Best dog for London flat with....

[AcrossTheOcean]

Please recommendations for best dog for a London flat with no balcony but beautiful parks nearby, with an active seven year old boy. He wants a guard dog, I would like even tempered, friendly, good with children, quiet, clean and easy to look after. Our flat is not huge either, regular two bedroom.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts, looking forward to them

Op if you don't have access to a garden it would be unfair to have a dog.

What will you do if your dog gets the runs?

Agree, having a dog without a garden would be almost impossible; no doubt someone will come on here and say they've got three dogs in a top floor flat but I can't imagine how you'd cope.

My dog has an ongoing condition that means she has poo issues when it flares up.

She's very careful and has never had an accident in the house, but we'd be in serious difficulties without a garden.

Dogs aren't like cats so I don't think it would be possible to train one to use a litter tray. Although, having said that, I've never tried. Maybe it is something some dogs can be trained to do.

Also I think most dogs just like to be able to wander around the garden having a sniff and sitting outside without having to get their lead on.

No to any dog cooped up in a flat.

I have a dog in a shared flat in London so I'm not of the "you can't keep a dog in a flat" school of thought. However, the saving graces are that it's a ground floor flat with direct access onto the garden (it's communal and insecure but can be used on a lead) and he came to me already house trained (rescue dog)

I really, really wouldn't fancy house training without instant access to a garden, and a priority on my next flat will be to have a secure garden which I have direct access to so I can just let him out for a wee.

Is there any prospect of you moving house in the foreseeable future?

How will you toilet train the dog, and how will you manage at night when the dog needs to do a late night wee but your son is in bed? And if you weren't well you couldn't just open the back door and let him run around, you physically have to get up, dressed, off to the park. I'd be concerned about trying to find out why he wants a guard dog. Has something happened that's spooked him? What about a house rabbit? Not as daft as it seems - they are so sweet, you can train them and they are really funny too. Great for kids.

Honestly? I think the nearest fit to your accommodation and requirements would be something like this

A cat.

My dog (jack Russell) lives in a flat with me and my partner but I work from home. The lack of garden means my pet gets out a lot as there is no way I can be lazy with it. He is out from 7-9:30am 1-2, 6pm and then a final 10pm! It’s bloody hard work and you have to be consistent!

Op has a 7 year old son. Don't think that sort of schedule would work for her.

I know.. that’s why I was showing how much effort is needed in a flat. So OP can see that and make an informed decision.

You cannot have a dog without some form of outside space where it can do its business, dogs pee a lot, dogs poop a lot, dogs get ill and have diarrhoea, when this happens you will be up all night letting it into the garden approximately every 15 minutes, can you imagine what that would be like with no garden?? And just general day to day toiletting, can you seriously see your self walking to the park half a dozen times a day?? Also dogs are not born to order with the traits you require, all dogs have their own unique personality traits, though yes certain dog breeds will fit your requirements more but it’s mainly down to training from a loving, patient owner who is willing to put in months of hard work. With your living arrangements I suggest you get a cat who would be happy with a litter tray.

Actually I have know of quite a few Norfolk Terriers who have loved this life particularly if they get to go to work too. Even better if they walk to work each day. Yes you have to be dedicated and take the dog out first thing in the morning and last thing at night every single day.

I’ve had dogs in flats with no outside space... you just walk them more. They were adult rescues that were either housetrained or mostly housetrained though, housetraining a puppy would be pretty hard.

Quiet clean and easy to look after isn’t really dog ownership though.

Agree that it would have to be housetrained. A puppy would be a disaster.

We visit London regularly. There are many people who successfully keep dogs in flats with no outside space. They tend to be smaller breeds. Are your neighbours ok with barking?

Personally we take up our lab. I find it very difficult managing taking her out and the needs of my children. Particularly the before bed wee. Unless someone is with us to keep an eye on the sleeping children while I take her out. It is impossible. And not kind on her.

Also you don’t mention if you’re home or not in the day.

My biggest worry is that your son wants a guard dog.

Yes you have to be dedicated and take the dog out first thing in the morning and last thing at night every single day.

That's not enough. A dog shouldn't be expected to hold its pee from morning to night.

I would echo the cautions on this thread. Also, check your lease (even if share of freehold) to see if you are allowed to have a dog. Generally in London flats you are not, because of the barking noise. Some fellow residents may turn a blind eye, but you won't know how barky the dog turns out to be, and it would be heartbreaking to get a dog only to have to rehome it later.

Maybe move?!

I haven't read the rest of the thread. I know you'll just be told not to get one as you're in a flat. I had a miniature schnauzer for 15 years in various flats and now have a Scottie. The only time it was painfully difficult was during house training but you just have to put your head down and push through. I crate trained and kept them tethered to me near on constantly for three weeks and at the end they were both trained with only a very occasional accident. Fully trained, no accidents at six weeks. My dog gets between two and four hours out each day depending what we are doing that day. Breed wise, try this:-

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/findabreed/Default.aspx

MsGameandWatching do you have a child too? I’m just wondering how the balance works say if the child is poorly but too you to be left for home alone. I guess maybe at 7 plus just popping out for a loo break is ok and a dog might get used to not taking time to have a poo (mine is normally a good 20 mins into a walk before he goes). Those sorts of situations.

You do have to be determined with it.

My dd wants a unicorn..
I simply said no.

Yes, I have two and am a lone parent. I just make it work. Kids aren't ill that often, they're older now anyway. Yes there was the occasional day when he just got a quick visit to the nearest lamppost but we managed and my first dog lived to 15 years and was happy and healthy. It's easier with my current dog as my kids are more aware and adore him and we all love walking him. To be honest I don't know how we could manage without him. He's a very calming influence on a family where two members have autism.

MsGameandWatching but given the OP’s list of what they are looking for in a dog I don’t think you are similar in any shape or form. To me the OP sounds a bit naive.

As most of us have said, you need to be prepared for the hard work to do it but OP wants one that’s even tempered, friendly, good with children, quiet, clean and easy to look after

As you know all dogs have their quirks. They’re not like buying a car. And most of these things listed are down to the owner and putting in the hard work. Even if a rescue dog seems to tick these boxes you never know how they’ll be in a new environment. There are plenty of situations that you just can’t test for before rehoming.