Getting a dog..live in a flat?

passatrider

I have been wanting to get a dog/puppy for a long time now but due to my circumstances was unable to do it.
My situation now is that I only work 16 hours a week so am at home alot of the time so will have more time to divote to him/her. The only snag being now is that I live in a first floor flat so do not have a garden, but do have plenty of areas to take him/her for walks.

Iam thinking of getting a border collie as I have always liked the breed and do understand them as a friend of mine has one.

Is this a good idea??

Rikki

I would never have a puppy or a dog in a flat. It would be better to have a house with a garden so you can just let the dog out without you having to be with them.

Errata

What happens on the morning you wake up feeling a bit ill ? Will you really want to drag yourself out of bed, get dressed, and take the dog out for a wee ?

passatrider

Errata wrote: »

What happens on the morning you wake up feeling a bit ill ? Will you really want to drag yourself out of bed, get dressed, and take the dog out for a wee ?

Very true!

schizometric

Definitely would never have a dog in a flat. Housetraining would be a complete nightmare.

nikki702

I have a spinger spaniel in a flat with no garden, as long as you are dedicated to taking him/her out several times a day then it will be fine.

If you get a puppy toilet training becomes more difficult but not impossible!

I take my dog out atleast 6-7 times a day its not a problem for us

I hope it works for you :j

passatrider

schizometric wrote: »

Definitely would never have a dog in a flat. Housetraining would be a complete nightmare.

How would it be any harder?

nikki702

passatrider wrote: »

How would it be any harder?

My dog NEVER went wee on the paper he didnt poo indoors atall which was weird but he used to wee everywhere... he learnt to wait until we go out in the end... It took a while

Errata

Housetraining a puppy might be a challenge. When they want to wee, they want to wee right now. That's fine if you can immediately pop them out in the garden, not so good if you have to put coat and shoes on, find lead, lock door, take pup downstairs etc

olibrofiz

I guess cos the idea is you move the paper/puppy pad nearer to the back door where you want them to head if they need a wee. What then? Will the pup be able to hold it in time for you to get down the stairs and outside? Once you;ve cracked that tho, as long as you're prepared to go out every time they head for the door you'll be fine.

One of mine is ill at the moment and on steroids = lots of drinking = lots of widdling, I have to let her out at least every hour, and often 3 or 4 times in the night. She's a big dog so it's not an option to put puppy pads down as she does big widdles.

Also, don't collies need LOTS of stimulation? So maybe not suited to flat life.

Good luck whatever you decide

lostinrates

I know lots of people who have dogs and live in flats succesfully. However, full marks to the person above who does it with a springer, and I wouldn't want to do it with a collie either: on would need serious dedication. Perhaps if no job at all more doable: those 16 hours plus your commute time are going to feel very long to a collie.

I'd recomend a dog from a rescue who is already housebroken (for ease) and more the sort of thing you'd see in any London park, or a dog whose breed tendancy is to sleep the hours a working dog would work for.

The other thing to consider with a medium to large breed is ease of carrying: dogs and stairs are not ideal and in old age dogs can find them very, very hard. A dog that can be carried is useful in cities for public transport too.