Dogs in the City

Can dogs be happy living in a city apartment? The answer is yes as long as they receive a sufficient amount of exercise and companionship. Low-to-medium energy breeds such as Pugs, Spaniels, Dachshunds, Whippets or Bulldogs should do fine with a daily one hour walk. The active dogs will require more intensive exercise such as hunting trials, agility, tracking and so on several times a week to burn their surplus energy. If these needs are not met, the dogs are very likely to become unhappy and develop various behaviour problems.

Living in a city, dogs will meet a lot of other dogs, people, and children, so it's extremely important to train and socialize your companion properly. In fact, this is extremely important for any dog regardless of its residence. It should stay calm and obedient in the urban forest at any time, and be used to the wild rhythm of the city life. This includes patient and stable behaviour in a crowd, noisy places, and other stressful situations. Even when the distractors are strong, your dog should still come when called, sit, stay and be quiet when asked. This will also help your companion stay safe because the concrete jungles are full of various dangers which can be fatal. This is also a reason to never let your companion roam free about the apartment. Additionally, do not leave the dog unsupervised when unleashed.

In the apartment, the dog should be trained to respect belongings of family members and remain quiet. To alleviate the dog's boredom, provide it with lots of play and chew toys that should also help keep its gums and teeth healthy. Make sure the apartment doesn't have any potential hazards to the dog's health such as easily accessible wires, chemicals, and sharp or small items the dog can accidentally swallow.

Make regular veterinarian visits. Your dog should be up-to-date with all vaccinations.

If you want to rent an apartment, make sure canine ownership is allowed. Ask the landlord specific questions about breed restrictions, weight limits and "pet rent" fees. Sign a dog policy agreement. Be ready that the landlord may ask for certain things such as:

References from veterinarians, neighbours, and former landlords in order to confirm that the owner is responsible and the dog doesn't have behaviour problems,
Vaccination records, proof of sterilization and licensing, and certificate that your dog has completed obedience classes.

Remember to always clean after your dog to keep the environment clean.

Last but not least, make sure your dog has proper identification. It can be a collar with a name tag that contains your name, phone number and address. Alternatively, it can be a microchip implanted under the dog's skin. These measures improve chances that your dog will be returned home if it runs away or gets lost.

Dogs in the City

Curly Haired Dog Breeds