Has living in an apartment helped YOUR doodle?

[Camilla and Darwin]

There are definitely days that I wish we had a nice fenced in yard for Darwin to run around in, and a home I owned. But I've been thinking about what raising Darwin in an apartment has done for us, and I can't say I regret not waiting until we owned. I made a list.

- He is not at all reactive to noises. Other dogs are always barking, people have their music on, doors are opening and closing nearby... and that has resulted in Darwin being very chilled out about it. He never barks, not even when people knock on our door. Fireworks were a breeze this July, and I really haven't found that any specific sound bothers him.

- He is very calm indoors. I think this is partially due to the fact that our apartment is small, and he literally CAN'T run and play inside. Even as a puppy, he slept and lazed around indoors, and partied out. Now even when he goes other places, he knows that outside is playtime, inside is calm time.

- He is comfortable going potty on a leash, or near people in general. He also goes off leash when we are at dog parks or other fenced in places. But he is perfectly comfortable with doing his business in a timely manner, on leash. I think this is really convenient. 

- Our apartment managers love him, and it's fun to be able to take him into the office when we pay rent or whatever, and have people love and pet him. He loves it too, of course. 

Those are just a few I thought of. Anyone else have unexpected bonuses to living in an apartment? 

[Jessica & Lucie]

I think that Lucie absolutely loves where we live. She gets to see her friends almost every day because we live in such close proximity to them. We people don't mind having someone to talk to while our dogs are playing either :)

Living in an urban area has helped Lucie become much more adjusted to both people and dogs. Now when we are at the park and she is off leash I don't have to worry about her jumping on anyone, she hasn't little to no interest in people she doesn't know, although she will try to catch a sniff as someone runs by LOL!

While it may make my life a little more challenging, I am quite certain that Lucie prefers living in our condo. She gets to have me come along with every trip outside ( sometimes I'll even play!) and gets to see/hear/smell exciting things almost every time. She also doesn't really known any other life than at my parents house where they have a big yard, but we compensate with daily hour long off leash walks in the park where she gets to hunt squirrels, go swimming, and just be a dog.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I completely agree with you when you say they get to see dog friends. Darwin met his two best friends at our last apartment, and they played every single night for 30 minutes to an hour in the apartment common area. He absolutely loved it. Even though we all moved away, we still get together and there are lots of other dogs to say hi to at our new place. :-)

[Ellen aka BeauBeau's Mom]

and don't forget the ability to run relay races in the hallway! Beau will do this all by himself sometimes, if there is nobody else to run with.....and even skids as he turns around....completely adorable! and good exercise too.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Darwin does this too! During the night, our balcony doors make a perfect reflection of himself and he'll spend 30 minutes or so running through the hallway, back and forth to his reflection. When he gets to the glass he'll do a play bow and then gets so excited that he has to run into the hallway again. Silly pup.

[Elizabeth & Cooper]

Hey! I just stumbled across this as I was looking for owners in a similar situation to me! I live in a 2 BR condo (2nd room is my office so it's not TINY but it's not big and I don't have a yard (but there is a bit open area out back... just not fenced in and people/dogs come and go. Luckily I'm on the ground floor and have my own separate exit which has made taking Cooper out a lot easier but I think one of the things I've found is that it forces me to be active too! If I had a hard, it would be much more tempting to just let him play out there. Seeing as that's not an option, I'm taking him out regularly and making sure he gets some good outdoor playtime. This means that I'm also getting some play time. It's very easy for me to be at a desk all day long. Even though I work from home a lot... that can be very unhealthy! Having Cooper around helps me be more active which will, in turn, help me be a better mama! I do sometimes feel guilty that I don't have a big yard but I'm hoping that I make up for it in other ways and I agree to all the benefits you listed!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I think as long as you are exercising with him one on one, he won't miss that yard! I think what you are saying is so true, and I think the pups prefer us to play with them rather than just let them out on their own into a yard. Sounds like you have a really great setup. We made sure to get a ground floor apt when we first got Darwin, it made potty training SO much easier.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

ooohh, great discussion. I joined this group a while ago and then forgot about it. I think raising a puppy in an apartment is awesome for all the reasons you listed. If you live in a house or in the country and then try to move your dog to an apartment, not so much. My neighbour's dog is not handling it well. Sophie Bear is a perfect apartment dwelling doodle. All the tennants love her to bits. She's way more popular than I am lol!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

we always lived in part of a house, with a fenced yard. Then we moved to the inlaws, who dont have a fence but have a huge yard. Cooper had to be on a long line for play time, which never bothered her. I always said Id never live in an apartment... but it was our only option to  get our own place. We are on the second floor of a three floor complex, and the stairs to the parking lot is opposite our door, so going potty is pretty easy. Cooper got used to going potty and playing on leash/long line so the transition hasnt been too difficult. 

She does react to noises more than she used to, but isnt too bad (unlike other dogs who just bark and bark and bark when we walk past)

it means Cooper gets more leash walks, which is good training for us both and good exercise for me. We are lucky in that there are some short trails along a stream right behind our building. I make the effort to go out to places like the beach so she can run too. The last couple of days ive been taking Cooper out for a walk on her long line - it gives her a run and we practice recall

[Sue & Lily Grace]

It is funny. My Cassie only knew condo and then small apartment living. When my Doodle is born she too will only know this life. I know what you all mean by the neighbors knowing the dog first. I may not know all my neighbors names but I know their dog's names. It does mean that you are responsible for their exercise and that is probably a good thing for all of us. When I was in a house with a fenced yard, I has a Brittany. Abby would not stay out in the yard alone. She waned a playmate --- me with her. So I guess they are happy wherever as long as we are with them.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I'm glad the transition has gone pretty well. I'd like to get a long line for Darwin, as there are no fenced in areas around here. Do you have a 20foot, or longer?

[Kristen Eric Lacey and Paisley]

This is really reassuring to hear. We are bringing our puppy home at the end of the month and currently live in a smaller apartment. The fact that we don't have a yard does make me nervous, however we are close by many parks. Thank you for sharing your experience! I will be sure to check back after we bring our little girl home! 

[Camilla and Darwin]

Good, make sure to update! I think your puppy will do just fine, how great that you have parks nearby!