Is it wrong to own a big dog in an apartment?

where are you living in LA?

i see.

theyre alright places i guess.

dont rule out westwood.

and koreatown is closer to beverly hills than silverlake.

but the valley? no way.


(this has absolutely nothing to do w dogs in apartments. )

I think that having a big dog in an apartment makes it more difficult to be a good pet owner, but it is still possible. You'll have to commit to several daily walks and outdoor play time for the dog to the get exercise he/she needs. For a small apartment, having two small dogs (who can play and cuddle all day) is a much better arrangement.

That said, I've seen some unhappy, overweight dogs who were the victims of busy schedules and good intentions.

I agree with Riddler that it's easier to have smaller dogs in apartments. But it's not impossible to have a happy and healthy big dog in same.

I've got a boxer/australian shepard mix. For a few years, I lived in Seattle in an apartment with her and it was work. Lots and lots and lots of work. Do not underestimate the work.

Worth every minute, but still . . . bad weather, sick, the apocalypse--you've still gotta walk them. Plus, young dogs are high energy no matter what breed you get.

She might be happier now that she's got acreage to run in, but she wasn't exactly suffering there on my couch and bed pillows in Seattle, either.

So, if you're willing to put in the effort, I'd say go for it. There are lots of dogs needing homes.

Get a pig.

They're chick magnets.

Depends on the dog, I s'pose.

Don't get a Newfoundland; it'll be miserable. They not only need a yard; they need a BIG yard, and other animals around.

When I was a teenager, we had one; our yard was about half an acre. My dad walked him at least once a day. Noah, the dog, got to the point where he'd climb the fence every night. The fence was almost six feet high. The cops would pick him up and put him in jail (he was too big for the pound); Dad would have to go 'bail him out'.

We had to give him to friends who lived in the country and had other dogs; he was ecstatic there.

Depends on what you are going to do all day. If you are going to be working across town will you be able to get back to walk him at noon or will he have to sit all day waiting for your return? If you have the kind of job where you work day and night who walks the dog? Who entertains it? Maybe analyze why you want a big dog. Go for either a big lethargic dog who wants to nap a lot or a smaller more active dog. There are mid-sized dogs, you don't have to choose Big Dog or Yorkie. After all, the walking is not just a euphemization of 'gotta pee'. A big active dog needs a lot of exercise or it'll affect his behaviour. A bored underexercised dog can do a lot of damage, and the barking will upset the neighbours. A smart bored underexcercised dog could destroy your apartment. Maybe, like one of the previous suggestions, you'd be better off with 2 medium sized dogs to keep each other company.(On the other hand, if you're going to be home a lot of the time, and are willing to do the work, go for it.

Also, (I'll probably get crap for this) consider getting a female. In my experience, males seem to have a need to wander--prowl the territory, whereas females seem happier sticking around--guarding home and the pack. Every little thing helps.

Out of curiosity, when you say "big dog" are you talking lab or wolfhound?

Edit--okay, new posts came up before I finished this one. If the dog is going to be alone 8-10hrs a day, then, unfortunately, that is a definite no unless you get a sixteen year old who doesn't mind wearing diapers, or hire a walking service. I had roomates with my dog. We worked different hours and that helped a lot.

A bored dog of any size can cause considerable damage to your belongings . . . I'm freaking you out here aren't I?

I'd go 2 smaller dogs so they can play with each other while you are out all day.

Female dogs are better at accepting more owners, male dogs tend to prefer to listen to only one boss so female dogs are generally better for families.

BottomlessCup said:

Border Collie-ish.

But not a Border Collie. I love 'em, but an apartment would be torture.

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The ish could get tricky. Bordie Collie and Pointer mix--oh merciful heaven. Harness that energy, you could power the world.

Interestingly, I saw a lot of Border Collies in Seattle. I don't know if it was a fad at the time or what, but they were everywhere. There were some pretty great dog parks in my area, though, that could be it.

I personally consider Border Collies to be of medium size and I think--again, if you've got the time and are willing to put in years of commitement--you could have one while living in an apartment.

Have you had a dog before? Were you thinking puppy or full grown?

You have to get a puppy - they are much more fun and then you can train them your way.

expatbrat said:

You have to get a puppy - they are much more fun and then you can train them your way.

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They are a blast, and you will be starting with a clean slate. The down side, of course, is staring with a clean slate. It will be up to you to teach him/her all the basic rules. And there will be damage with a puppy. There's no wy to avoid that, that I know of.

And I don't know about having a puppy if you're gone for 8 to 10 hrs every day and there's no one else at home. I've never done this, I'd like to hear other opinions on that.

I don't mean to sound like Chicken Little, it's just that so many people take on pets without realizing the amount of work they require--for ten to twenty years. Which is why you see so many two year old+ dogs at shelters and tied up in the back yard.

It's a commitment. Big or little, it's a commitement that will likely have you pulling out your hair more than once.

But if it's at all possible, I fully recommend it.

The size of the dog doesn't really matter when it comes to apartments-- even a tiny dog, given the appropriate motivation, can destroy your personal possessions and carpeting in a matter of hours.

Smaller dogs usually seem right for a person with an apartment, but I've found that small dogs are more restless and sociable, and need a great deal more exercise. They are more likely to bark incessantly when they are bored or lonely. A large dog, on the other hand, once it gets past its puppy stage, is content to snooze for a large part of the day.

I say get whichever type of dog you prefer and then HAVE A PET SITTER WATCH IT WHILE YOU ARE AT WORK. This can either be at your home or at theirs. Anyone who leaves any dog, large or small, cooped up in an apartment for eight to ten hours a day and expects it to behave well and not have a lot of physical and mental problems doesn't know fook-all about dogs.

Don't get a puppy if you can't be there for this crucial and early part of its life is my advice; if you do feel compelled get a puppy, then again have a pet sitter look after it while you are at work so it won't go crazy from boredom and lack of socialization, and also go through training classes with it yourself, which will help "bond" you more than any degree of playing.

When I was working ten-hour shifts at a hospital I paid a pet sitter to stop by my house once a day. She would let my dogs out in the yard, give them a treat, play with them, and also talk to Charlie Cockatoo for awhile so that he would have some human socialization. She would put them back in their kennel and lock the house up. This cost me $15 every day she did this and it was WELL worth the money. My dogs had something to look forward to during their long boring day of waiting for me to come home and they behaved much better.

Always make sure you have your lines of support laid down before getting a new pet; have all your gear (leashes, toys, crate, food dishes, etc.) and know the vet you are going to be taking the animal to. Acquaint yourself with pet sitting/boarding services in the area before getting the animal.

I hope this was helpful!

Drat my dial-up and slow typing. I am forever playing catch up on posts.

Sounds like you know what goes into the care of a dog. The stumbling block would just be that big chunk of time during the day when you're at work.

And good for you for going to the Humane Society. Yeah, there are fewer puppies there, because at that point they're still cute. It's when they stop being so cute that people grow tired of them. Sad, isn't it?

Do dogs actually care about their owners or humans in any way or is it purely that they rely on them to be fed and are just major kiss asses?

What say you?

I'm starting to get so sick of you.

billythrilly7th said:

Do dogs actually care about their owners or humans in any way or is it purely that they rely on them to be fed and are just major kiss asses?

What say you?

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Because I am a sappy fool, I have a voice for my dog. She calls me That Cookie Lady. She calls my brother Fry Guy and my brother's partner Fry Guy Number Two.

But she loves me. She does. She adores me.

If your dog was fed by a dog feeder in the kitchen and backyard, would it still love you as much?

There must be a study on this somewhere.

Yep--they're pack animals. They need the socialization.


Let me know if you find that study.