Raising a big dog in a small apartment

You hear it all the time – “you shouldn’t raise a big dog in a small apartment”.  To some extent, that is true, but it really all boils down to the habits of the owner.  If you know what you’re doing and you take the time and/or money to exercise and train your dog, you will have no issues raising a big dog in a small apartment.

I have a 70 lb dog and I live in a studio apartment.  I know you’re probably thinking… “this girl is crazy!”  It would be crazy of me to do this if I wasn’t a conscientious dog owner, but, I put in the much needed time and effort to exercise, train, and socialize my pup.  This leads to a well-behaved, non-destructive, tired dog which is every dog owners dream – am I right?!

If you’re wondering what it takes to successfully raise a big fur-baby in a small apartment, look no further!  I’ll walk you through the steps I take on a daily and weekly basis that results in a good and tired pup!

Exercise and socialization:

• We go out for 30 minutes to an hour twice a day.  This typically consists of a walk, a hike, a run, or a game of fetch in the field nearby.
• I take her to doggy playgroups where she gets to play with her friends for a couple hours (this is the stuff that gets her really tired – it’s AWESOME!).  Cage-free doggy daycare is also an incredible option for when you’re at work or have to run errands for a couple hours.
• We also have dog friends in our apartment complex that we have play dates with either at the apartment dog park or in each other’s apartments when the weather isn’t nice.  If you’re lucky enough to have a dog park at your apartment, USE IT!
• I take her with me to pet-friendly stores to let her explore new sights and smells and meet new people (make sure you call the store ahead of time to ensure they are pet-friendly).  This is a great exercise for days when it’s unpleasant outside or if you’re working towards your dog becoming a therapy dog.
• If your dog is not dog-friendly but loves people, you can still socialize them by taking them with you to your friends’ homes or having your friends come to your place.  This gives your dog more exposure and playtime, and will exercise his body and mind!
• I highly suggest mixing up your dog’s exercise routines and trying new stuff – agility, herding, scent tracking, lure coursing, swimming, fly ball, and much more!

Training:

• From day 1, I worked with basic obedience training – I didn’t wait one second to start with her training!  Some of the most basic commands I still work on to this day are sit, down, stay, and recall.
• After she got the basics down to a T, we gradually started adding more commands to the point where she now knows about 15 commands – she’s a smart cookie!
• We also do a lot of work on leash manners.  Having a dog that strains on the leash during the whole walk is not fun for anyone.
• I recently started taking her to obedience classes and it has been awesome!  Check online for any doggy classes near you – sometimes animal shelters hold classes at very reasonable prices!

Exercise, socialization, and training are the greatest ways to have a well-behaved, non-destructive, happy pup!