Practicality of having a dog in a flat

[WhimsicalMoth]

I live in an apartment block in a city centre, and it's become increasingly obvious that a lot of the people living here own dogs/puppies.
Whilst this is allowed by our landlord.. I was wondering whether it is actually practical for both the other and the dog? Or is this the norm now ??
I can imagine it is very difficult to own a dog in an apartment, and that having no garden would be a major issue.
Does anybody have any experiences with this?
Is it as hard as it seems? Is it humane?

I do. Its no different from when we lived in a house with digs. You take them out for their toilets

Just the same

I lived in a flat with my dog for the first 2 years of his life. Now we have a house but really it’s no different. It’s more convenient because I can let him out into the garden but it wasn’t a problem in the flat because it motivated me to take him out for walks regularly. Most dogs adjust to the environnement they grow up in.

However, I do believe responsible owners will consider what breed would work for their lifestyle. I wouldn’t consider it particular fair to have a border collie/husky in a small flat, unless that dog spends a good few hours each day out and about (but I’d say the same about them in a house too really). It’s not down to the actual flat, it’s down to the owner having the time and energy to give their dog what it needs.

I wouldn't personally have a dog in a flat. I'm too lazy, and the ease of opening the door in my pyjamas for first morning and last night wees is not something i'd want to give up but it's perfectly possible to keep a dog in a flat and meet its needs.

I owned a flat when my dog was younger, it was totally fine, walked him at lunch and in the evening, popped him out to use the loo when needed.

I lived quite happily in my flat with my dog. It took a bit more organising in terms of juggling work around his regular walks but it was okay. We’d go out around 6 times a day, some were just a quick walk round the block and others longer. We’d probably be out for around 3 hours a day in total.

Fortunately he wasn’t a barker and my neighbours said they very rarely heard a sound out of him.

Depends on the dog breed.

A Chinese crested? Fine.

A GSD? No.

Certain breeds need big houses and lots of land - no amount of nice walks around the block is ever going to be comparable to that. A 40KG dog in a 50square meter flat is cruel, and that is why most responsible breeders won’t let you take a working/gun dog breed unless you have a garden.

Agree on the working/gun dog comment but it’s not always about size. My brother had a Great Dane x Boxer (we think) in a 6th floor flat. He walked him regularly but he’d just laze around the house for hours without a care in the world, I’d say a jack Russell is less suited to a flat than some big dogs.

we had dogs (over the) in a flat its fine you just walk them for a pee.

I have a working breed in a house what are you talking about?

Perfectly fine with considerate owners.
My two dogs live with me in my 1 bed flat. They sleep most of the day and get loads of lovely fulfilling walks unlike some dogs in houses that just see the fence panels of their garden.

One thing to think about is noise. Will the noises of other occupants in the block trigger barking ? If there are a few dogs in the block do they trigger each other ?
Plus, for me, having to lead walk rather than kick them out in the garden every time they need put, would be a pain.

Got my first dog while living in a flat and now been living in a house for the past 5 years (got another dog since) - I do let them outside for a quick wee every now and then and they do spend time in the garden during BBQs or otherwise supervised BUT the garden is for me to enjoy and not for them to dig around, period. Amount of walking outside and beach/field visits is the same would that be a house or a flat.

If you are a responsible and dedicated dog owner it doesn’t matter what type of home you have. I had a border collie for 8 years in a flat from an 8 week old puppy. Regular toilet training breaks, walked morning, lunchtime and evening. It really is all about the owners.

Errr in a house? Then my post wasn’t aimed at you.

Re noise - it is the same as it would be in terraced houses or even detached ones given how gardens are divided up/how thin walls are.

These replies are really insightful, thank you!
It is something I have thought about since being here. But others I have spoken to seem to deem it unfair and irresponsible to own a dog in a flat. It's nice to know that it's something I can consider and something that can be done practically.
Of course I would take them out regularly.
It makes a lot of sense that dogs would adapt to the environment are routine they are brought up with.

Having a puppy in a flat requires a bit more of a time commitment, but once the dog is an adult, it should become much easier.

The one thing I love about having a private, enclosed garden is I can just open the door and let the dog out first thing, or before bed, or in the night when he decides he needs a wee at 3am. None of those things are possible in a flat (or indeed, in a house without a garden).

But, as with anything else, you just adapt. A friend of mine has three dogs in a house without a garden and she just gets on with it. The dogs go out on a regular basis for the toilet and they have shoes/coats/leads by the door for any late night/early morning visits.

I lived in a second floor flat when one of my dogs was a puppy. It was a bit of a pain for toilet training but manageable.

Both of my dogs would be perfectly happy in a flat / without a garden. I do have a garden now but practically have to boot them out most of the time and won't stay out for more than a minute if I'm not out with them.

However, I do believe responsible owners will consider what breed would work for their lifestyle.

I agree, @Drummend01. My SIL had a Lab mix in a flat and I didn’t think it was fair on him, it wasn’t big enough and he was high energy. She’s in a house with a big garden now though.