AIBU to think it's stupid to get a husky if you live in a city centre two bedroom apartment?

[SunshineSum]

Because that's what my dickhead neighbours have done. Tiny wee flats, no garden, and they've got this frigging massive animal they let run around the fucking car park and on the scarce little bit of green space in front of the flats.

This isn't ok is it? Not in terms of dog or other residents? Please tell me I'm not wrong.

The only husky I know to have a happy life in a flat is an old school friends. He and his wife are both personal trainers, specialising in boot camp type exercise. Regularly running up mountains, going a cycle or run with the dog attached on one of the bungee lead things etc.

He often gets comments about the dog being under weight, but it's just people so used to seeing overweight huskys.

His was a rescue puppy, taken from someone who wanted to feed it a vegan diet and was getting complaints from neighbours for its howling during the day when it was home alone. Much happier dog now.

I wouldn't place your anger on your neighbours, there is a disgusting attitude toward animals in this country. No actually, in this world.
The fact that they are able to just get a husky is shit.
However, I will say I have a neighbour in a 2 bed flat with a massive German shepard. He is always out walking it, bloody beautiful dog and very well looked after so don't be too upset. They may be long walkers or runners , it may be a relatives dog who had to be rehomed for whatever reason.

If it is a puppy then I agree and I can't believe people are allowed to just breed and breed for greed and greed. But you don't know why they got the dog, or how well looked after it is.

@Clydie89

The only husky I know to have a happy life in a flat is an old school friends. He and his wife are both personal trainers, specialising in boot camp type exercise. Regularly running up mountains, going a cycle or run with the dog attached on one of the bungee lead things etc.

He often gets comments about the dog being under weight, but it's just people so used to seeing overweight huskys.

His was a rescue puppy, taken from someone who wanted to feed it a vegan diet and was getting complaints from neighbours for its howling during the day when it was home alone. Much happier dog now.

Exactly you don't know and the fact people wouldn't think twice about children living in flats but its cruel for a dog truly astounds me. We are a very 'sit inside' nation aren't we. no wonder we go out to sit inside a pub

People are morons and there should be some exam before people get pet licence. For any pets!

I absolutely adore huskies and would love to have one but I know we don’t have the space or time for one. Unless we had loads of land that was really secure for the dog to run around in, I wouldn’t get one. It’s just not fair.

Your neighbours are dickheads.

I noticed a husky advertised through a rehoming charity recently and they stressed that he could jump an 8 foot fence so maybe yours won't be around for too long. With regard to the housing association it's such a shame that they're using a bit of humanity re the no animals rule and someone totally takes advantage.

and the fact people wouldn't think twice about children living in flats but its cruel for a dog truly astounds me.

This isn’t really a fair comparison. You can mentally stimulate children with very little space and there are loads of places to go for children to exercise other than a garden.

Also, people’s situations may change and they have to move into a flat rather than a house or maybe they live in a city. There is no scenario where someone could accidentally end up with a dog in a small flat. Dogs are completely a choice.

Very selfish.

My friend has 4 huskies, in quite a big house with a great garden, and he walks them twice a day for an hour (at least) each time. I've seen how active they like to be, and how much space they take up, and no - an apartment absolutely isn't great for them.

People who let their dogs shit in communal areas even if they pick it up are fucking arseholes.
Any neighbours of mine who've tried it in our small shared garden have only done it once (am possibly part husky - mad steely eyed etc...)

It so depends on the owners' lifestyles. My friend has a German shepherd in a 1 bed flat but my friend WFH (always has done) and the dog gets walked miles 3 times a day. My mum's old neighbours bought a husky and they have a garden. However, they both worked FT outside the home and were out for 10-12 hours a day. Never walked their dog and you could hear her howl and whine all day long. It was heartbreaking. They'd let her out for 30 seconds in the garden and then bring her in when she, unsurprisingly, started barking. Thankfully they gave her up when she destroyed their blinds for the millionth time. Fucking morons.

Mad steel eyed cunt has finished me off 🤣😭🤣

The owners are arseholes though.

I hate people who get any type of pet just because they want one with absolutely no thought as to whether they can meet the animals needs. So incredibly selfish.

I live in a flat and have a dog but mines a 10 year old cocker spaniel and is rarely left alone. I had to supply a photo of him to the managing agent and pay a fee to get the go ahead to have him. It was also made very clear that if he causes a disturbance to my neighbours they will revoke their permission.

I see that your neighbours have voted

Also, people’s situations may change and they have to move into a flat rather than a house or maybe they live in a city. There is no scenario where someone could accidentally end up with a dog in a small flat. Dogs are completely a choice

I accidentally acquired a dog. He quite literally came with my old flat. Long story - but I stepped up when he'd been repeatedly failed and there was no one else to look after him. Rehoming wasn't an option - he had significant behaviour problems and would have been put down or bounced around even more homes. He's a nice enough dog now, and can safely run around off lead in the park, but it took a blood, sweat and tears to get to that point, and more effort than many are willing to put in.

I'm renting and the choice of homes is exceedingly limited when you're private renting with a dog, so I live in a flat.

Other scenarios where someone accidentally ends up with a dog

• divorce and has to move; can only afford a flat.
• relative dies or goes into a home and you inherit the dog
• onset of a chronic illness means you can no longer work and keep up the mortgage payments, so you have to downsize.

Life happens.

*accidentally ends up with a dog in a small flat

We had our husky for almost 13 years. Right up until his last day he liked to chill in the garden when he wasn't on a walk. Didn't matter if it was rain, storms, snow he wanted to lie outside whilst we froze with the door open waiting for him to come back in.
We live in the peak District and husband was a ranger so he walked miles.
He would have been utterly miserable cooped up in a flat :(

Put it this way, if they'd attempted to adopt the dog from an RSPCA kennel, they'd have failed the assessment on the grounds of unsuitable living arrangements. They can't meet that dog's needs unless - and this is highly unlikely - one of them is walking that dog for 5 or 6 hours per day. And even then, it's not ideal. Huskies are high stamina working breed. They need to cover many miles per day.

@DeathByWalkies

Also, people’s situations may change and they have to move into a flat rather than a house or maybe they live in a city. There is no scenario where someone could accidentally end up with a dog in a small flat. Dogs are completely a choice

I accidentally acquired a dog. He quite literally came with my old flat. Long story - but I stepped up when he'd been repeatedly failed and there was no one else to look after him. Rehoming wasn't an option - he had significant behaviour problems and would have been put down or bounced around even more homes. He's a nice enough dog now, and can safely run around off lead in the park, but it took a blood, sweat and tears to get to that point, and more effort than many are willing to put in.

I'm renting and the choice of homes is exceedingly limited when you're private renting with a dog, so I live in a flat.

Other scenarios where someone accidentally ends up with a dog

• divorce and has to move; can only afford a flat.
• relative dies or goes into a home and you inherit the dog
• onset of a chronic illness means you can no longer work and keep up the mortgage payments, so you have to downsize.

Life happens.

Those are situations where you have no choice but to live in a flat. Not accidentally acquiring a dog. Getting or keeping a dog is always a choice and the dog’s wellbeing should be a top priority in the decision. It doesn’t sound like the owner’s considered the dog at all here.

Also, people’s situations may change and they have to move into a flat rather than a house or maybe they live in a city. There is no scenario where someone could accidentally end up with a dog in a small flat. Dogs are completely a choice

I moved into a flat from a house with two small dogs, because my circumstances changed and it was all that was available, and I wasn't going to re-home dogs I'm perfectly capable of looking after properly because the place we live is now called a flat and not a house. The only thing that's changed is we have to walk down the stairs to go out the front door, the care of the dogs has remained the same.
Only have one neighbour though and no communal areas, and the HA allows pets if you have your own entrance.

But then I'd never get a husky or large breed requiring lots of exercise if I lived in a flat or a mansion because I don't think I could meet their needs, mine get 2x45-60 min walks a day and I do have a yard area they like to sun themselves in, cleaned up every day. That wouldn't suit a large, high energy breed.

I think it's more about meeting the animals needs than where you live to be honest. If you lived in a one bedroom studio but were out running the dog 10 hours a day, every day then it'd be more suitable than a 5 bed detached house with an acre garden but the dog is never walked or stimulated.

@SunshineSum

No idea what they do about walks. I just come home from work and the fucking thing's running around like a mad steel eyed cunt and shitting everywhere.

@BeingATwatItsABingThing you originally said

"There is no scenario where someone could accidentally end up with a dog in a small flat. Dogs are completely a choice"

I've given you three scenarios (in addition to my own rather unusual one) where you could accidentally end up with a dog in a small flat - including where a flat dweller accidentally ends up acquiring a dog through inheritance.

Dogs are a choice just like children are - but we don't re-home either unless there's truly no alternative, and some of us did the canine equivalent of suddenly finding out you're 8 months pregnant (which happened to someone I know).

Life happens, and we all make the best of it. Parents nowadays don't give their kids up for adoption just because it was an unplanned pregnancy or they're downsizing, and neither do dog parents.

Ffs, they're a high energy, working breed and too intelligent for their own good. You can't keep them in a flat, what were they thinking?

They need a lot of space, a lot of exercise (3 hours plus a day!) Firm boundaries and a lot of experience training dogs. Not to mention a job to do. If a Husky doesn't have a job to engage them mentally, they will start to make their own fun and its never good news for the humans.

Access to open beaches and countryside is not essential to Husky ownership as they shouldn’t be let off the lead due to their high prey drive and general lack of recall but they do need a huge amount of exercise. Your neighbours better be willing to walk miles and miles per day or it will soon become destructive.

If it's anything like my sister and BIL's malamute it'll stink the place out, and theirs is bathed and groomed regularly. You can smell it as soon as the front door is opened.