by Anne Taylor

Created on: April 11, 2009

Living with a dog is a lot like living with a child. So apartment dwellers should take several things into consideration before subjecting a dog to this lifestyle. Yes, dogs can live in apartments without yards, but their owners will have to be very very disciplined.

The average square footage of a one bedroom apartment is less than 1,000 sq ft. Even without a stick of furniture in the abode, that is still less footage than you would find in an average backyard. So it is safe to assume you will be exercising your dog outside the apartment.

Do I even have to mention that a Great Dane in an apartment is about as happy as a worm on a chicken farm? True, there are exceptions to the rule. But for the most part, large dog do not need to be confined to apartments, especially if there is no yard available.

If apartment dwellers must have a pet, I suggest aquarium fish, small birds, or small dogs. Chihuahua, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and my favorite: Shih Tzu are just a few of the smaller dogs that would do well in an apartment, with or without a yard.

Regardless of where the dog lives, he will need the attention of his owner. Puppies are like toddlers, so the home will need to be "child-proof" just as if you had a three year old child wandering around. Exposed electrical cords look like fun chew toys if left unattended. And while millions of pet owners leave their puppies home alone daily with no ill effects, there are consequences for this daily isolation. Left to their own devices, puppies like children will explore and examine their surroundings. Abandonment issues show up in puppies as torn pillows, chewed shoes, and soiled rugs. As the dog grows older there are additional hardships to overcome while living in an apartment.

Walking an apartment dog solves at least three problems all at once. First, walking your dog allows him to relieve himself, something he has hopefully waited on, until you decided to walk him. Second, with leash in hand, you are giving your pet the attention they dearly love, and deserve. And third, as long as the walk is long enough, you have provided a means for your dog to get much needed daily exercise. At the very minimum, this should be done twice a day. Three to four times a day for an apartment dog is more fair to the dog. At least one of the walks should include a stop at a dog park, where the pet can run free, at least for a few minutes.

Dogs give us an "object of our affection" that can even surpass the love others have for their children. I know dog lovers and cat lovers that treat their pets better than some of the parents of children I also know. But I also know some pet owners that should never be allowed to procreate.

So while I think people that live in apartments without yards can have happy dogs, I feel they need to take certain things into consideration before selecting the dog for this lifestyle.

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