Apartment living with a dog - a question

thegastons · February 2011

How sucky is it?

With my dog, I've always lived in a house where I have had a backyard so I've always just let him outside to do his business. And (please no flames) I rarely walk him since we've had a large backyard to play in and I'm just plain lazy sometimes. I just leased out my house and am (very) temporarily living with my parents. To be able to afford a place to live, I'm likely going to have to move into an apartment to stay within my budget. Since I've never experienced this with a dog, I'm curious about your experiences.

**ZippityDoDa** · February 2011

It does kind of suck, but it's totally do-able. We did it for two years with both our dog and multiple fosters (who we were usually working on potty training with).

Having an apartment where you have straight access to the outside is a lot easier than an indoor-access building. In our first apartment with the dog, you had to walk down the hall, wait for an elevator, ride down 7 floors, out another hall and then finally get outside. That was a big pain! Each potty trip turned into a 20 minute ordeal.

risa_4-11-09 · February 2011

my pup is alot smaller than yours, and Im sure a smaller bladder

Lola would be walked first thing in the AM, lunchtime if possible or early afternoon , around 5 or 6 a longer walk and then a quick trip just before bed. Thankfully the condo I was renting at the time had lots of trails and park-like areas around.

I know alot of apt's have dog park like area's now. Which is nice for them to roam free for a few minutes.

sandieleeann · February 2011

We lived in an apartment for two years with our dog, luckily while potty training we lived on the first floor. Our second apartment we were on the 3rd floor, which kinda sucked, but I just looked at as a workout. Smile

AustinMimi · February 2011

We brought our two with us when we lived in DC for a year. Our apartment was in an enclosed building and on the fourth floor. It pretty much sucked (sorry, I can't lie). However, it would have been much easier if we'd not had to take so much time to go up and down the stairs and wander through the building to the one exit. Some of our neighbors had very territorial dogs who would attack the inside of the door the minute they heard a person or another dog walk past and it would cause our dogs to bark in the hallways, etc. We were good about walking our dogs before, but they also have a yard here. When we were in DC, they would get SO stir-crazy in our apartment and we absolutely had to take them on a long walk every day.

funkymonkeyohyeahhh · February 2011

We currently live in a townhouse with our bull dog, so it's kind of the same thing as we have no yard. We take her out 3-4 times a day, with the first and last outing of the day being longer. It's really not that bad. There are days when the weather is bad where I really wish we could just let her out in a backyard quickly to do her business without having to go out with her... but it isn't the end of the world. It's nice that there is a patch of grass a few steps from our door so we can go there quickly to let her go "number one". I agree with PP who pointed out the inconvenience of living in an enclosed or multi-level apartment building... that wouldn't be as easy.

We won't be here for too long so we didn't want to buy a house and we couldn't find a rental worth the price, so this is the best it's going to get for the time being and we're making the most of it.

shanwalk2 · February 2011

We live in an apartment with a dog, and have for four years now. It kinda sucks. Especially being on the third floor. And that none of my neighbors clean up poo - so there are land mines everywhere. You gotta pick up the poo.

It's totally doable, though, if you know what you're getting into. I take Coop out for a quick walk in the morning and then another longer one at night. He also requires us to do something "big" with him on the weekend or he's a terror (ie: dog park, off leash, running like a lunatic).

I would certainly expect some behavior issues as you adjust -- but it's totally do able. Good luck!

thegastons · February 2011

Thanks ladies for the feedback. I did kinda figure it sucked, but I'm glad to hear that it really is doable. Its a good thing I love my dog as much as I do Wink

I guess I'll just be getting that much more exercise! lol

AustinBride06 · February 2011

Yeah... apartment living with a dog is the reason we rushed into buying a house! It was winter and we'd had our dog for 3 months at the time and we were SO sick of taking him out 4-5 times a day in the cold and wet weather. Though now we kind of wish we had opted for a yard that was a bit more low-maintenance and smaller!

Jess.O · February 2011

We've had Mickey for about 8 years and all of those were in apartments until we moved this summer. Of course he's alot smaller than yours so activity could be an issue but if he (she?) isn't used to walks then there's probably not much different.

I would just say try not to get a third floor apartment. That's when it really sucks! First floor is definately the easiest AND there are some apartments that have little attached yards so you could look into those. Have you looked at apartments yet? The one we used to live in was great and my BIL lives in an apt with a yard so I could probably get info for you if you want.

MnMShaw · February 2011

I'm a little late but just wanted to agree with everyone else. Compared to having a house, it sucks, but is still manageable. I have 2 cocker spaniels that have lived in an apartment for 4 years and we did fine. I lived on the 3rd floor for 4 months and that was not good. But every time we lived on the first floor, it was no big deal. Just come up with a schedule for walking that works for you and your dog and it really is fine.

Apartment living with a dog - a question

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