Keeping Big Dogs in a Small Apartment: Survival Tips

Pet owners live with their large dogs in apartments for many reasons. I am in this situation because of economic factors. My husband and I could not afford to fix up the house he inherited and taxes were extremely expensive. It was becoming an unsafe and stressful environment for us and our dog. It was difficult to find an apartment complex that would accept large dogs. Some complexes and real estate companies also discriminate against certain dog breeds (likely due to their insurance companies and local breed specific legislation, also known as BSL).

We settled on a one bedroom apartment in a dog-friendly community. We had to cope with the changes of moving from a house to an apartment with our large dog. Here are some tips we've picked up in the last six months.

Frequent Exercise

Though he his sweet and docile, our Boxer Odin loves to play! Without exercise, he gets rammy in the apartment. Our dog trainers suggested walking Odin more frequently.

This is certainly a large time commitment. Odin requires at least one hour of exercise each day. He needs a walk that challenges him mentally; without that component, he's ready to tear up the apartment after a short rest following the walk.

Socialization

Sometimes time constraints caused by work and other commitments make it difficult for us to walk Odin as often as he needs. Fortunately, Odin loves to play with other dogs and some of our friends are also dog owners.

When we are away, our friend sometimes comes by to walk Odin. Another friend has a large dog and a fenced-in yard. When we need to take a break, we are able to visit with him and let Odin wear himself out in the yard.

Taking Care of Business

Odin was really confused when we moved. He used to have hours outside during which he could do his business at any time. Once we moved into the apartment, Odin was confined to using designated areas for his bathroom business.

For the first week, Odin had some accidents. Now he is much better about vocalizing when he needs a walk. He's also learned to go quickly, especially during foul weather.

As Odin's primary walker, I praised him every time he went outside--and it's something I still do even though he is now fully trained.

Odin was used to the phrase "let's go potty" when we let him outside or walked him on the leash at the house. We maintained consistency by using this phrase each time we leashed him to walk. When I say "let's go potty," Odin knows that it's time to take care of business--and he knows to do it outside.

A Place of His Own

In our one bedroom apartment, we each have our own place. While my husband and I share places like the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, we each have our own work spaces.

I soon realized that it might help Odin if he had his own space, too. Just as kids need a toy box and a spot to play, Odin requires his own living space.

At times, we confine our dog to the kitchen, especially after walks when he just wants to cool off. This reminds him to drink water and rest on the cool floor. It also occurs after he has spent time with us on a walk. Odin also has his own large crate in the bedroom. Occasionally, he will go into his bed hours before my husband and I are ready to go to sleep--and that's okay.

Even the most affectionate animal still needs his own space.

Along with the other difficulties of having big dogs in a small apartment, pet owners in this situation have to face negative commentary from others. Unfortunately, critics don't know how often owners exercise their dogs or how well the animals are treated, and large dog owners must be prepared for such criticism.