To consider moving to a house with no garden with a 12-year-old dog

[Dontbescaredlittlebear]

I’m having to downsize from my house as my ‘baby’ is off to uni and his older two siblings are infrequent visitors.
Online I’ve seen a conversion in a Victorian building which is in effect a maisonette with its own entrance which I can afford (not an easy task with exh counting every penny of the equity).
I want to go and view it but - finally gets to the point - I fear falling in love with it and then having to say no because of the dog. Not only the lack of outdoor space but also the stairs that lead from the front door to main living area.
We’ve had him since he was a puppy so there’s no chance of him going anywhere but with me. Exh can’t take him but is willing to share extra walks
Is this doable?

Doable but probably more hassle than if you had outdoor space. That said if he is elderly do you plan on getting a puppy after? If this will be your last dog I wouldn’t not go for a house you like on the basis of the dog

Not only the lack of outdoor space but also the stairs that lead from the front door to main living area.

No no no no. This is exactly what you don’t want with an aging dog. He may become less mobile and will need to wee more frequently. It will be stressful for you and the dog, especially if he’s used to having a garden already. Not a good idea in my opinion.

There’s at least 4 houses along our street with dogs and no outdoor space. They seem to use a dog walker. Three are big dogs too!

Personally no I think this would lead to a flat covered in dog wee in his old age. You might end up having to carry him out day and night! Is that practical?

I wouldn't. I have an elderly dog and she will often wake me at 4am for a wee. I just let her out into the garden. Do you want to get up and dressed to go out into the street at that time?

No, not practical at all! You need straight-into-garden access and level ground. Which area are you looking in? Maybe the power of mumsnet could help you source somewhere suitable?

He’s definitely too big for me to carry - a large labradoodle. And you’re probably right about the stairs pixielumos he already suffers from a touch of arthritis in his hind legs

If the dog develops proper incontinence the flat will be covered in wee whether you've got access to a garden or not. Personally I would be OK with a neighbour letting her dog have a wee out the front in pyjamas at 3am but yours might be more snotty about things like that. I do agree that it's easier to stagger downstairs and throw open the back door than it is to put on a lead, find shoes, find keys etc.

Overall I'd probably go for it if I really loved the flat but I would then probably whinge constantly about all the dog-related trips up and down the stairs. How portable is the dog (in the event of reduced mobility)?

Cross-post! I wouldn't do it if you're not going to be able to carry him.

I did a good year of having to carry the dog everywhere (and I have a garden, but he could not manage the one step). Admittedly he was only 10kg. But I would have thought it possible to get a ramp for the stairs if there are only a few. (A full flight would be a problem, though). If even that starts to prove difficult a sling under the belly would enable you to take some of the weight off him without having to try to carry him.

It's not ideal but could be do-able if you really want/need to buy that particular property. You could also look at trying to train him to use potty pads indoors if you get into the situation of the 3am wee, although if you kept him overnight in a room with an easy clean floor the odd accident is not going to be a nightmare to clear up.

Our dog was never allowed to wee or poo in the garden, even when he was 12. So, perfectly doable and not a problem at all. That included nearly 5 years in upper flats and a maisonette.

Don't do it. I have a dog, no garden but no stairs. My last dog, Welsh Collie, became very arthritic and it would have been impossible to carry him safely up and downstairs. Lots of trips out for pees, early start, late finish, poor old boy.