Dog in condo?

I moved into a condo about a year ago. In the past (in a house) I have owned both a lab and a shepherd, plus several other dogs (all from rescues). Some insurance companies will not allow you to have a shepherd, as they are considered "bad" dogs (ours was a sweetheart) so you might want to check on that. Our lab had no idea she was a big dog, or even a dog at all.

I currently have a chihauhau mix puppy in my condo. Be prepared to make trips downstairs to go potty several times, especially when he / she is a puppy and being house broken. For potty breaks in the middle of the night or bad weather, a sand box or another container with grass seed in it can be purchased and put on your patio - but do not make this your primary "walking".

Make sure your condo is puppy proofed. You shouldn't have a problem with a larger dog slipping through railings on balconies, except for when he / she is a puppy. Also make sure that your landlord (if you have one) allows dogs, but you say you have a cat so I'm assuming that's not a concern. Some condo managements or cities / states have their own specific laws on leash use, waste clean up, etc.

Be wary of dog parks, as they are the perfect location for dog fights and dominance battles. All animal owners should "fix" their pets, but since you will most likely be around several other animals between the dog park and your condo life, I HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest you get your dog "fixed".

Note that no two dogs are the same, as with humans. Our shepherd barked a lot, as they are guard dogs, but she never bit anybody. Labs generally love the water (ours would sit on the steps in the pool, but never swim). If possible, you may want to consider getting a more easily seen dog (such as white, cream) because you will be in the woods so much. However, it really doesn't matter - you can get reflective collars and vests to wear on camping trips and outside exursions.

Despite common belief, dogs big and small can be happy in a condo. I have neighbors who own two great danes in their condo. Many people think that because we have no yard, it somehow isn't fair. However, some condos are bigger than "family" homes, and not all "family" homes have fenced in areas. I believe that condo / apartment owners spend more time with their dogs, also, because we have to physically walk our animals, not just open the back door. It is highly important though that they get enough exercise, regardless of the size of the home or yard. But I do not think this will be a problem for you, because you have stated that you are very active.

There is no problems keeping a med - large sized dog in a smaller area such as a condo but you do need to be realistic when it comes to choosing the breed and also be aware that you will need to take your dog out of the house for stimulation more often than someome with a larger home and yard.

I'm guessing that you both work and therefore the dog will be alone for much of the day by itself? You need to take this into consideration.

I would not suggest a lab or a shep as they are both dogs that need lots of mental and physical stimulation to be happy. I would steer clear of any working breed dogs (kelpie, collies, german shep etc) and try to choose a dog that is less active - such as a greyhound (big lounge lizards), a clumber spaniel, whippet, airedale terrier. These dogs will still be happy to go for runs and hang out on the weekends but won't be desperate for attention and activity all day, everyday.

Ruling out a small dog because you are active doesn't make a lot of sense. Many small dogs are very active. Take the Jack Russell - doesn't stop!

Why not make a list of new dog "must haves" (uncompromisable: cope living in a condo, gets on with cats etc) and "would likes" (eg. cute, plays fetch) and head to your local shelter and explain your situation. Guaranteed they will have a dog that would suit your requirements. They can give you lots of advice about the amount of exercise and mental stimulation the dog will need and you'll also get that warm fuzzy feeling from saving a life.

I don't have a condo, but my backyard has a pool in it, and my dog jumps in it if we let it out back, and she doesn't swim very well. Anyways, we take her in the front yard to do her business and she likes going on walks. She is a very active dog and grew up with our cat, from the time when we adopted her at a year old. I think a big dog would do just fine in your living situation as long as you are able to commit to walking it every day, because dogs have a lot of energy they need to expel and will do so through bad habits like barking, or messing around the house if they aren't able to use that energy.

Good luck with your puppy!

I'm a 16 yr old who lives in a condo with a yard that isn't the biggest, i have a 7 month old rottie and she seems fine with it i also read on line that large beeds such as rotties do fine...especially since you plan on taking him/her on jogs every day.

I own my house but i would suggest a German shepherd they are the best dogs around

try a med size dog such as a Field Spaniel

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/choosing-a-field-span...

You are nuts , you need at least a std. family home for a dog like that.Enjoy that cat for now and wait till you can get a larger place .