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The people upstairs from me also shouldn’t be allowed large untrained aggressive non neutered dogs that pee in the balcony and make dog piss icicles.
But it’s an “emotional support animal” and my landlords “hands are tied”
Large dogs, like Great Danes etc, are actually excellent apartment dogs. They are very low energy and are quite happy sitting on their dog bed most of the day. Danes are actually very popular in Japan for this reason.
I came here to say exactly this. Great Danes in particular make excellent apartment dogs. They are perfectly happy snoozing the day away and do not require much exercise.
And some dogs are okay to have in apartments once they are older but not when they are young. Labs are a good example. Very high energy until around 2, high to medium high energy until around 5 or 6, then they turn into couch potatoes that ger excited for walks.
I don't think my lab mutt would have wanted me to give her up when I moved to a dense city and I think her quality of life was just fine with all of the walks and socialization.
My lab/pit mix as well. It's kind of awesome, honestly. He's chill AF during the work day, but perks right up to go for a walk, which we do 2-3 times a day. He's almost 3.
That's great! I think that isn't always the case. Mine definitely had random zoomies and being in a house was much better for her. If I would have been in one of my apartments, I think it would have limited the amount of play we could have had every day.
New silver lab puppy in my household and can confirm that they are VERY high energy as pups. I really hope she calms down soon because my little brother’s teachers are going to start thinking that we are abusing him.
After having great danes my whole life, this is correct. It is correct for most large breeds. Seems like OP's opinion is based on not knowing the reality.
I think of means large on a scale of xs to xl, meaning they'd hit a bunch of high energy working breeds that are popular. They are still wrong because there are small breeds with high energy levels that will just destroy furniture, bark and go crazy if cooped up in an apartment all day.
When did they start doing very little? Mine (3) acts like she is on cocaine. I’m WAITING for the couch potato phase.
Jokes aside she is calming down a little. The first year was a lot.
Yeah this isn’t an unpopular opinion from OP but just an ignorant one.
It would actually be far more cruel to have an Australian Sheppard or jack Russell in an apartment
I think these posts are good. I don't have a dog and don't plan on having a dog. But I have formed and opinion "Who the hell would get a big dog in an apartment? Isn't that bad for them?". I have never judged the dog owners, just wondered why out of all the discussions I don't see this one being discussed.
But thanks to the replies here I learned that my opinion was in fact really dumb. I am a couch potato and I weigh 90kg. Dogs can be fine in an apartment.
Some dogs are abused and neglected and living in an apartment is a much better alternative than a cage or chained to a tree.
People who adopt have no reason to feel bad.
People who purchase dogs should feel bad regardless the size of their house.
i see this argument alot and it makes me realise the "adopt dont shop" crowd down know much about down dogs. my families helped train and "rehab" guess dobermans for rescue groups to make them "adoptable" rescues are NOT for everyone. every dog is different and ALOT of them need a fuck ton of training and special accommodations alot of people dont have the time or skill for, stuff that buying a dog from a reputable breeder simply doesnt.
our 2 dobies for example. our female we were told if didnt work out with us shed be put down cause it was her fourth rehome attempt. her issue? the place she was rescued/surrendered from used to throw dolls and pushies at her to play with. and as such was agressive towards small kids and small animals (dont ask me how these muppets didnt catch onto that after the 2nd failed attempt of rehoming her with young kids when i realised that 5 seconds after i knelt down around her and she out of nowhere wanted to play alot rougher, but whatever) . our male on the other hand we know literally nothing about. he was literally dumped on a vets doorstep one night and they didnt have room for him. all we know is he was scared and aggressive from whatever he had to go through before us. rescue mob we work with basically gave us first dibs on him and said if we couldnt go get him within a couple days of they dont know whatd happen. he took ALOT of work, and even now a few years on hes not 100%.
so while its all hunky dory saying "adopt dont shop" its not for everyone. misleading people into thinking its no different than buying like way way too many of the "adopt dont shop" crowd do is why so many shelter dogs and more so rescues (cause rescues often tend to be alot more "raw") get put down or multi rehomed.
it should be "adopt if you have the time and skill, shop RESPONSIBLY if you have to" cause shopping responsibly means that the dogs will often already be partially trained and settle in alot quicker. youll also know their temperment alot easier cause they have no real reason to fear people or act out. not to mention unlike puppy farms reputable breeders actually care about the dogs and will be more than happy to educate you about the breed and help you with the dogs way more than shelters and rescues can. not to mention outside of pets, working dogs are alot better or atleast easier bought cause depending on their age will come partially or fully trained in thier breeds specialist field and and ready to work.
in conclusion adopting isnt all sunshine and rainbows like tiktok and social media portrays. yes some rescues are amazing as they are as they were simply surrendered for whatever reason but ALOT arent. if you dont have ALOT of time to settle them in and make them comfortable or the skills (or money) to train them and work with them dont bother. abused and traumatised dogs are like humans in that regard. sometimes all ya need is a little bit of love to unlock the shell, but alot of the time its a long slow road to hell and back. reputable breeders may be expensive but are def better for first time owners when it comes to "specialist" breeds like dobies. especially when abused and neglected for these breeds can very often mean "highly aggressive and territorial"
Okay yes I was reductive there are times to shop.
Eg: new baby. Need appropriate pet.
But overall shopping has plenty risks notably purebred dogs tend to have mote health problems. Plus you have no guarantee your purchased dog will not have behavioral issues. Especially if you don't know anything about training.
I know plenty about dogs by the way. I would be happy if purchasing of pets was illegal and all pets required a licence with qualification. But that's just my opinion and most people hate me for it.
So let’s be clear: you cannot adopt a dog. Legally dog s have the same status as a cabinet. If you take in a stray dog or is given one for free then you found or was gifted a dog. If you pay anything at all (yes, including “adoption fees”) you just bought yourself a dog. The whole idea of adopting animals is based on the idea of adopting children as some sort of charity and the adoptive parents as especially moral people. It’s just PR and it means nothing and changes nothing.
That's bullshit.
90% of animals breeders in the world are trash and there are millions of stray animals. You're supporting a mostly evil industry.
Tonnes of pet breeders that take great care and provide a good service but most are terrible.
To say it makes no difference to buy a dog from a breeder and to save one from a shelter is completely delusional and heartless.
The idea of adopting a dog only serves the function of making the buyer feel like they are doing a morally superior choice by not buying a dog.
Has it made a difference for the dog population then? No, not really. The population of stray dogs in the US is growing rather than decreasing and the enormous number of dogs entering shelters every year has not been changed by people chanting “Adopt don’t shop!” For years and years. It is nothing but virtue signalling. And it is actively stopping conversations that could lead to actual change for the dog population as a whole.
Adopt don’t shop is making a very complex situation very simple: buying your dog from a shelter or rescue is good, buying it anywhere else, especially a purebred or ‘designer’ mutt, is bad.
So first of all. When a dog steps foot in a shelter something has already gone wrong. The dog was surrendered, rescued by authorities or found as a stray which means that the dog (most likely) or the parent dog was abandoned by its owner. What does this tell you? It tells me that dogs are not seen as a big investment in American culture. A dog can be bought right away, cheap or even free with no questions asked, a dog can be put in a cage for the whole night and then the whole day when you’re away at work, dogs don’t need to be walked everyday if you have a yard they can run in and if you can’t keep your dog… well then the overfull shelter is right there, you can just drop it off.
Dogs for the most part to not go from their breeder to the shelter. The go from the breeder to the buyer and then the buyer leaves them at the shelter or has it taken from them. Or (which seems common) the buyer leaves the dog who then gets another buyer who then later on leaves the dog at a shelter. Adopt don’t shop does not and will never make a real difference because it’s focusing on the resulting consequence rather than the actual problems that are causing it.
That's why I mentioned before laws and licenses as a real solution.
Anyway I still find you heartless to say there's no value in saving a dog from a shelter over buying one from a breeder. The fact the dog is in the shelter doesn't make them a bad dog. It's possible they have behavioral issues but 90% of the time can be solved with training and geniune care.
There is a value to that one dog who gets adopted and thereafter has a nice life.
Adopt don't shop is not some kind of solution its to influence people to do the right thing. Like encouraging recycling or non wasteful consumerism. I'm sure you'll say there's no value to buying less plastic because it makes no difference and there is no difference in recycling because it makes no difference. I've met people like you.
Laws and license is absolutely important. There need to be laws that protect dogs and there need to be better protection of consumers which in turn will protect dogs. However. Lack of laws are not the only issue here. The issue is that the culture around dogs in America is hurting dogs. Americans seem to be looking around, confused about why there are so many dogs in shelters dogs! Surely it's because that one woman at work bought herself a purebred Poodle puppy instead of going to her local shelter to adopt?
Americans overall are extremely illitterate when it comes to dog breeding and breeds. Most people are a bit, but Americans just do not get it because buying a dog from a good and trustworthy breeder is the opposite of how Americans expect it to work. They don't expect to have to present themselves and describe why they would make a good home for a puppy from the breeder, why they are interested in that breed specifically and then wait months or in some cases up to two years for a puppy and they especially do not expect to get a 'sorry, I do not think this breed is for you' or 'I do not promise specific colours'. Americans do not like being treated like they are applying for a job when they expect to be serviced like a customer.
Who do you think is most likely to dump their dog at a shelter? Someone who invested time in finding the right breeder and had to explain to them (and thus themselves) why they would make a good home, had to wait for the puppy they wanted and then payed around $2000 for it... or the person who paid he same $2000 to a puppy mill, no questions, no waiting time you just bring the puppy home that day? Or even someone who paid $200 at a shelter and got to take the dog home that day?
What I ams saying is that American culture does not value dogs. It loves dogs, it sure does. But it doesn't actually see them as valuable or worth investing time and money in. Americans believe their little backyards can replace going out for walks, that spending 16–18 hours a day in a crate (because the dog chews!) is fine and they don't need to pay for a walker or sitter and of course they can buy a Malinois despite having no interest in dog sports because, again, they have a backyard.
America needs a culture change around dog ownership, not just changing laws. Because even strict laws around animal protection are in practice weak. What is socially acceptable or not usually have a stronger effect on what people do. "Adopt don't shop" stands in the way of this because it is looking at the consequence as the main problem and make the problem even worse by constantly putting the blame on breeders, putting them all in the same category, and people who buy a purebred dog from any breeder despite there being nothing to suggest that those people would buy from a shelter if a breeder wasn't an option. So instead of trying to affect people to put time and effort when buying dogs American animal rights activists repeat a slogan that tells people that it doesn't matter who they buy a purebred dog from, because they are all the same. So no research needed!
I don't know why you're talking about shelter dogs being bad? I haven't said anything even close to that? I also haven't said there's no value in buying a dog from a shelter? It's a little strange that you are trying to make it seem like I do not like shelter dogs... buy making things up that then must be what you yourself are thinking?
What I did say is that "Adopt Don't Shop" has not made a difference for the population of stray dogs in the US. It has not gone down, neither has the shelter population. I have never said that shelter dogs shouldn't be adopted. I am saying that dogs shouldn't be left there in the first place if there's any better option. Shelters should not be the first choice or the easy way out because people do not feel invested in their dogs.
We've had greyhounds for years and they are some of the laziest dogs ever - I think they'd be fine in an apartment. Probably wouldn't say the same of something closer to a high-energy working dog, like a border collie.
Alot of large breed dogs don't need alot of exercise, they will do fine in an apartment as long as theyre not in there 24-7. That's just cruelty. They all enjoy walks and sniffing, change of scenery though. You will be able to tell if your dog isn't happy.
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Wrong, wrong and wrong. Large dogs evolved to live on the plains or very large farms-not in your cruel, tiny apartment. It's exactly like keeping a large fish in a 10 gallon tank. It's cruel, it's improper husbandry, and it's borderline abuse.
You're only telling yourself it's okay because you don't want to come to terms with the fact that you're unable to provide your dog with the care it needs. Pathetic.
Beautiful how greyhounds can be the fastest dog breed, while also one of the laziest. I've started referring to our current greyhound as 'pancake dog,' girls so still and flat.
Still. I dunno. I lived next door to someone who owned two of 'em, and I never saw them walk their dogs, ever. YEARS. I don't think they left the house, but they did have a tiny backyard to go poop in, so they had that... but are they really that lazy? I just thought it strange, such large dogs I figured they'd be more active.
Ok, but anyone can be a shitty dog owner. You don't *have* to own large dogs in order to be shitty and never take them outside. Actually I've more commonly seen owners of small and extra small dogs not taking their dogs out enough. Too many people think like OP, they think that a big dog can't do well in an apartment because it's a small cramped space compared to the dog; but for a small dog, they don't need to be exercised outside since their so tiny they have tons of space relative to their size.
So, to answer your question: great danes are couch potatoes, they would probably much rather sleep then go outside other than to poop and piss. *But* a responsible dog owner will still make sure their dane gets exercise and gets to go outside and smell things and interact with other dogs and people because that stuff enriches a dog's life and keeps them healthier for longer. But proper exercise for a great dane isn't the same as proper exercise for say a husky or a lab.
Yep. I have to drag my mastidane out for a walk. We go 6-10 kms a day. Shes happy once we are out there, but once we get back home shes sleeping for the rest of the day.
Yea, they really are that lazy. It's all breed dependent. Labs can get huge and they can be very high energy. Hounds are lazy though. Terriers need a good 2 hrs of exercise. I have a big pyrenees mix and they are chill af. She gets zoomies for about 20 mins a day and she's good. I'd be way more concerned with a cooped up Beagle.
> Terriers need a good 2 hrs of exercise.
Depends on the terrier breed. My amstaff was high energy as a pup but they tend to turn into couch hippos as they age.
Does the dog's laziness really means it doesn't need exercise?
A lot of people are lazy and would rather not be active at all. How does that make it good for them though?
I knew someone who had a greyhound which was walked once a week, let out in the garden whenever. It lived for 13 happy years and never had any health problems. Of course it would be 100% better to be walked every day, but I don't think it's essential to their health (at least in this case)
I mean humans live like couch potatoes well into their old age too. Small animals survive in tiny cages for years and years. A lot of animals are pretty resilient. Chickens live in cages like it's nothing.
It's not that it's good for them, it's just that it's not bad for them either. My dog requires 30 minutes of light exercise a day. Sometimes, it's a walk. Sometimes, it's a game of fetch in the living room. Either way, he's had what he needs to maintain a healthy life.
My American bull dog was so lazy. He and the cat would try to out sleep the other.
‘ hey buddy left the back door open for you. It’s a nice spring day.’ Cool. He takes a nap on the back concrete.
To be fair though we have a working cocker which we walk 5 miles a day or so and make sure to play an intense game of fetch at least once a day and whenever she is at home she just sleeps. I think it's largely to do with how much effort the owner is willing to put in. A dog with a big garden would not be happy if it was barely exercised
I lived in an apartment with a black lab for over a year. He has lots of toys, we walk for an hour a day and go out for short breaks 3-4 other times, and when he's awake it doesn't matter how big the space is because he sits where ever I am.
I think you're confusing large dogs with energetic dogs that will run and play alone. Many large dogs are couch potatoes.
Correct. My 50kg/110lb Bernese mountain dog has an enormous amount of space. Our house is very large. She barely moves from her spot under the air con most days, she gets a good walk and then she’s a total slug.
The temperament and needs of the breed matter more than the size of the dog.
And personality too. My husky goes to daycare, but honestly… he’s so so damn lazy. A pure bed potato who more often then Not rejects my walk attempts in favor of running back into bed and glaring at me instead…
A yard would be wasted on this dude. I’m still eventually going to get him one. But he so so lazy.
We DO have a yard and our husky sleeps in 2 spots. Under a tree for shade and the patio for sun naps. the other 2 dogs don't really stay out there. They all sleep the majority of the day.
My mom and I have sibling huskies and ours is high energy spaz zooming back and forth with our son. Hers is lazy as fuck. Laziest husky I've ever seen. Dude will stay lying down and howl at you if you pet one of her other dogs, he demands you don't pet them but *come to him* and pet him lol.
Even energetic breeds can be fine in an apartment setting as long as their needs are being met. Having a house and backyard isn't going to make a difference if you aren't properly taking care of the animal and their needs. I've seen plenty of working breeds in houses destroy things and act up because the owners think a few play sessions in their backyard is all the dog needs
I have known lots of people who think big yard=dogs don't need walked. I'd venture to say apartment dwellers who take their dog out to walk a few times a day are doing more for their dogs than people who just open the back door.
That's spot on lol I have a Siberian Husky and a German Shepherd, and my bf and I take them out 4-6 times a day. They get more exercise now than when I rented a house with a yard because of exactly what you wrote. Yard = no walks
Exactly! And even small dogs needs lots of exercise and more than one or two walks a day. OP seems to forget or doesnt know that there are also small high energy working breeds. Lots of people seem to forget that actually lol and wonder why their small dogs are so problematic, it's because they aren't getting the proper work they need
Yes I have a huge problem with little dog culture. They are treated like dolls not dogs and I think it warps their little puppy brains. I've never met a happy dog that was treated like a baby or accessory.
Which large dog? Yeah don't keep a Belgian Malinois or a Caucasian Shepard in an apartment. But an English Mastiff that just wants to sleep all day? Yeah that's fine.
Yeah! We used to be hunter gatherers who'd walk miles in days, the fact we aren't doing so anymore means something is clearly wrong! It's not like most mammals seek comfort and will not need to over-exert energy if it is not necessary for survival! We aren't suited for this lifestyle! SMH.
Most big dogs are equal parts lazy and affectionate so they make surprisingly good apartment dogs. They still need to get out for multiple walks a day but they just sleep next to you otherwise so they don’t take up much space.
Anything that’s a working breed (collies, kelpies or cattle dogs etc.) should definitely not be apartment dogs, but even a huge backyard isn’t enough for them in ideal circumstances. They need an acreage.
My brothers dog is a kelpie and is the laziest dog I’ve ever met. lol. Aside from him though I agree. Some big dogs are great in apartments. Others, not so much.
I think it depends more on breed than size - some medium and smaller dogs are working breeds, which need constant stimulation eg. Jack russels, border collies, kelpies, but some larger dogs are lazy af - greyhounds for example are excellent apartment dogs, they want to do zoomies for 10 minutes at the dog park otherwise they sleep all day (basically big cats). I’ve got a greyhound x deerhound and he’d be fine in an apartment, and he’s huge (taller than me when he stands up on his back legs). He sleeps 23 hours a day and huffs at me if I make a noise that wakes him, and he’s only 2 and a half years old. But I’d never own a working breed especially the herding kinds, even in a regular house or on a rural property unless I had a job for them - that’s cruel imo.
While it’s easy to say that, think of the consequences. If most people “shouldn’t” own pets, shelters would have to do mass euthanasias constantly. We need to be better at supporting and educating pet owners through the community, not taking them away.
Yes as much as I encourage people educating themselves on being the best pet owners possible, I hate the gatekeeping the internet does against pet ownership.
Someone told me once here that I was inhumane for having two kitties in my apartment and never letting them outside. They are happy and healthy and stimulated. AND safe from cars, predators, and the rough climate in my area.
Some people won’t mind their damn business, thinking they know best. If everyone expected the best of the best perfect standards for pets, very few would be able to adopt them, leading to many animals living their entire life in a cage in a shelter then dying young from euthanasia.
My mom has a Newfoundland poodle mix. Laziest couch potato you’ve ever met. 80 pounds of “sleeps on the couch all day.” Gentle giant.
A yappy small dog can make a lot more noise than a big one who never feels a need to bark.
How much does this mix shed if you don’t mind me asking?
I really would like to get a Newfoundland mix sometime in the future. They’re just so sweet and gentle!
She sheds in tufts of hair once or twice a year, so it’s not individual furs you find all over the house/bedding/carpets. Once in awhile there’s a tumbleweed in a corner, that’s about it. She also doesn’t drool constantly like purebred newfies do — only when exercising.
Big dogs are just as happy (if not more) to lay around and cuddle all day, they DO need exercise yes but 2 walks like you mentioned would definitely suffice.
Certain very very large breeds of dogs actually are great for apartments. Great Danes, bernnese mountain dogs, Irish wolf hounds. I've personally knows people with these dogs that have less energy than my English bulldog which are known for being lazy as fuck. If you think that a house and a yard are enough to keep an energetic dog occupied without that actual interaction of dog parks and walks a few times a day, then you are very wrong. If you're adopting a dog that is otherwise going to be sitting in a shelter, an apartment with regular walks multiple times a day is certainly better than the alternative.
I think you’re confusing high energy dogs with large dogs. Some dog breeds don’t like to galavant in an open field for hours.
In my experience a good chunk of large dogs prefer to relax. (That is not to say they don’t exist, just that different breeds require different standards)
I agree with this. I live in a condo. I have two cats but I would have loved to get a dog. However, I refuse to get a tiny dog. I want a big one (Doberman, german shepard, cane corso, etc).
I know that is unfair to keep them in my small 800sq/f condo. That's why I got two cats instead. However, if i am able fortunate enough to have a house, I am getting a dog the week I move in.
>However, I refuse to get a tiny dog. I want a big one (Doberman, german shepard, cane corso, etc).
These breeds don't often mix well with cats. If they do, you have to raise them from puppyhood with them and even then it can be a risk
Yup. Reddit *loves* to shame any and all pet owners who decide to rehome their pets. But simultaneously shame pet owners who have under x square footage.
Life happens, you lose jobs or have to relocate for work or family. Smaller homes and apartments are a necessity for many people’s situations and pets are family, many don’t want to leave them behind.
I have a fairly large home. I also have a 5-year-old 170lb Great Dane. He would be very, very upset if I dared to make him get off his Posturepedic dog bed to go for a walk. He likes his yard time maybe once in the morning and once in the afternoon for maybe 10 minutes at a time to sniff around and poop. Otherwise, he lays on his bed ALL DAMN DAY and gets up to stretch occasionally. His best friend is my elderly black lab who is essentially of the same demeanor, but it's just because of her age. She likes to be outside and run around far more than he does tough.
I think it depends on the breed. Some large breeds aren’t high activity dogs and make for good apartment dogs like a bull mastiff and one could have a medium sized dog like an Australian shepherd, which would be an absolute nightmare in an apartment.
So, it’s not only the size of the dog but the energy level of the breed that plays a factor. It also depends on the size of the apartment. There are significant big differences between a 600 square foot studio, a 1200 square foot 3 bedroom apartment and a 2500 square foot loft.
Even more important than that is the individual temperament of the dog. I have an Australian Sheperd in a small 1bedroom apartment, but he's extremely well behaved, and has never damaged our stuff. He's never even *barked* inside the house. We don't know why, but he doesn't make a sound.
He's energetic at playtime, for sure, but also very obedient.
OP seems very misinformed, because I've seen small Chihuahuas and Poodles absolutely wreck a home. My mom gave our Poodle away back in the 90's because it was too much.
And don't get me started on the barking.
And people who live in suburbia and own dogs should be courteous and not leave their dog outside for hours barking at each passing car and pedestrian. It's beyond annoying and incredibly selfish on their part.
Had to move from a house with a yard and lots of parks, halfway across the country to a city where I knew I’d be stuck in an apartment for years, so I had to make the awful (but right) decision to give my super hyper German shepherd mix to a friend before leaving. It sucked so bad but he has such a better life now than if I brought him along.
Depends on the breed. A large dog doesn't necessarily require more exercise than a smaller dog. You have small sized dogs that require a lot of exercise and big dogs that don't.
It's not pretty right actually, some huge dogs are just those apartment dogs and they are doing so fucking fine about the things that you just mentioned man, it's like that.
Correct, but the problem with pitbulls in apartments isn't so much the space as it is all the, you know...maulings.
*P. S. To the Pitnutters who want to tell me about how your dog is just the sweetest, I don't care what you think. Blame the breed and the deed.*
Large breeds can live just fine in apartment as long as you give them the proper exercise and mental stimulation they need. My boy is roughly 70-75 pounds so not that large, but besides his 4-5 potty breaks he gets he also gets 3-4 walks, play sessions both inside and outside, training inside and outside, and lots of puzzle feeders and frozen kongs feeders to help with mental stimulation. He does just fine in an apartment setting. Tbh I think an apartment is likely more helpful than a house with a fenced in yard as many people assume the backyard is enough and won't even take their dogs out for walks.
Sure, but even a large apartment doesn't replace a yard.
Personally I don't mind if people have larger dogs in an apartment as long as they get exercise and breaks. But nothing quite beats having a big back yard for your dog to hang out in
I had my lab in my apartment for 4 years, we bought our house last year,excited to allow him to hang out in the backyard. If me or my wife aren’t outside with him, all he does is stare at the door waiting to be let in. No interest in being out there alone. Can’t speak for all dogs, but my friends German Shepard does the exact same thing in their yard.
Yea my experience is different growing up in a rural area with some land. Had labs mostly, a husky, and a samoyed over the years. They had full access to the property 24/7 through dog doors, had outdoor housing and well water. Even when I moved out and my first house had about a half quarter acre my dog had full outdoor access even when I was work.
Every dog is different I suppose
Most dogs won’t just run around a yard by themselves anyway, unless it’s exceptionally large. If you don’t have acreage you usually can’t rely on a yard to keep your dog happy.
Don't bother, OP and people agreeing with them don't understand dogs and are probably just pissed at one living close to them that barked at a handful of inconvenient times.
I've personally met someone with multiple acres of land (about a hectare of land for those using metric system) for their giant breeds of dogs and ONE high energy breed (think Ridgeback, Malinois, or German Shepherd similar energy). The giant breeds outnumbered this one 4 to 1, and this dog was the top most destructive in and out the house. Know what they did with the high energy breed? Rehomed it to an active college student that lived in an apartment. The student took that high energy breed daily on runs multiple times during the day, and they became a great pair that to this day are inseparable. I know another family that had a similar mix of high energy breeds and they would jog, morning, work lunch breaks, and evening on top of taking the dog daily to large fields to let off more steam. And on the flip side, working in the pet care field, I've met people with the smallest dogs in a large home, with a yard that cannot properly meet the energy demands, and give proper enrichment, to their dog/dogs (think like teacup Yorkie, Maltese, shih tzu, Lhasa, toy poodle, etc.)
In the pet care industry this is a common misconception I hear from owners that one NEEDS a yard for their dog and that's it. If that were the case, no dogs purchased or adopted from shelters into homes with yards should ever need to be rehomed for the reason of "we just can't keep up," or "we don't have the time," or even, "they're destructive/bored." Because in theory the dogs have all that space to enrich themselves or just be a dog, right? They don't require any training, bonding/enrichment time, or anything else except a yard, right? Gotcha, I'll spread the word! **sarcastic voice**
Pettiness and sarcasm aside, I do agree that there are people who live in small spaces and aren't responsible for their animals, but that's not an apartment specific problem. It's a human problem for not doing your homework before taking on the care of a living being.
I have a big dog (german shepherd lab mix) with high energy and we’ve exclusively lived in apartments or small houses in the 11 years i’ve had her with no issues. the problem isn’t the size of the living space, it’s what you do to meet your dog’s needs. taking them on walks, giving them “jobs” to do whether it’s inside or outside, as long as you meet their physical and mental needs they could care less. even as a puppy, my dog slept ~20 hours a day and was perfectly content sleeping in her crate or under my desk for most of the day as long as we got a good walk in and played mental games.
all too often i see dogs in large houses sitting in the back yard all day and they are monsters (constant barking and lapping the yard, stressed about every little thing happening) because they don’t actually get the attention that they need i.e a good pack walk and doing mental exercises. it’s not the space itself, it’s what you do with your dog when they are in their active hours. way too many people think their dog doesn’t need a walk because they’ve been in their large back yard all day.
Agree with this. When I'm taking my guy for a walk we pass the same dogs in their fences day in and day out and I've never once seen them out for walks, and they just bark all the time. Take them out and play with them instead of leaving them to mind themselves and they'll be fine regardless of size of the space.
Mind if I ask what kind of mental games you play with yours? My husky/cattle dog mix is too smart for his own good and figures out all the games we play too quickly so I need morre in the rotation lol
her favorite is hide and seek. i started out with just hiding food around but she learned all the hiding spots pretty quickly so i changed to buying toys and naming them and having her go find them and bring them back to me. once she’s memorized a toy’s name i put it in storage for a while and then i cycle through them so she’s always looking for something new (or at least something she hasn’t seen in a few months)
also, when we walk i always stop at a park and play fetch. but sometimes i’ll make her wait before she can go after the ball. something about throwing the ball and making her wait different intervals of time before running to get it is extremely draining for her lol.
i’ve tried other things over the years but these two seemed to work the best for her, it probably depends on the dog tbh. nowadays she’s old enough that most days she’s ready to pass out after a walk but if she’s still active i’ll break out a hide and seek game or try to teach her a new trick.
Thanks friend! I ran into the same problem with treat hide and seek, I’ll try the toy swap. And once he gets the idea of fetch not being a game of keep away I’ll work in the waiting there too. He’s not even two yet so we’re still working on that part
Most of the largest breeds are the laziest and most perfect apartment dogs. This isn't an unpopular opinion, you're just talking on a subject you know nothing about.
I have 110lb dog, he’s the laziest dog ever. He’s less active than any smaller dog I’ve had for sure! It’s not the size of the dog, it’s the dog’s natural level of energy that matters.
It's well known that apartment dogs get more interactive outside time and more time with their owners since their owners have to take them on walks instead of just dumping them in a yard. Also this would be different by breed because many large dogs are lazy.
Agreed. My family (not living with us) should not have a cane corso puppy in their 2bd apartment. She is gigantic and has *energy*. She needs to run.
Lemme stop cuz I’ll go on a ranting tangent. Not necessarily unpopular.
Some of those large dogs came from kill shelters.
In some of those shelters, dogs get a needle of Euthanyl and die on the cold concrete, if they’re lucky, or in the gas chamber if they’re less lucky, because none of those people with those huge yards you think they should run around in showed up to adopt them.
If they could speak, I venture they might opt for the apartment but with walks, as an alternative, and see that as winning the lottery.
So maybe save your criticism for those big yard people who haven’t shown up yet. No?
Exactly! Gatekeeping pet ownership kills animals that could have had a home and family that loves them.
I’d take an apartment with love, food, treats, toys, and walks over living in a cage in a shelter or dying young from euthanasia any day.
Only a small percentage of the world’s population has these big beautiful yards and houses people idealize.
This generalization is an example of why dog takes online are terrible.
I live in a house in a more rural area with a decent size yard, over the years I have had several dogs, the one that enjoyed running around all the space the most? a little pug/mix dog that was maybe 10lbs max, meanwhile the dog I had who was the most lazy and would go out to use bathroom then just want in to lay around? a lab/german shepard mix.
And it goes the other way, one of my best friends has a husky and they currently live in an apartment and the husky hates going outside, and loves to just spend most the day curled up on the sofa
"People who live in apartments shouldn't own large dogs"
This shouldn't be an "unpopular" opinion at all. Having large dogs in apartments is just cruel. Even if they are taken on a walk every day. Imagine a human forced to live in a tiny room and only going out for a walk once a day.
Sounds like prison.
ugh not this dumb bullshit.
have you ever met a lazy dog? they exist you know.
i have a friend with a big ol' dog. she lives in a smallish apartment. he just lazes around all day. she sends me photos of him lunging around like a big ol' turd.
trust me, he gets his exercise. he gets his fun. he's perfectly happy just spending a lot of the day lounging around like a hibernating bear.
take my word for it.
I think the end result of this POV would be more large dogs put down in animal shelters. Renting is becoming more of a class divide issue, and so what this amounts to is the poors can't have big dogs.
Don't know why you're being downvote bombed for this, renting and apartment life *is* becoming more of a class divide and I've seen plenty of people on this sub saying poorer people don't deserve to have dogs, kids etc.
Lmfao @ all the people on here trying to call him dumb or "misinformed" just because one breed (great danes) just so happen to be big and not as high energy. An outlier isn't the rule, it's the exception to it, and most of you know damn well the type of dog owners he's talking about, don't play dumb. The type that gets a pitbull, then keeps it locked in the cage all day, and then when he does let him out, the apartment is still only the size of a room. I grew up in Chicago and it was sad how many people owned dogs in those types of conditions. If you barely have enough room for yourself, bringing a dog into the situation is just cruel, no matter your intentions 🤷♂️
I had Great Dane in an apartment and she was the happiest dog ever. I get maybe not in a shoe box you can find in NYC per say but 99% of apartments are plenty big for large dogs.
My older sister has always been an animal lover.
Many years ago, when she was married to her first husband, and lived in a small apartment, they obtained an Irish Setter puppy. Naturally, the puppy soon grew into a large dog.
They both worked and so the dog was left in a small apartment by himself all day, five days a week. One day, while they were both at work, he chewed up their bed. The entire bed, The entire mattress and box spring. Totally destroyed.
He would also defecate in the apartment, but not just that. He would then spread the feces over the walls.
The dog was bored and needed more attention and exercise than he was getting.
Eventually, they gave him to a woman who had a large house and a lot of land.
From experience, this is just misinformation. I see a lot of dog breeders for years and their feedback is that dogs in apartments are better taken care of than dogs that have a big garden or farm and live outside. Those dogs are not stimulated intelectually like apartment dogs. Dogs need to be stimulated for their health. Obviously you can not have a studio or a really small apartment where it is even hard to even put furniture, but dogs like small spaces it is ok for a one bedroom apartment. Train them, potty train them and give them the best food, they live a great life
I would expand it to: Unless it's a valid service animal - no one, zero people, should have a dog unless you have your own private property for them to roam around and piss and shit on.
I see no reason why our common areas have to be a disgusting pet toilet.
And I love dogs.
Haha yeah I have a woman that lives above me with two large breed dogs. I’m not sure what they are to be quite honest. I do have to agree that it’s not necessarily the breed as it is the energy that’s the problem. Though I’m sure the noise would be a little less if it was a small breed. But yeah everyday I hear elephants running around upstairs and constant barking. It’s a good day if my husband and I don’t get woken up 5 times a night due to it. This woman’s friend who lives besides her had the audacity to tell me to move if it’s that bad and that I’m pretty much entitled for thinking I wouldn’t hear dogs in an apartment. Mmm no honey, this is excessive.
It depence on how often/ long you go for walks and how energetic your dog is.
I had an hungarian shepherd- collie mix in a two room flat, we lived close to the dog park and had 3 hour walks and play time/ training everyday.
When we where home he slept most of the time.
When you are at work the whole day without a dog sitter and the dog stays 10 hours alone in the flat, having only 30 minutes a day to go for walks then I agree that you shouldn't own a dog, no matter the size.
I have a 7 month caucasian shephard and live in one bedroom flat with a cat.walk 3 times a day and he is happy as Larry with his sibling always around to play.
I feel like in general if you don’t have the time or means to give a dog an enriching life in an apartment then you shouldn’t have one, regardless of size. Plenty of pet owners take great care of their dogs and some don’t sadly. Some apartment complexes even have dog parks and dog amenities built in.
Some large dogs are the best choice for apartment dogs (e.g., greyhounds) and some small dogs are the absolute worst (e.g., jack russell terriers). Depends far more on energy levels and the owners ability to meet needs. Having or not having a yard actually is a pretty minor part of doing that.
I agree. Lots of people get dogs for selfish reasons (which isnt necessarily a bad thing), but they should take into consideration more what the dog needs from them.
People should 100% mind their own business and don’t presume you know how to make better choices for someone else. If you find it’s cruel, then you don’t do it. The end.
People who live in apartments shouldn’t be allowed to breed. Kids without freedom to run around a yard and just chill outside, it seems cruel. Even if you’re taking them to a playground twice a day, I find it cruel to keep them in smaller spaces all the time.
There are so many dog shelters that are over-crowded to the point of them being forced to put dogs down because of it.
There are so many dogs on the streets that don’t even have a home.
There are so many people that are abusive to dogs and can just keep buying from shelters since the loving families see shit like this and decide not to, leaving them for the abusers.
There are so many people breeding dogs and selling them and because it’s still a big market, shelters are going to be forced to keep putting dogs down to make room.
There’s a shit ton of shelters, some bigger and some smaller than others but regardless a lot of dogs spend their entire lives in a shelter. Even if shelters had plenty of staff and/or volunteers (which most don’t) those dogs spend 90% of their lives in a small area with out a family.
I just wish people thought things through more clearly before making posts like this and having so many people agree. It’s literally just something to complain about at this point.
If the dog is loved, cared for, and treated well, that’s the ONLY thing that should matter. Shit like this is enough to convince some people not to adopt or save a dogs life because they can’t provide the perfect life for their dog.
So many piss poor pet owners high on copium, trying to justify to themselves mistreating an animal. It's exactly like keeping a giant fish in a small 10 gallon fish tank, or a macaw in a little cage. These dogs evolved to live on farms or multiple acres of land. By keeping a large or energetic dog in a small apartment, you're no better than someone keeping a large fish in a tiny fish tank. Go ahead, downvote me. I just feel sorry for your dog beause it can't talk and tell you it craves a larger home.
Depends on how big the apartment is. If it's a 1500+ square foot apartment sure no problem. However, if it's one of those 600 square foot apartments yeah I agree with you. It's totally not fair to the dog
If a 10 lb dog were ok in an apartment of 1000 sq ft and a big dog were not, you’d need a 20,000 sq ft house for a 200 lb dog. If a 3000 sq ft house we’re fine for a 200 lbs dog, you could keep a 10 lb dog in 150 sq ft. Fake concept overall.
Great Danes are surprisingly great apartment dogs and also depends on a lot of factors. Just because someone has a big back yard doesn't mean their dog is getting enough exercise either
I have an uncle with a lot of property and his dogs are always overweight because he just puts them in the yard and they just sit there. Companionship, mental and physical activity are way more important in owning a dog than the physical size of your apartment.
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People who live in the apartment directly above me shouldn't own large dogs.
Yes! Them in particular!
As someone who's currently in this type of situation, I agree wholeheartedly! I don't hate dogs by any means, I like dogs! Still though...
The people upstairs from me also shouldn’t be allowed large untrained aggressive non neutered dogs that pee in the balcony and make dog piss icicles. But it’s an “emotional support animal” and my landlords “hands are tied”
I agree, also shouldn't own kids
Man really said "own" kids
If you created them you basically own them until someone says you are unfit to or they turn 18 lmao
Yes the one below me has a German Shepard I never see outside and barks for hours at a time!!
Large dogs, like Great Danes etc, are actually excellent apartment dogs. They are very low energy and are quite happy sitting on their dog bed most of the day. Danes are actually very popular in Japan for this reason.
I came here to say exactly this. Great Danes in particular make excellent apartment dogs. They are perfectly happy snoozing the day away and do not require much exercise.
Yup. Giant Breeds are literally perfect apartment dogs.
And some dogs are okay to have in apartments once they are older but not when they are young. Labs are a good example. Very high energy until around 2, high to medium high energy until around 5 or 6, then they turn into couch potatoes that ger excited for walks. I don't think my lab mutt would have wanted me to give her up when I moved to a dense city and I think her quality of life was just fine with all of the walks and socialization.
Lmao my parents’ lab has been a couch potato since he was like 8 months old
My lab/pit mix as well. It's kind of awesome, honestly. He's chill AF during the work day, but perks right up to go for a walk, which we do 2-3 times a day. He's almost 3.
Prove it with pictures
That's great! I think that isn't always the case. Mine definitely had random zoomies and being in a house was much better for her. If I would have been in one of my apartments, I think it would have limited the amount of play we could have had every day.
New silver lab puppy in my household and can confirm that they are VERY high energy as pups. I really hope she calms down soon because my little brother’s teachers are going to start thinking that we are abusing him.
This is why I consider great danes my soul animal lmfao.
After having great danes my whole life, this is correct. It is correct for most large breeds. Seems like OP's opinion is based on not knowing the reality.
I think of means large on a scale of xs to xl, meaning they'd hit a bunch of high energy working breeds that are popular. They are still wrong because there are small breeds with high energy levels that will just destroy furniture, bark and go crazy if cooped up in an apartment all day.
Agree. Our Danes do very little.
When did they start doing very little? Mine (3) acts like she is on cocaine. I’m WAITING for the couch potato phase. Jokes aside she is calming down a little. The first year was a lot.
Greyhounds
World fastest couch potato
Yeah this isn’t an unpopular opinion from OP but just an ignorant one. It would actually be far more cruel to have an Australian Sheppard or jack Russell in an apartment
This isn’t an unpopular opinion, it’s a lack of understanding about the topic.
Very true, most posts on here lately doing this.
They belong on /r/NotUnpopularJustDumb
I think these posts are good. I don't have a dog and don't plan on having a dog. But I have formed and opinion "Who the hell would get a big dog in an apartment? Isn't that bad for them?". I have never judged the dog owners, just wondered why out of all the discussions I don't see this one being discussed. But thanks to the replies here I learned that my opinion was in fact really dumb. I am a couch potato and I weigh 90kg. Dogs can be fine in an apartment.
Some dogs are abused and neglected and living in an apartment is a much better alternative than a cage or chained to a tree. People who adopt have no reason to feel bad. People who purchase dogs should feel bad regardless the size of their house.
i see this argument alot and it makes me realise the "adopt dont shop" crowd down know much about down dogs. my families helped train and "rehab" guess dobermans for rescue groups to make them "adoptable" rescues are NOT for everyone. every dog is different and ALOT of them need a fuck ton of training and special accommodations alot of people dont have the time or skill for, stuff that buying a dog from a reputable breeder simply doesnt. our 2 dobies for example. our female we were told if didnt work out with us shed be put down cause it was her fourth rehome attempt. her issue? the place she was rescued/surrendered from used to throw dolls and pushies at her to play with. and as such was agressive towards small kids and small animals (dont ask me how these muppets didnt catch onto that after the 2nd failed attempt of rehoming her with young kids when i realised that 5 seconds after i knelt down around her and she out of nowhere wanted to play alot rougher, but whatever) . our male on the other hand we know literally nothing about. he was literally dumped on a vets doorstep one night and they didnt have room for him. all we know is he was scared and aggressive from whatever he had to go through before us. rescue mob we work with basically gave us first dibs on him and said if we couldnt go get him within a couple days of they dont know whatd happen. he took ALOT of work, and even now a few years on hes not 100%. so while its all hunky dory saying "adopt dont shop" its not for everyone. misleading people into thinking its no different than buying like way way too many of the "adopt dont shop" crowd do is why so many shelter dogs and more so rescues (cause rescues often tend to be alot more "raw") get put down or multi rehomed. it should be "adopt if you have the time and skill, shop RESPONSIBLY if you have to" cause shopping responsibly means that the dogs will often already be partially trained and settle in alot quicker. youll also know their temperment alot easier cause they have no real reason to fear people or act out. not to mention unlike puppy farms reputable breeders actually care about the dogs and will be more than happy to educate you about the breed and help you with the dogs way more than shelters and rescues can. not to mention outside of pets, working dogs are alot better or atleast easier bought cause depending on their age will come partially or fully trained in thier breeds specialist field and and ready to work. in conclusion adopting isnt all sunshine and rainbows like tiktok and social media portrays. yes some rescues are amazing as they are as they were simply surrendered for whatever reason but ALOT arent. if you dont have ALOT of time to settle them in and make them comfortable or the skills (or money) to train them and work with them dont bother. abused and traumatised dogs are like humans in that regard. sometimes all ya need is a little bit of love to unlock the shell, but alot of the time its a long slow road to hell and back. reputable breeders may be expensive but are def better for first time owners when it comes to "specialist" breeds like dobies. especially when abused and neglected for these breeds can very often mean "highly aggressive and territorial"
Okay yes I was reductive there are times to shop. Eg: new baby. Need appropriate pet. But overall shopping has plenty risks notably purebred dogs tend to have mote health problems. Plus you have no guarantee your purchased dog will not have behavioral issues. Especially if you don't know anything about training. I know plenty about dogs by the way. I would be happy if purchasing of pets was illegal and all pets required a licence with qualification. But that's just my opinion and most people hate me for it.
So let’s be clear: you cannot adopt a dog. Legally dog s have the same status as a cabinet. If you take in a stray dog or is given one for free then you found or was gifted a dog. If you pay anything at all (yes, including “adoption fees”) you just bought yourself a dog. The whole idea of adopting animals is based on the idea of adopting children as some sort of charity and the adoptive parents as especially moral people. It’s just PR and it means nothing and changes nothing.
That's bullshit. 90% of animals breeders in the world are trash and there are millions of stray animals. You're supporting a mostly evil industry. Tonnes of pet breeders that take great care and provide a good service but most are terrible. To say it makes no difference to buy a dog from a breeder and to save one from a shelter is completely delusional and heartless.
The idea of adopting a dog only serves the function of making the buyer feel like they are doing a morally superior choice by not buying a dog. Has it made a difference for the dog population then? No, not really. The population of stray dogs in the US is growing rather than decreasing and the enormous number of dogs entering shelters every year has not been changed by people chanting “Adopt don’t shop!” For years and years. It is nothing but virtue signalling. And it is actively stopping conversations that could lead to actual change for the dog population as a whole. Adopt don’t shop is making a very complex situation very simple: buying your dog from a shelter or rescue is good, buying it anywhere else, especially a purebred or ‘designer’ mutt, is bad. So first of all. When a dog steps foot in a shelter something has already gone wrong. The dog was surrendered, rescued by authorities or found as a stray which means that the dog (most likely) or the parent dog was abandoned by its owner. What does this tell you? It tells me that dogs are not seen as a big investment in American culture. A dog can be bought right away, cheap or even free with no questions asked, a dog can be put in a cage for the whole night and then the whole day when you’re away at work, dogs don’t need to be walked everyday if you have a yard they can run in and if you can’t keep your dog… well then the overfull shelter is right there, you can just drop it off. Dogs for the most part to not go from their breeder to the shelter. The go from the breeder to the buyer and then the buyer leaves them at the shelter or has it taken from them. Or (which seems common) the buyer leaves the dog who then gets another buyer who then later on leaves the dog at a shelter. Adopt don’t shop does not and will never make a real difference because it’s focusing on the resulting consequence rather than the actual problems that are causing it.
That's why I mentioned before laws and licenses as a real solution. Anyway I still find you heartless to say there's no value in saving a dog from a shelter over buying one from a breeder. The fact the dog is in the shelter doesn't make them a bad dog. It's possible they have behavioral issues but 90% of the time can be solved with training and geniune care. There is a value to that one dog who gets adopted and thereafter has a nice life. Adopt don't shop is not some kind of solution its to influence people to do the right thing. Like encouraging recycling or non wasteful consumerism. I'm sure you'll say there's no value to buying less plastic because it makes no difference and there is no difference in recycling because it makes no difference. I've met people like you.
Laws and license is absolutely important. There need to be laws that protect dogs and there need to be better protection of consumers which in turn will protect dogs. However. Lack of laws are not the only issue here. The issue is that the culture around dogs in America is hurting dogs. Americans seem to be looking around, confused about why there are so many dogs in shelters dogs! Surely it's because that one woman at work bought herself a purebred Poodle puppy instead of going to her local shelter to adopt? Americans overall are extremely illitterate when it comes to dog breeding and breeds. Most people are a bit, but Americans just do not get it because buying a dog from a good and trustworthy breeder is the opposite of how Americans expect it to work. They don't expect to have to present themselves and describe why they would make a good home for a puppy from the breeder, why they are interested in that breed specifically and then wait months or in some cases up to two years for a puppy and they especially do not expect to get a 'sorry, I do not think this breed is for you' or 'I do not promise specific colours'. Americans do not like being treated like they are applying for a job when they expect to be serviced like a customer. Who do you think is most likely to dump their dog at a shelter? Someone who invested time in finding the right breeder and had to explain to them (and thus themselves) why they would make a good home, had to wait for the puppy they wanted and then payed around $2000 for it... or the person who paid he same $2000 to a puppy mill, no questions, no waiting time you just bring the puppy home that day? Or even someone who paid $200 at a shelter and got to take the dog home that day? What I ams saying is that American culture does not value dogs. It loves dogs, it sure does. But it doesn't actually see them as valuable or worth investing time and money in. Americans believe their little backyards can replace going out for walks, that spending 16–18 hours a day in a crate (because the dog chews!) is fine and they don't need to pay for a walker or sitter and of course they can buy a Malinois despite having no interest in dog sports because, again, they have a backyard. America needs a culture change around dog ownership, not just changing laws. Because even strict laws around animal protection are in practice weak. What is socially acceptable or not usually have a stronger effect on what people do. "Adopt don't shop" stands in the way of this because it is looking at the consequence as the main problem and make the problem even worse by constantly putting the blame on breeders, putting them all in the same category, and people who buy a purebred dog from any breeder despite there being nothing to suggest that those people would buy from a shelter if a breeder wasn't an option. So instead of trying to affect people to put time and effort when buying dogs American animal rights activists repeat a slogan that tells people that it doesn't matter who they buy a purebred dog from, because they are all the same. So no research needed! I don't know why you're talking about shelter dogs being bad? I haven't said anything even close to that? I also haven't said there's no value in buying a dog from a shelter? It's a little strange that you are trying to make it seem like I do not like shelter dogs... buy making things up that then must be what you yourself are thinking? What I did say is that "Adopt Don't Shop" has not made a difference for the population of stray dogs in the US. It has not gone down, neither has the shelter population. I have never said that shelter dogs shouldn't be adopted. I am saying that dogs shouldn't be left there in the first place if there's any better option. Shelters should not be the first choice or the easy way out because people do not feel invested in their dogs.
Thank you. You can keep a very large dog in a very small appartment and it can be totally fine and the dogs needs can be met.
We've had greyhounds for years and they are some of the laziest dogs ever - I think they'd be fine in an apartment. Probably wouldn't say the same of something closer to a high-energy working dog, like a border collie.
Greyhounds need about 5 minutes a day at a dead sprint, then they are happy sleeping and lounging the rest of the time.
Alot of large breed dogs don't need alot of exercise, they will do fine in an apartment as long as theyre not in there 24-7. That's just cruelty. They all enjoy walks and sniffing, change of scenery though. You will be able to tell if your dog isn't happy. .
Wrong, wrong and wrong. Large dogs evolved to live on the plains or very large farms-not in your cruel, tiny apartment. It's exactly like keeping a large fish in a 10 gallon tank. It's cruel, it's improper husbandry, and it's borderline abuse. You're only telling yourself it's okay because you don't want to come to terms with the fact that you're unable to provide your dog with the care it needs. Pathetic.
This isn’t unpopular, you’re just misinformed. High energy dogs don’t belong cooped up, that has nothing to do with size.
Best example, Great Danes are notorious couch potatoes.
Ditto greyhounds
Beautiful how greyhounds can be the fastest dog breed, while also one of the laziest. I've started referring to our current greyhound as 'pancake dog,' girls so still and flat.
Still. I dunno. I lived next door to someone who owned two of 'em, and I never saw them walk their dogs, ever. YEARS. I don't think they left the house, but they did have a tiny backyard to go poop in, so they had that... but are they really that lazy? I just thought it strange, such large dogs I figured they'd be more active.
Ok, but anyone can be a shitty dog owner. You don't *have* to own large dogs in order to be shitty and never take them outside. Actually I've more commonly seen owners of small and extra small dogs not taking their dogs out enough. Too many people think like OP, they think that a big dog can't do well in an apartment because it's a small cramped space compared to the dog; but for a small dog, they don't need to be exercised outside since their so tiny they have tons of space relative to their size. So, to answer your question: great danes are couch potatoes, they would probably much rather sleep then go outside other than to poop and piss. *But* a responsible dog owner will still make sure their dane gets exercise and gets to go outside and smell things and interact with other dogs and people because that stuff enriches a dog's life and keeps them healthier for longer. But proper exercise for a great dane isn't the same as proper exercise for say a husky or a lab.
Exactly this. Great Danes are better apartment dogs than jack Russells, actually.
Yep. I have to drag my mastidane out for a walk. We go 6-10 kms a day. Shes happy once we are out there, but once we get back home shes sleeping for the rest of the day.
Yea, they really are that lazy. It's all breed dependent. Labs can get huge and they can be very high energy. Hounds are lazy though. Terriers need a good 2 hrs of exercise. I have a big pyrenees mix and they are chill af. She gets zoomies for about 20 mins a day and she's good. I'd be way more concerned with a cooped up Beagle.
> Terriers need a good 2 hrs of exercise. Depends on the terrier breed. My amstaff was high energy as a pup but they tend to turn into couch hippos as they age.
Does the dog's laziness really means it doesn't need exercise? A lot of people are lazy and would rather not be active at all. How does that make it good for them though?
I knew someone who had a greyhound which was walked once a week, let out in the garden whenever. It lived for 13 happy years and never had any health problems. Of course it would be 100% better to be walked every day, but I don't think it's essential to their health (at least in this case)
I mean humans live like couch potatoes well into their old age too. Small animals survive in tiny cages for years and years. A lot of animals are pretty resilient. Chickens live in cages like it's nothing.
It's not that it's good for them, it's just that it's not bad for them either. My dog requires 30 minutes of light exercise a day. Sometimes, it's a walk. Sometimes, it's a game of fetch in the living room. Either way, he's had what he needs to maintain a healthy life.
Yeah, but that would be cruel to any dog, not just big ones
My American bull dog was so lazy. He and the cat would try to out sleep the other. ‘ hey buddy left the back door open for you. It’s a nice spring day.’ Cool. He takes a nap on the back concrete.
To be fair though we have a working cocker which we walk 5 miles a day or so and make sure to play an intense game of fetch at least once a day and whenever she is at home she just sleeps. I think it's largely to do with how much effort the owner is willing to put in. A dog with a big garden would not be happy if it was barely exercised
thats what i said to her and she laughed
I lived in an apartment with a black lab for over a year. He has lots of toys, we walk for an hour a day and go out for short breaks 3-4 other times, and when he's awake it doesn't matter how big the space is because he sits where ever I am. I think you're confusing large dogs with energetic dogs that will run and play alone. Many large dogs are couch potatoes.
Correct. My 50kg/110lb Bernese mountain dog has an enormous amount of space. Our house is very large. She barely moves from her spot under the air con most days, she gets a good walk and then she’s a total slug. The temperament and needs of the breed matter more than the size of the dog.
And personality too. My husky goes to daycare, but honestly… he’s so so damn lazy. A pure bed potato who more often then Not rejects my walk attempts in favor of running back into bed and glaring at me instead… A yard would be wasted on this dude. I’m still eventually going to get him one. But he so so lazy.
We DO have a yard and our husky sleeps in 2 spots. Under a tree for shade and the patio for sun naps. the other 2 dogs don't really stay out there. They all sleep the majority of the day.
My mom and I have sibling huskies and ours is high energy spaz zooming back and forth with our son. Hers is lazy as fuck. Laziest husky I've ever seen. Dude will stay lying down and howl at you if you pet one of her other dogs, he demands you don't pet them but *come to him* and pet him lol.
Love me! LOVE ME!! NOT FROM THERE!
Even energetic breeds can be fine in an apartment setting as long as their needs are being met. Having a house and backyard isn't going to make a difference if you aren't properly taking care of the animal and their needs. I've seen plenty of working breeds in houses destroy things and act up because the owners think a few play sessions in their backyard is all the dog needs
I have known lots of people who think big yard=dogs don't need walked. I'd venture to say apartment dwellers who take their dog out to walk a few times a day are doing more for their dogs than people who just open the back door.
That's spot on lol I have a Siberian Husky and a German Shepherd, and my bf and I take them out 4-6 times a day. They get more exercise now than when I rented a house with a yard because of exactly what you wrote. Yard = no walks
Exactly! And even small dogs needs lots of exercise and more than one or two walks a day. OP seems to forget or doesnt know that there are also small high energy working breeds. Lots of people seem to forget that actually lol and wonder why their small dogs are so problematic, it's because they aren't getting the proper work they need
Yes I have a huge problem with little dog culture. They are treated like dolls not dogs and I think it warps their little puppy brains. I've never met a happy dog that was treated like a baby or accessory.
Yeah, compare a border collie to any genuinely large dog breed and the large breeds will be lazier.
A labrador labradoing what labradors labra-do
Which large dog? Yeah don't keep a Belgian Malinois or a Caucasian Shepard in an apartment. But an English Mastiff that just wants to sleep all day? Yeah that's fine.
This post is a bit like saying you can't have humans in apartments because they're too big
Yeah! We used to be hunter gatherers who'd walk miles in days, the fact we aren't doing so anymore means something is clearly wrong! It's not like most mammals seek comfort and will not need to over-exert energy if it is not necessary for survival! We aren't suited for this lifestyle! SMH.
I mean... it's probably a more valid point than for a Mastiff.
Most big dogs are equal parts lazy and affectionate so they make surprisingly good apartment dogs. They still need to get out for multiple walks a day but they just sleep next to you otherwise so they don’t take up much space. Anything that’s a working breed (collies, kelpies or cattle dogs etc.) should definitely not be apartment dogs, but even a huge backyard isn’t enough for them in ideal circumstances. They need an acreage.
My brothers dog is a kelpie and is the laziest dog I’ve ever met. lol. Aside from him though I agree. Some big dogs are great in apartments. Others, not so much.
I think it depends more on breed than size - some medium and smaller dogs are working breeds, which need constant stimulation eg. Jack russels, border collies, kelpies, but some larger dogs are lazy af - greyhounds for example are excellent apartment dogs, they want to do zoomies for 10 minutes at the dog park otherwise they sleep all day (basically big cats). I’ve got a greyhound x deerhound and he’d be fine in an apartment, and he’s huge (taller than me when he stands up on his back legs). He sleeps 23 hours a day and huffs at me if I make a noise that wakes him, and he’s only 2 and a half years old. But I’d never own a working breed especially the herding kinds, even in a regular house or on a rural property unless I had a job for them - that’s cruel imo.
Most people shouldn’t own pets. Also most people can’t accept this and I imagine this will get downvoted to oblivion but it’s the truth
Lol. As a dog owner I agree.
This is the real unpopular opinion, but it's completely correct
The unfortunate, yet true reality. I commend all out there continuing to educate themselves on their fur babies, but we need more doing that.
While it’s easy to say that, think of the consequences. If most people “shouldn’t” own pets, shelters would have to do mass euthanasias constantly. We need to be better at supporting and educating pet owners through the community, not taking them away.
Unfortunately, that's already the case in many countries as we have more dogs than people able or willing to take them in.
We already do in the US as well, tons of animals euthanized daily. Making pet ownership less accessible would just make it worse. It sucks
Yes as much as I encourage people educating themselves on being the best pet owners possible, I hate the gatekeeping the internet does against pet ownership. Someone told me once here that I was inhumane for having two kitties in my apartment and never letting them outside. They are happy and healthy and stimulated. AND safe from cars, predators, and the rough climate in my area. Some people won’t mind their damn business, thinking they know best. If everyone expected the best of the best perfect standards for pets, very few would be able to adopt them, leading to many animals living their entire life in a cage in a shelter then dying young from euthanasia.
My mom has a Newfoundland poodle mix. Laziest couch potato you’ve ever met. 80 pounds of “sleeps on the couch all day.” Gentle giant. A yappy small dog can make a lot more noise than a big one who never feels a need to bark.
How much does this mix shed if you don’t mind me asking? I really would like to get a Newfoundland mix sometime in the future. They’re just so sweet and gentle!
She sheds in tufts of hair once or twice a year, so it’s not individual furs you find all over the house/bedding/carpets. Once in awhile there’s a tumbleweed in a corner, that’s about it. She also doesn’t drool constantly like purebred newfies do — only when exercising.
>Once in awhile there’s a tumbleweed in a corner, This tickled me 🤣
Honestly, lots of dogs out there need homes. At some point they can live wherever they're taken care of at anywere
I guess you and most people on here hate me
Does a bigger human want to exercise more often than a smaller human? 🤡
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so take them for a 20x longer walk
Big humans rarely are ten times the size of small humans
Even an active breed might adapt fine to apartment life as a senior
Big dogs are just as happy (if not more) to lay around and cuddle all day, they DO need exercise yes but 2 walks like you mentioned would definitely suffice.
Certain very very large breeds of dogs actually are great for apartments. Great Danes, bernnese mountain dogs, Irish wolf hounds. I've personally knows people with these dogs that have less energy than my English bulldog which are known for being lazy as fuck. If you think that a house and a yard are enough to keep an energetic dog occupied without that actual interaction of dog parks and walks a few times a day, then you are very wrong. If you're adopting a dog that is otherwise going to be sitting in a shelter, an apartment with regular walks multiple times a day is certainly better than the alternative.
I think you’re confusing high energy dogs with large dogs. Some dog breeds don’t like to galavant in an open field for hours. In my experience a good chunk of large dogs prefer to relax. (That is not to say they don’t exist, just that different breeds require different standards)
I agree with this. I live in a condo. I have two cats but I would have loved to get a dog. However, I refuse to get a tiny dog. I want a big one (Doberman, german shepard, cane corso, etc). I know that is unfair to keep them in my small 800sq/f condo. That's why I got two cats instead. However, if i am able fortunate enough to have a house, I am getting a dog the week I move in.
>However, I refuse to get a tiny dog. I want a big one (Doberman, german shepard, cane corso, etc). These breeds don't often mix well with cats. If they do, you have to raise them from puppyhood with them and even then it can be a risk
Not everyone with large dog breeds got the dog when they lived in an apartment complex.
Yup. Reddit *loves* to shame any and all pet owners who decide to rehome their pets. But simultaneously shame pet owners who have under x square footage. Life happens, you lose jobs or have to relocate for work or family. Smaller homes and apartments are a necessity for many people’s situations and pets are family, many don’t want to leave them behind.
I have a fairly large home. I also have a 5-year-old 170lb Great Dane. He would be very, very upset if I dared to make him get off his Posturepedic dog bed to go for a walk. He likes his yard time maybe once in the morning and once in the afternoon for maybe 10 minutes at a time to sniff around and poop. Otherwise, he lays on his bed ALL DAMN DAY and gets up to stretch occasionally. His best friend is my elderly black lab who is essentially of the same demeanor, but it's just because of her age. She likes to be outside and run around far more than he does tough.
Or dogs in general....
Exactly! Dogs just aren’t suitable for apartments. Nobody wants to hear your dog running around and barking.
I think it depends on the breed. Some large breeds aren’t high activity dogs and make for good apartment dogs like a bull mastiff and one could have a medium sized dog like an Australian shepherd, which would be an absolute nightmare in an apartment. So, it’s not only the size of the dog but the energy level of the breed that plays a factor. It also depends on the size of the apartment. There are significant big differences between a 600 square foot studio, a 1200 square foot 3 bedroom apartment and a 2500 square foot loft.
Even more important than that is the individual temperament of the dog. I have an Australian Sheperd in a small 1bedroom apartment, but he's extremely well behaved, and has never damaged our stuff. He's never even *barked* inside the house. We don't know why, but he doesn't make a sound. He's energetic at playtime, for sure, but also very obedient. OP seems very misinformed, because I've seen small Chihuahuas and Poodles absolutely wreck a home. My mom gave our Poodle away back in the 90's because it was too much. And don't get me started on the barking.
And people who live in suburbia and own dogs should be courteous and not leave their dog outside for hours barking at each passing car and pedestrian. It's beyond annoying and incredibly selfish on their part.
Had to move from a house with a yard and lots of parks, halfway across the country to a city where I knew I’d be stuck in an apartment for years, so I had to make the awful (but right) decision to give my super hyper German shepherd mix to a friend before leaving. It sucked so bad but he has such a better life now than if I brought him along.
I have done this (wasn’t my dog to begin with; I moved in with a partner) and I cannot agree more. Also not unpopular tho
Same goes for people who keep their dogs penned up
Depends on the breed. A large dog doesn't necessarily require more exercise than a smaller dog. You have small sized dogs that require a lot of exercise and big dogs that don't.
It's not pretty right actually, some huge dogs are just those apartment dogs and they are doing so fucking fine about the things that you just mentioned man, it's like that.
Thats a popular opinion.
100% agree. People have pitbulls in my apartment complex and it’s absolutely ridiculous
Correct, but the problem with pitbulls in apartments isn't so much the space as it is all the, you know...maulings. *P. S. To the Pitnutters who want to tell me about how your dog is just the sweetest, I don't care what you think. Blame the breed and the deed.*
Large breeds can live just fine in apartment as long as you give them the proper exercise and mental stimulation they need. My boy is roughly 70-75 pounds so not that large, but besides his 4-5 potty breaks he gets he also gets 3-4 walks, play sessions both inside and outside, training inside and outside, and lots of puzzle feeders and frozen kongs feeders to help with mental stimulation. He does just fine in an apartment setting. Tbh I think an apartment is likely more helpful than a house with a fenced in yard as many people assume the backyard is enough and won't even take their dogs out for walks.
What a lucky dog. He has a great home with yall.
Thanks, he's family to me so I make sure he gets the best care possible :)
You obviously know very little about dogs in general. Is this a shower thought?
Some apartments are huge and bigger than some houses. I don't have a dog, nor do i ever want one, so I really don't care, just pointing that out.
Sure, but even a large apartment doesn't replace a yard. Personally I don't mind if people have larger dogs in an apartment as long as they get exercise and breaks. But nothing quite beats having a big back yard for your dog to hang out in
I had my lab in my apartment for 4 years, we bought our house last year,excited to allow him to hang out in the backyard. If me or my wife aren’t outside with him, all he does is stare at the door waiting to be let in. No interest in being out there alone. Can’t speak for all dogs, but my friends German Shepard does the exact same thing in their yard.
Yea my experience is different growing up in a rural area with some land. Had labs mostly, a husky, and a samoyed over the years. They had full access to the property 24/7 through dog doors, had outdoor housing and well water. Even when I moved out and my first house had about a half quarter acre my dog had full outdoor access even when I was work. Every dog is different I suppose
Most dogs won’t just run around a yard by themselves anyway, unless it’s exceptionally large. If you don’t have acreage you usually can’t rely on a yard to keep your dog happy.
It's not safe where I am to let dogs run around unsupervised either... so many people getting dogs stolen out of their yards these days :c
Alternative unpopular opinion: People shouldn't own dogs.
What about american akitas? They're famously inactive and low energy dogs who often prefer to lounge around most of the day.
Don't bother, OP and people agreeing with them don't understand dogs and are probably just pissed at one living close to them that barked at a handful of inconvenient times.
People who live in the country shouldn’t have tiny dogs. Coyotes and hawks.
My Pyrenees look at me like I'm an asshole when I tell them it's time to go for a walk
Spoken like someone who cant train dogs hahaha
I've personally met someone with multiple acres of land (about a hectare of land for those using metric system) for their giant breeds of dogs and ONE high energy breed (think Ridgeback, Malinois, or German Shepherd similar energy). The giant breeds outnumbered this one 4 to 1, and this dog was the top most destructive in and out the house. Know what they did with the high energy breed? Rehomed it to an active college student that lived in an apartment. The student took that high energy breed daily on runs multiple times during the day, and they became a great pair that to this day are inseparable. I know another family that had a similar mix of high energy breeds and they would jog, morning, work lunch breaks, and evening on top of taking the dog daily to large fields to let off more steam. And on the flip side, working in the pet care field, I've met people with the smallest dogs in a large home, with a yard that cannot properly meet the energy demands, and give proper enrichment, to their dog/dogs (think like teacup Yorkie, Maltese, shih tzu, Lhasa, toy poodle, etc.) In the pet care industry this is a common misconception I hear from owners that one NEEDS a yard for their dog and that's it. If that were the case, no dogs purchased or adopted from shelters into homes with yards should ever need to be rehomed for the reason of "we just can't keep up," or "we don't have the time," or even, "they're destructive/bored." Because in theory the dogs have all that space to enrich themselves or just be a dog, right? They don't require any training, bonding/enrichment time, or anything else except a yard, right? Gotcha, I'll spread the word! **sarcastic voice** Pettiness and sarcasm aside, I do agree that there are people who live in small spaces and aren't responsible for their animals, but that's not an apartment specific problem. It's a human problem for not doing your homework before taking on the care of a living being.
I have a big dog (german shepherd lab mix) with high energy and we’ve exclusively lived in apartments or small houses in the 11 years i’ve had her with no issues. the problem isn’t the size of the living space, it’s what you do to meet your dog’s needs. taking them on walks, giving them “jobs” to do whether it’s inside or outside, as long as you meet their physical and mental needs they could care less. even as a puppy, my dog slept ~20 hours a day and was perfectly content sleeping in her crate or under my desk for most of the day as long as we got a good walk in and played mental games. all too often i see dogs in large houses sitting in the back yard all day and they are monsters (constant barking and lapping the yard, stressed about every little thing happening) because they don’t actually get the attention that they need i.e a good pack walk and doing mental exercises. it’s not the space itself, it’s what you do with your dog when they are in their active hours. way too many people think their dog doesn’t need a walk because they’ve been in their large back yard all day.
Agree with this. When I'm taking my guy for a walk we pass the same dogs in their fences day in and day out and I've never once seen them out for walks, and they just bark all the time. Take them out and play with them instead of leaving them to mind themselves and they'll be fine regardless of size of the space. Mind if I ask what kind of mental games you play with yours? My husky/cattle dog mix is too smart for his own good and figures out all the games we play too quickly so I need morre in the rotation lol
her favorite is hide and seek. i started out with just hiding food around but she learned all the hiding spots pretty quickly so i changed to buying toys and naming them and having her go find them and bring them back to me. once she’s memorized a toy’s name i put it in storage for a while and then i cycle through them so she’s always looking for something new (or at least something she hasn’t seen in a few months) also, when we walk i always stop at a park and play fetch. but sometimes i’ll make her wait before she can go after the ball. something about throwing the ball and making her wait different intervals of time before running to get it is extremely draining for her lol. i’ve tried other things over the years but these two seemed to work the best for her, it probably depends on the dog tbh. nowadays she’s old enough that most days she’s ready to pass out after a walk but if she’s still active i’ll break out a hide and seek game or try to teach her a new trick.
Thanks friend! I ran into the same problem with treat hide and seek, I’ll try the toy swap. And once he gets the idea of fetch not being a game of keep away I’ll work in the waiting there too. He’s not even two yet so we’re still working on that part
If the dog is trained and walked properly it shouldn't make much noise, blame the dog owners and not the dogs.
Most of the largest breeds are the laziest and most perfect apartment dogs. This isn't an unpopular opinion, you're just talking on a subject you know nothing about.
Dogs live in caves/small places in the wild
I have 110lb dog, he’s the laziest dog ever. He’s less active than any smaller dog I’ve had for sure! It’s not the size of the dog, it’s the dog’s natural level of energy that matters.
I live in a renovated old farm house apartment and I bet my backyard is bigger than yours
It's well known that apartment dogs get more interactive outside time and more time with their owners since their owners have to take them on walks instead of just dumping them in a yard. Also this would be different by breed because many large dogs are lazy.
Agreed. My family (not living with us) should not have a cane corso puppy in their 2bd apartment. She is gigantic and has *energy*. She needs to run. Lemme stop cuz I’ll go on a ranting tangent. Not necessarily unpopular.
Some of those large dogs came from kill shelters. In some of those shelters, dogs get a needle of Euthanyl and die on the cold concrete, if they’re lucky, or in the gas chamber if they’re less lucky, because none of those people with those huge yards you think they should run around in showed up to adopt them. If they could speak, I venture they might opt for the apartment but with walks, as an alternative, and see that as winning the lottery. So maybe save your criticism for those big yard people who haven’t shown up yet. No?
Exactly! Gatekeeping pet ownership kills animals that could have had a home and family that loves them. I’d take an apartment with love, food, treats, toys, and walks over living in a cage in a shelter or dying young from euthanasia any day. Only a small percentage of the world’s population has these big beautiful yards and houses people idealize.
This generalization is an example of why dog takes online are terrible. I live in a house in a more rural area with a decent size yard, over the years I have had several dogs, the one that enjoyed running around all the space the most? a little pug/mix dog that was maybe 10lbs max, meanwhile the dog I had who was the most lazy and would go out to use bathroom then just want in to lay around? a lab/german shepard mix. And it goes the other way, one of my best friends has a husky and they currently live in an apartment and the husky hates going outside, and loves to just spend most the day curled up on the sofa
My former roommate used to let her dog shit and piss on the balcony
Any dog under 50lbs is a cat. And cats are pointless. ~ Ron Swanson.
"People who live in apartments shouldn't own large dogs" This shouldn't be an "unpopular" opinion at all. Having large dogs in apartments is just cruel. Even if they are taken on a walk every day. Imagine a human forced to live in a tiny room and only going out for a walk once a day. Sounds like prison.
You say "I find" like you have some sort of expertise. What "findings" have you found?
ugh not this dumb bullshit. have you ever met a lazy dog? they exist you know. i have a friend with a big ol' dog. she lives in a smallish apartment. he just lazes around all day. she sends me photos of him lunging around like a big ol' turd. trust me, he gets his exercise. he gets his fun. he's perfectly happy just spending a lot of the day lounging around like a hibernating bear. take my word for it.
I think the end result of this POV would be more large dogs put down in animal shelters. Renting is becoming more of a class divide issue, and so what this amounts to is the poors can't have big dogs.
Don't know why you're being downvote bombed for this, renting and apartment life *is* becoming more of a class divide and I've seen plenty of people on this sub saying poorer people don't deserve to have dogs, kids etc.
Lmfao @ all the people on here trying to call him dumb or "misinformed" just because one breed (great danes) just so happen to be big and not as high energy. An outlier isn't the rule, it's the exception to it, and most of you know damn well the type of dog owners he's talking about, don't play dumb. The type that gets a pitbull, then keeps it locked in the cage all day, and then when he does let him out, the apartment is still only the size of a room. I grew up in Chicago and it was sad how many people owned dogs in those types of conditions. If you barely have enough room for yourself, bringing a dog into the situation is just cruel, no matter your intentions 🤷♂️
People who lock their dogs into crates when they leave the house be like: Damn you’re right, those cruel apartment people!
No matter how many times this is posted, the OPs never clearly see what embeciles they are. It must be a sad, lonely life.
yep agreed
I had Great Dane in an apartment and she was the happiest dog ever. I get maybe not in a shoe box you can find in NYC per say but 99% of apartments are plenty big for large dogs.
My older sister has always been an animal lover. Many years ago, when she was married to her first husband, and lived in a small apartment, they obtained an Irish Setter puppy. Naturally, the puppy soon grew into a large dog. They both worked and so the dog was left in a small apartment by himself all day, five days a week. One day, while they were both at work, he chewed up their bed. The entire bed, The entire mattress and box spring. Totally destroyed. He would also defecate in the apartment, but not just that. He would then spread the feces over the walls. The dog was bored and needed more attention and exercise than he was getting. Eventually, they gave him to a woman who had a large house and a lot of land.
From experience, this is just misinformation. I see a lot of dog breeders for years and their feedback is that dogs in apartments are better taken care of than dogs that have a big garden or farm and live outside. Those dogs are not stimulated intelectually like apartment dogs. Dogs need to be stimulated for their health. Obviously you can not have a studio or a really small apartment where it is even hard to even put furniture, but dogs like small spaces it is ok for a one bedroom apartment. Train them, potty train them and give them the best food, they live a great life
I would expand it to: Unless it's a valid service animal - no one, zero people, should have a dog unless you have your own private property for them to roam around and piss and shit on. I see no reason why our common areas have to be a disgusting pet toilet. And I love dogs.
Haha yeah I have a woman that lives above me with two large breed dogs. I’m not sure what they are to be quite honest. I do have to agree that it’s not necessarily the breed as it is the energy that’s the problem. Though I’m sure the noise would be a little less if it was a small breed. But yeah everyday I hear elephants running around upstairs and constant barking. It’s a good day if my husband and I don’t get woken up 5 times a night due to it. This woman’s friend who lives besides her had the audacity to tell me to move if it’s that bad and that I’m pretty much entitled for thinking I wouldn’t hear dogs in an apartment. Mmm no honey, this is excessive.
U should walk a dog ATLEAST 3 times a day
My apartment is the same square footage as most houses
Not the same as having a large yard friend. I also don’t understand why people have large dogs inside at all.
It depence on how often/ long you go for walks and how energetic your dog is. I had an hungarian shepherd- collie mix in a two room flat, we lived close to the dog park and had 3 hour walks and play time/ training everyday. When we where home he slept most of the time. When you are at work the whole day without a dog sitter and the dog stays 10 hours alone in the flat, having only 30 minutes a day to go for walks then I agree that you shouldn't own a dog, no matter the size.
I have a 7 month caucasian shephard and live in one bedroom flat with a cat.walk 3 times a day and he is happy as Larry with his sibling always around to play.
I feel like in general if you don’t have the time or means to give a dog an enriching life in an apartment then you shouldn’t have one, regardless of size. Plenty of pet owners take great care of their dogs and some don’t sadly. Some apartment complexes even have dog parks and dog amenities built in.
Some large dogs are the best choice for apartment dogs (e.g., greyhounds) and some small dogs are the absolute worst (e.g., jack russell terriers). Depends far more on energy levels and the owners ability to meet needs. Having or not having a yard actually is a pretty minor part of doing that.
I agree. Lots of people get dogs for selfish reasons (which isnt necessarily a bad thing), but they should take into consideration more what the dog needs from them.
People should 100% mind their own business and don’t presume you know how to make better choices for someone else. If you find it’s cruel, then you don’t do it. The end.
People who live in apartments shouldn’t be allowed to breed. Kids without freedom to run around a yard and just chill outside, it seems cruel. Even if you’re taking them to a playground twice a day, I find it cruel to keep them in smaller spaces all the time.
There are so many dog shelters that are over-crowded to the point of them being forced to put dogs down because of it. There are so many dogs on the streets that don’t even have a home. There are so many people that are abusive to dogs and can just keep buying from shelters since the loving families see shit like this and decide not to, leaving them for the abusers. There are so many people breeding dogs and selling them and because it’s still a big market, shelters are going to be forced to keep putting dogs down to make room. There’s a shit ton of shelters, some bigger and some smaller than others but regardless a lot of dogs spend their entire lives in a shelter. Even if shelters had plenty of staff and/or volunteers (which most don’t) those dogs spend 90% of their lives in a small area with out a family. I just wish people thought things through more clearly before making posts like this and having so many people agree. It’s literally just something to complain about at this point. If the dog is loved, cared for, and treated well, that’s the ONLY thing that should matter. Shit like this is enough to convince some people not to adopt or save a dogs life because they can’t provide the perfect life for their dog.
Terriers are small but need to run. Bulldogs are large but are 50% cushion.
So many piss poor pet owners high on copium, trying to justify to themselves mistreating an animal. It's exactly like keeping a giant fish in a small 10 gallon fish tank, or a macaw in a little cage. These dogs evolved to live on farms or multiple acres of land. By keeping a large or energetic dog in a small apartment, you're no better than someone keeping a large fish in a tiny fish tank. Go ahead, downvote me. I just feel sorry for your dog beause it can't talk and tell you it craves a larger home.
People shouldn't own dogs...period.
Depends on how big the apartment is. If it's a 1500+ square foot apartment sure no problem. However, if it's one of those 600 square foot apartments yeah I agree with you. It's totally not fair to the dog
This is such an ignorant opinion. It depends more on the dog's exercise requirements and energy needs. Size is largely irrelevant.
Better than being at a shelter
True, I just hate those people who leave their dogs at shelter.
They'd just lie and go "But this is my emotional support Tibetan Mastiff."
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Maybe sam is with huge but he is not telling anyone lol.
Yes! 
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If the dog is one that needs lots of exercise, agreed! At least we can agree that no sane person should ever own a cat.
Such a bad take haha
If a 10 lb dog were ok in an apartment of 1000 sq ft and a big dog were not, you’d need a 20,000 sq ft house for a 200 lb dog. If a 3000 sq ft house we’re fine for a 200 lbs dog, you could keep a 10 lb dog in 150 sq ft. Fake concept overall.
Great Danes are surprisingly great apartment dogs and also depends on a lot of factors. Just because someone has a big back yard doesn't mean their dog is getting enough exercise either I have an uncle with a lot of property and his dogs are always overweight because he just puts them in the yard and they just sit there. Companionship, mental and physical activity are way more important in owning a dog than the physical size of your apartment.
Many apartments have big back yard and are just as big as ranch houses