[presidio9]

Depends on the breed and the dog... I know little dogs that are a lot more active and need a lot more exercise than some of the really large breeds, particularly after middle age.

Fair enough, but I used to know a couple of freaks who kept a great dane in a 12x15 studio along with themselves.

I wouldn't own a dog in the city because of the walking issue. I don't walk behind my dogs with a baggie, they go out in the yard whenever they want :~D

And when the aliens do come, should they land on Manhattan, they are going to naturally assume that this planet is ruled by furry four-legged overlords, followed around by groveling two-legged slaves for that very reason.

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, Danes are one of the breeds that actually doesn't need a lot of exercise. In fact, they have a lot of issues if they ~do~ exercise too much. They not only have skeletal issues, they often have heart problems. They were bred too big too fast, and their heart didn't keep up. They have short expected life spans because of it, sometimes as short as 4-5 years.

So... The dog may have been happy as a clam. Bird dogs, or border collies, I don't think you'd have as much success with in the city.