of time at MonDog beach as well -- in Chicago, we have an enormous stretch of beach that has been designated as the dog beach. We go early to avoid crowds and the heat of the day, and my dogs could not be happier after a morning of chasing balls and dog friends in the water. :)