Anyone a dog owner in a flat?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

We are at the very early stages of considering getting a dog. As in research mode, looking at taking at least a year to consider what would suit, lifestyle etc.

One thing I'm serious about is if anyone is a dog owner in a flat, and how that works for you / the breed you have.

We live in a built up area (lots of green spaces for dog walks though) and most properties in the vicinity are flats (houses converted rather than purpose built). We see plenty of people with dogs in the area so clearly some dogs live in flats, but I can't really just walk up to strangers and start interrogating them

I wfh so dog would be with me 100% of the time, we have two older primary aged dc, and my dh is home by 4pm every day. So lots of people around to play with / train / enrich doggy, but the lack of private outdoor space means no playing fetch in the garden in the mornings etc which I may struggle with.

We spend a lot of time on walks, at the park, beach etc and do mainly self catering cottage hols in UK, so feel like that side of thing sort of suits.

Anyone have a dog in a flat? How do you find it?

When we lived in a flat I dog sat over a couple of weekends for friends and it completely put me off getting a dog until we moved to a house with a garden. It was such hard work having to take them out at regular intervals rather than just opening a patio door, especially when one wanted a wee at 4am! I can’t even imagine how hard it would be to toilet train in a flat when you literally have to take them out every 20 minutes.

Her yard is smaller than mine, but accessible at floor level, whereas mine is down concrete steps.

Who owns the pot plants and cares for them?

Does her area flow from her flat ie she can open one of her doors directly on to it?

Please don't be selfish. I live in a flat and the people above have a dog. It's made me miserable and I can't work from home as I hear the dog bark and run around all day.
I can't tell you how angry it makes me feel. It has impacted my mental well being hugely.

Nope, it would be for morning/bedtime wees at a push, if needed on top of regular walks.

Tbh it doesn't bring any joy to any of us! Serves a purpose, and we spend outside time in the green spaces in our local area.

Well, they are in my yard, so me.

Yes.

We had 2 not at the same time small/ medium size mixed breeds in a flat it was absolutely fine take them out when they need out there is some weird romantic notion that dogs need acres of garden to "potter" about they really don't.

And that, OP, is the game changer.

she probably has her door open right now with the dogs strolling in and out when they fancy

Who said anything about “acres”? 😐

but yes - I suppose if you own a dog in a flat then of course you’re going to think it’s not really any benefit to the dog.

but then you get a place with a garden and… you’ll change your mind 🤷‍♀️

But I also have direct access into my yard. Dog would need to go up and down a set of outside stairs, to it, but nothing preventing them going in and out.

My pour was - so the outside space you mention is irrelevant. Nothing more than the occasional wee

Point

Ah I see. That definitely will help. Depends about the stairs though!

The fact you have direct access to some outdoor space really puts a different slant on it.

oh wait - it’s not secure is it? Ie dog could “escape”?

I have a small breed dog, I live in a flat.

PP is right. Dogs need company the most and attention.

I have a balcony which he does sit on sometimes, but not very often.

We take him for at least 3 walks per day (unless ridiculously hot, rainy (he doesn't like rain), etc)

IMO as long as the dog isn't a larger dog that would need more space/exercise then it's fine.

On a side note, my dog is little and it feels so empty here when he isn't here. Not sure what we did before him 💙

Definetly secure. Private entrance from my kitchen, down steps into a walled yard. Locked gate out to alleyway.

This is the closest I can find that's similar (ours is hopefully a bit more interesting, as has pot plants, wall climbers, etc)

I also couldn't imagine how it would work living in a flat with a dog. Mine spend a huge chunk of their day outside in the garden (so long as it isn't raining!) as they just love being out there sniffing the air/grass, and just lazying around in the outdoors. They hate when we have the doors shut, and constantly scratch to get let out. Mine are also in their elder years, and literally can't hold their pee like they used to, when they gotta go they gotta go! And again, couldn't imagine having to lead up and get them to an appropriate spot in time, I mean they sometimes don't make it in time from asking to go out to someone opening the door, hence the door is usually just wide open, or pulled too enough that they can nose it open at their leisure. I guess people do make it work, plenty of people do have dogs in flats, but I'm not sure how easy it must be. Mine wake at 6am to go out for a wee, can't imagine having to traipse up the road in my dressing gown first thing, but I guess every dog is different, and yours might have better bladder control! I have three, and I can just imagine the amount of accidents they'd have if they didn't have a garden with pretty much continuous access.

Yes I have 2 (wasn't intending to have 2 but took on a pug from his previous owner as they were getting rid and I felt sorry for him). The other is a chihuahua. They have 2-3 walks a day and sleep most of the time they're inside. I do have a garden, but it's a communal one and no direct access, I have to go out of the building and round the back into the garden. I take them in the garden more frequently in summer when it's too hot to go on a proper walk.

I'm hoping to move to a bigger flat with direct access to a private garden in the next few years as I do want more space, but on the whole it's absolutely fine. There is a block of new build flats round the corner from me and almost everyone living in it has a dog. We're all 10 mins walk from a park, with bigger parks a slightly longer walk away. As long as there are parks nearby I think it's fine – although it absolutely depends on the breed of dog. Small lazy ones, yes. No way would I have a husky or a labrador or any working breed. The pug actually is a great apartment dog as he's so lazy, but I really wouldn't recommend buying a puppy pug as breeding them is so unethical because of their breathing issues. A rescue pug though could work.

I don't live in a flat but my dog is a total couch potato for most of the day so he'd be perfectly happy with apartment living. He has zero interest in being in the garden unless we're out there with him, we let him out to go to the toilet and within minutes he's whining to be let back in. If we didn't have a garden then toileting would be a bit more effort but doable I'm sure, he doesn't need to go too often and always waits until his walk to do his poop. I adopted my dog when he was 3 years old so I don't know anything about puppies or toilet training, that might be an issue.

I live in a house but DDog has to go down six stone steps to the garden.

I can't see that doubling that number would cause any issues.

My only concern would be noise - mine is a barker at anything that goes past the house (luckily not a lot). Being detached means I don't have to really worry about it but that's clearly different in a flat.

So a non barking, not too hyperactive dog would be fine I think

OP you absolutely can walk up to strangers and start interrogating them. This is something you will need to get used to when you get your dog!

I live in a house but my rescue dog refuses to toilet in the garden so it’s a case of getting up and dressed at 6 each morning and 11 at night regardless of the weather. And now she is getting on in years in the middle of the night too.

It’s not just the getting dressed in the middle of the night it is the drying her off each time when the weather is crap.

This just demonstrates it really does depend on the dog! My chihuahua won't even leave the house if it's raining, he has to be carried to the park and placed under one of the trees he likes to poo at. The pug enjoys his walks but when we go in the garden he just stands and stares at me and isn't sure what to do with himself. Of course if they had different personalities and needs then apartment living wouldn't work for them. They also sleep in comfortably til 11am – the chihuahua actually runs back to his bed sometimes if I need to walk them early as he doesn't like getting up. The pug has breakfast about 7am then goes back to sleep.

Please do not get any sort of working breed ie spaniel etc with your set up. Spaniels especially need space, lots of of lead walks and sniffing opportunities. A concrete yard will not be sufficient especially for the first few weeks before they are fully vaccinated so you won't be able to walk the pup.
Maybe a small toybreed will cope in a flat but I honestly don't think they are ideal for any dog.