6 things you need to know about dogs in apartments Every year, more Australian dog lovers are finding themselves living in pet-friendly apartments. People tend to have a negative feeling about dogs in apartments but this is mostly unjustified. As long as you keep the below points in mind, there is nothing wrong with sharing your warm cosy apartment with your best friend. Apartment rules: Make sure you have read and understood all the rules around pets including where they can and cannot go in communal areas and how noisy can they be. If you’re renting, be sure to check with your landlord to find out the rules of having a pet in the apartment. Apartment safety: Dogs are excitable and curious animals so it’s important to consider how secure the apartment is, including whether your dog is capable of jumping over the balcony. Dog choice: This is a controversial one as people tend to focus on the wrong questions here. There are 2 important things to remember:
  1. How often you walk your dog or take it to the park is more important than how big your home is! If you have a high energy dog in a big home, how often do you see it doing laps of the garden or stair runs for the exercise? It doesn’t happen. You need to walk your dog to the park and play with it. Having a dog in an apartment is ok as long as you’re prepared to walk and play with your dog regularly enough for that breed!
  2. Size is not as important as energy levels! A St. Bernard is a much bigger dog than a border collie but has much less energy and would therefore be better suited to an apartment. Research the energy levels and exercise requirements of your dog.
Boredom: If your dog is being left alone for hours during the day, it can get anxious and bored quickly. Play with it as much as possible and provide some different interactive toys to keep your dog entertained when alone. For example, the iFetch automatic ball thrower is a great way to keep your dog entertained while you’re out. Toilet: Be consistent and thoughtful. If you are teaching your dog to use a spot on the balcony, make sure your dog can access it at all times. Temperature: Apartments can get cold in winter and particularly hot in summer. Make sure you consider the ventilation and temperature of your apartment.

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