Apartment Living With Your Dog

MSN Dog Central ^ | September 29, 2006 | Sandy Robins

[libstripper]

One sure sign that a downtown neighborhood is becoming a fashionable place to live—more than just a commercial district—is the number of dogs out and about on the sidewalks. Today, many apartment buildings and individual landlords are developing increasingly lenient pet policies to attract more dog owners to these newly gentrified urban areas.

There’s no question that city living offers many on-tap conveniences that make it an attractive alternative to a suburban lifestyle. But how dog friendly is downtown? There is much more to consider when it comes to your pal’s well-being than the landlord’s consent or the homeowner policy confirming that pets are welcome.

advertisementSeeking Out Pet Friendly Buildings Whether you are looking to rent or buy, the best way to find out if the neighborhood is dog friendly is to take your dog for a walk and stop to talk to anyone else out walking their dog.

Many realtors are now paying special attention to the pet-loving sector of the apartment housing market. So it’s a good idea to seek out someone who specializes in such properties. Veterinarian offices, groomers and pet stores are also a mine of information and many have notice boards with postings of suitable apartments in the area.

[libstripper]

I'm so glad my dogs and I like in a semi-rural area with one acre minimum zoning.

[AnAmericanMother]

I guess it'll work o.k. for the small lap dog types, but I've got Labs and they need room!

(I see people living in downtown Atlanta loft apartments with huge dogs - mastiffs and Great Danes. Whazzup witat? The only place to take them is a tiny crowded dog area in Piedmont Park.)

[wmfights]

"I'm so glad my dogs and I like in a semi-rural area with one acre minimum zoning."
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I am a real estate owner and manager in a large urban environment. We do not allow dogs for a couple reasons. The owners don't take care of their dogs. The dogs are noisy. The dogs feces are not cleaned up so our janitors had to do it.

The buildings that allow dogs become full of dog owners and we get the tenants who want privacy. Also, it's stunning to see these dog owners buying big sporting dogs and they live in 700-1,000 sg ft. apartments. It seems to be irresponsible.

[longtermmemmory]

Landlords often have a non-refundable pet deposit. $400 dollars or so.

When people can affort to pay the pet deposit, you get more dogs.

[Fawn]

Sad isn't it? And when the dog starts getting antsy (stir crazy--get nippy) or has an 'accident' in the apt ...they are shipped off to Animal control to most likey be put down. Many people are very irresponsible and selfish when comes to animals.

[Harry Pothead]

"I guess it'll work o.k. for the small lap dog types, but I've got Labs and they need room!"

My Lab thinks he is a lap dog... As soon as I sit on the couch, that's where he is. (yes he's totally spoilled!)

[proudofthesouth]

I once worked with a woman who bred Great Danes. She told me that they make great apartment pets cause they are nothing but couch potatoes.

[AnAmericanMother]

Oh, mine thinks she's a lap dog too (she's got a little sister coming next Wednesday, but she doesn't know about THAT yet!)

But when she's not being a lap dog, she wants to run, jump over things, and chase ducks. All you have to do is blow a duck call and she's transformed into a hair-trigger retrieving machine -- just waiting for the word.

Right now she's sitting on the sofa with her chin over the back, watching for the chipmunk that lives under the landscape timbers in the garden.

[Slings and Arrows]

Ping!

[east1234]

When I met my wife she had a black lab and a golden/St. Bernard cross. She also had a 600 sqft condo. Those dog went on lots of walks and runs. You can do it, just gotta put in the time for them. We now have 3 acres and a dog door, much easier.

[AnAmericanMother]

There's a lady in our agility club who runs a Harlequin Great Dane. The dog does seem to be quiet and sedate (at least compared to my crazy bouncing Lab) but consider the quantity of food -- and what goes in must come out . . .

I just don't see it. I want my dog to be small enough for me to pick her up and put her on the vet's examining table or in the back of the truck (although she's perfectly capable of jumping up onto either one).

[Xenalyte]

Great Danes and greyhounds both make better apartment pets than one would think.

[wmfights]

"Sad isn't it? And when the dog starts getting antsy (stir crazy--get nippy) or has an 'accident' in the apt ...they are shipped off to Animal control to most likey be put down. Many people are very irresponsible and selfish when comes to animals."
____________________________

Your singing to the choir!

I see it all the time. We see "yuppies" (another term for overindulged suburban kids) get these big show dogs, Rottweilers, German Shepards, Golden Retrievers, Labradors etc. and complain they can't find apartments. These big dogs need room that urban areas don't have.

The dog issue is really just an overlap of the gentrification of urban areas. When the suburban kids move in they want to bring suburban living to urban areas. They want big dogs, bike lanes, big SUV's etc. not recognizing the infrastructure is not conducive to these things and the population density is to great for them.

[Moonman62]

I am a real estate owner and manager in a large urban environment. We do not allow dogs for a couple reasons. The owners don't take care of their dogs. The dogs are noisy. The dogs feces are not cleaned up so our janitors had to do it.

Yep, if they're apartments or condos they become big kennels.

[AnAmericanMother]

But they had to stay on leash, didn't they?

Mine's a field bred Lab, and she loves to run. I couldn't keep up with her even on a bicycle - she is FAST.

[AnAmericanMother]

I've heard that greyhounds are real couch potatoes until you show them a rabbit . . .

[Joe 6-pack]

Here's a pretty good book about the changing role of the dog in contemporary American Society and in the lives of Americans...

I highly recommend it...

[Xenalyte]

One of my best friends has a rescue greyhound who had to be the worst racer ever. He consistently gets outrun by their fat chocolate Lab and their miniature dachshund.

He's the laziest dog I have ever met. He'll only chase the other two dogs if one of them steals a toy from him.

But sweet? You couldn't ask for a more loving dog. He just wants to sit next to you with his head in your lap, or on the ground where you can rub him with your foot.

[HairOfTheDog]

Ping!

Other articles with keyword "DOGGIEPING" since 12/29/04

[wmfights]

"Landlords often have a non-refundable pet deposit. $400 dollars or so."
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More and more landlords I know are not allowing dogs. When you have to replace a hardwood floor for 4-5K it's not worth it. Also, the noise is a big issue and the tenants who want their privacy don't want to be around it.