Getting a dog..live in a flat?

UKTigerlily

Dogs in flats can be fine if you get the right Dog, but as has been said, if the Dog gets ill or you do, or when it becomes old what about carrying it up & down the stairs? I wouldn't suggest a Puppy at all, but an older Rescue that's already house trained & *not* a working breed.

If you're intent on a BC, i'd suggest calling a good BC Rescue & asking them how many they get sent into Rescue due to not getting enough mental & physical stimulation & that have developed behavioural problems due to this.

I got a Rescue 7 months ago that was already house trained & I too live in a flat, although mine's a ground floor one. Also, I find the garden helps, as I wouldn't always want to walk her each time & also I can put a 30ft+ lunge line on her so she can run about as she hates other Dogs, if yours turns out to have issues, where will you be able to let it run about?

foreign_correspondent

I would say it is possible, but do your research, consider all the drawbacks, and perhaps look for a steady adult rescue dog that is ready housetrained!

However, of all the breeds I can think of a border collie is the breed I would suggest would be least well suited to life in a flat (and I have had several collie x's) - whilst some others - including many toy breeds, pugs, staffies and greyhounds would happily fit right in!

You also need a dog that is happy to be left alone - it is hard to work on seperation anxiety in a flat - if you get a dog that barks or howls when left alone, you can sometimes work on this over time in a house, it is far harder in a flat where more neighbours are in close proximity and are likely to be upset and complain.

If you are considering a collie, I would seriously suggest getting a very steady one past the age of four or so, they are the sort of breed that would drive you bonkers indoors all the time when young - my mum has a collie cross, and sometimes, you really do need to be able to bung her outside in the garden (the dog, not my mum) for half an hour of mad tearing around and destruction.

Collies need to be busy a lot, as they are bred to work for long stretches every day - some are more 'worky' than others, but if they are not occupied, they will find their own work, this is likely to be wallpaper stripping, bin emptying, shoe or skirting board chewing, or barking incessantly at every tiny noise in the distance.

An under stimulated collie is inherantly unhappy and very quickly becomes a difficult and neurotic dog, and sometimes this displays itsefl in some very disturbed and hard to correct behaviour.

If you think that the lifespan of a dog is often up to fifteen years, or more, this is a long term commitment and one that requires serious thought and consideration, for the dogs sake, and yours, and your neighbours.

moomin5

I think its ok to have dog and live in a flat (well maybe not a 15th floor type flat) if the dog is suitable and the owner commited to taking the dog out. A lot of americans on the greyhound forum i use live in flats or have no fenced garden so have to walk their dogs and cope fine, plus they usually have to cope with more severe weather than here.

I live in a house with a garden but usually take the dogs out on leads as i don't always want them running about (& barking) and sometimes stupid cats cut through and i don't want the dogs injured trying to get it. It works for me as i know they have definately gone, can pick up poop straight away to avoid anyone stepping in it and see if anyones a bit off. Its not much work, they go out about 4 times a day and takes about 10 mins and 2 trips are walk times anyway.
That said i'm not sure i'd fancy flat living with a pup, just because of how many times they need to go out. I can imagine diarrhea eposides can't be much fun either but guess you go armed with newpaper in case they don't make it outside in time.

I think FC makes some valid points and getting the right breed/dog to suit the lifestyle is key, so its worth keeping an open mind and investigating other breed options if a collie isn't suitable otherwise you could end up with allsorts of problems.

Have you checked that you can exercise you dog in the communal garden areas and that there isn't any building covenents about not keping pets?

shoe_girl_2

We have a first floor flat and have had 2 staffies (one normal size but built like a tank and a wee mini one) and its been fine.

I would listen to what FC says, you need to get the right breed. We where looking after someones dog that was part collie and part mystery dog when we where between dogs..............im still repairing the damage now! :eek::rotfl:

I would also get one out the rescue/cat and dog home. if you get one thats old enough it might come already house trained ect. and they might have a idea if there going to howl the place down so you dont fall out with the neighbours.
One thing i would say though is that some rescues/cat and dog homes wont rehome to you some dogs and breeds if you live in a flat, your better to check with them first if theyll rehome a dog to a flat before you go looking - saves a couple of broken hearts :cool:

about the going out - since weve had dogs in our flat them and us kinda get into a pattern where theyll sit right next to you, does a wee bark and then keeps on running to the door (when its outside usuall walk time) if theyve not got a upset tummy youve usually got time to get dressed and go to the loo

Also try to get one where you think you can carry it, we had to do it a couple of times when our old one was to tierd before his time was up. There where a couple of times to where he was alright but you just wanted to grab him he looked that bad

mrcol1000

We lived in a first floor flat when we first got our staff and its a bit of a hassle but its not that bad. The only problem as mentioned is the whole toilet thing. Its fine taking the dog for three or four walks a day so they can go to toilet but its when the dog is ill or your ill or the dog decides they want to go outside the normal walking times. My Staff also refuses to go toilet on any hard surface so I had to take her down to the canal which was by the flat.
This is fine in the winter as to be honest I went in my PJs and a coat as its pitch black down there anyway although I did startle a few people coming along on bikes with their lights on.....
The other thing is if you get an active dog like Collies then they always want to be out and about doing something but if you have to go out all the time then it can be a hassle. Lucky my staff is very lazy and is as happy laying on the sofa as she is being outside. In fact as long as she has somewhere to lay and stretch out she is content.
We now live in a place with a garden and its far easier. In the mornings I let her out in the garden to go toilet and then when we are ready to take her out for a walk we can. No having to stagger out of bed to get dressed to take the dog out first thing. Also we can sit out with her in the privacy of our own garden.

Just because you live in a flat doesn't mean you can't have a dog. We got ours from the RSPCA and was intergated and inspected and they were happy that we would be willing to take the dog down to the canal for toileting. But like other people say just get one that is toilet trained and you need to make sure you get the right breed.

Rikki

I had another thought.

What if the dog barks consistently while you are out? Not going to go down well will the other residents.

mrcol1000

Rikki wrote: »

I had another thought.

What if the dog barks consistently while you are out? Not going to go down well will the other residents.

Unless you live in a house miles from anywhere then the dog barking while your out will cause a nusiance whether you live in a flat or a house.

elsien

Rikki wrote: »

I had another thought.

What if the dog barks consistently while you are out? Not going to go down well will the other residents.

The neighbours can hear it just as much in a house as in a flat - I could swear next doors yorkie is in the bedroom with me at times. Horrible yappy little rat. (Can you tell I prefer bigger dogs!)

I also had a dog in a first floor flat with no garden. I went to the rescue centre looking for a bull terrier; out of the two they had in, one was a no go as it was just too bouncy, the other one they were happy to let live in a flat. A pain first thing in the morning when it's cold and wet, but I slung a coat on over my nightie, a quick out, and back into bed within 10 minutes on a good day.

Definitely do-able with the right dog.

arlybarly

Years ago i had a doberman in a 12th floor flat, but i did have a balcony that he could wee on if needed and the flat was right on the edge of the park and many a nioght id be down there in my jammies so it is doable.

emlou2009

a friend of mine lives in a flat with a dog and i wouldnt recommend it at all. she has a sh1tzu and he is so bored, all he does is pull throws off the furniture, wee everywhere and acts generally very naughty. and thats a small dog without a huge amount of energy - imagine it with a big dog! no thank you...