Apartment Living Dogs

Spot's tips for apartment living with your pup…

Living in an apartment, especially a small one can be challenging with your dog. Making your four-legged fellow a new roommate can be tough for numerous reasons, so we’ve compiled a few tips to make sure that you and your pup have a good apartment experience!

1. Know your breed

Different breeds thrive better in smaller spaces while some possess sizes and temperaments that are not suited for small apartments. Just because a dog is small doesn’t mean they’ll be the best fit. In fact, Mastiff’s and Great Danes are both large dogs that have proven to do well in apartments.

Temperament, energy, and hyperactivity should all be considerations when deciding to adopt and live in an apartment. A quiet and polite dog makes a good apartment dog from not bothering your neighbors with barking while inside, to riding the elevator in a friendly fashion. When some dogs are separated and confined into a small space, they may start barking out of anxiety and frustration, disturbing your neighbors while you’re away or acting out in the elevator around other humans and dogs.

Spot’s picks for great apartment dogs include Boston Terrier’s, Dachshund, Bulldog’s and Pug’s based on their easy adaptability to apartment living.

2. Communicate with your landlord

Before getting your furry friend, make sure that your apartment is dog-friendly and find out if there’s a pet deposit that is required by the building or landlord. Most buildings also have limits as to the size of the dog, and sometimes the breed too, so it’s important to know all of the details before you adopt or move. It’s important to understand what spaces are ok to be shared with your pup and where exactly the nearest bathroom break and walk route are. If your dog is already well-trained, you may want to offer a pet recommendation letter from previous landlords and set up a meet-and-greet with your new landlord too.

3. Make your pup comfortable

Once you’ve brought your new roommate home, one way to make sure they’re the best behaved on the block is to make him comfortable in the new space. Allocating them their own space in the corner of your apartment may go a long way to keep them calm and relaxed. For complete comfort, set up a dog bed, place a few toys, food and water, and make it their space that’s consistently just for them.

4. Exercise daily

Dogs need fresh air just like you! It can be tough staying inside all day without any attention. Whatever dog you’ve chosen, they should be walked at least 30 minutes per day, whether that’s two 15-minute walks, or one 30-minute walk. While at work, booking a Spot walk to let them out for 15-minutes or more of fresh air can be a great way to break up the day home alone. We’ve found that breaks in the day are the best way to keep them from stirring up trouble in the apartment from boredom or having any accidents. Regular air and exercise is imperative to keep dogs and owners happy and healthy.

5. Follow a routine

An established routine helps your dog not only adapt to apartment living but also thrive. Try to feed and take your fur-baby for a walk at the same time every day, whether morning and/or evening. This way your pup masters the routine and knows what to expect daily, from when to wake up, eat, go for walks, play, and go to bed. At the end of the day, this develops a high level of comfort for both your pup and you, regardless of your apartment size. We recommend making Spot walks part of your routine, even if it’s just a special once a week treat. Plus, you earn Spot Cash when you book recurring!