Living in an Apartment with a Dog: 15 Essential Tips for Happy Coexistence

As much as I'd love to live in a more spacious environment, unfortunately with work that isn't an option right now. Due to this I've spent the past few years living with Jasper in a more urban environment and we've made it work.

With everything being on the same level I don't have to worry about Jasper wandering into another room.

It's cosy and provides plenty of opportunity for binding, spending time and cuddling.

There is a grass area out front where he can go to the toilet and a field literally behind us where we can walk through.

There's a big Tesco round the corner which is perfect for doing socialisation training.

A lot of neighbours LOVE Jasper and love to give him fuss regularly.

Obviously a bigger space would be great!!!

We have to go down 4 levels even to just go out for a toilet break whatever the weather.

Walking a dog down a stairwell or going down in a lift can be challenging when there is another dog present.

A few people don't like dogs.

Jasper used to have major issues with separation anxiety.

It can be difficult to train when you have kids running around.

It took me some time to find this apartment, it was a horrible time to look and to be honest it was a rushed decision but it's a really nice place at the end of the day.

There are two main things to think about when looking for the right apartment:

Big breeds and some high energy dogs may require more space, whilst smaller dogs and those that are coached potatoes can get away with smaller space.

You will also have to consider the energy of the breed. When living in an apartment with a dog it's harder to keep our dogs active and fulfilled so you also have to consider whether you can meet your dogs energy needs.

Are there shared outdoor spaces? What are the rules? Dogs on lead? No toileting? Clean up poop? Etc.

Even if your dog is fully trained, I believe that public shared spaces are unpredictable, which can cause unpredictable reactions in our dogs.

Me and Jasper encountered an issue the other week where a new large family moved in with about 4 kids. When coming out my apartment they noticed Jasper and all ran towards him and as Jasper gets over excited with people he lunged BUT thankfully I had him on leash, he hit the end and came back to me (a signal we have). Even though Jasper isn't aggressive, if he was off leash and lunged and knocked the kid over (even though he just wants to lick their face off) it could have been a horrible situation.

We can't control our environment when it comes to public shared spaces, but we can have control of our dogs.

When it comes to things like doors, I'll always put Jasper into a sit and hold the door open and allow others to walk through.

As well as it being polite, it also gives your dog space too. If you're on this blog then chances are you have an anxious or reactive dog, putting them in situations where it can feel others are invading their personal space could lead to reactions. So giving people way with doors and on stairs gives you the opportunity to give your dog space and also advocate for your dog and show that you have control of this normal situation (this can build that trust outside).

Neutrality is probably one of the greatest things that we can teach our dogs. This doesn't mean I don't believe dogs should interact with their environment, I believe that dogs should be able to stay neutral in many situations until given the say-so.

Neutrality and impulse control will do you so many favours especially if you have a dog that always wants to say hi to other dogs and people.

This behaviour may seem fine and cute in such a small environment but it can spiral outdoors too and cause such bigger issues.

Boundaries can be things like not being allowed in the kitchen, no sofa unless invited up (must also get off when asked), no walking in the bathroom or bedroom, respecting thrresholds etc.

The best thing about boundaries, is that you can take them away once your dog understands the boundary. Jasper struggled with the sofa rule because he just wanted to be close to everyone but he would never get off. For this reason the boundary came in and he could only come up when asked and he soon started to understand the assignment.

Getting your dog comfortable to being alone as quick as possible is essential for your dogs health but also it can help a lot with neighbours.

A lot of dogs can't just be left alone without any training, you can expect destruction and complaints from the neighbours when you get back. Jasper used to scratch and chew on door frames at our first place which was fun for my deposit but put us on the road with crate training.

I'm a big advocate for crate training dogs properly for whether we have to leave them alone or take them somewhere. A lot of situations when we aren't at home and our dogs are home alone and easily avoidable with crate training. I get this is a topic that is highly controversial so for this post I'll leave it at that and save it for its own post.

If your dog goes to the toilet in the general area of the apartment (such as Jasper going on the grass area in front by the car park), make sure you clean it up and also dispose of it properly.

Remember this is a shared space and it's got to be respected. Always make sure you have poo bags to hand and that you can dispose of them, this is super important especially when the weather is terrible!

You may find that you have to block off certain areas when living in an apartment with a dog to ensure safety for you, your dog and potentially your neighbours too.

If you have a reactive or anxious dog that has a history of reacting or if you yourself don't have the confidence controlling your dog in these situations yet, having a muzzle will be a godsend.

I remember when I first started dealing with Jasper's reactivity, one of the most alleviating moments was when I muzzle trained Jasper.

Nowadays I keep it clipped onto our treat pouch and haven't found the need for it.

Putting a muzzle on your dog even just for the first few days can be all you need to assess the situation.

If your dog is required to be muzzled or leashed (XL bullies) then it is super wise to follow this rule. I am shocked how many stupid accidents I've seen from people wanting to prove their dog isn't aggressive where something ended up triggering it especially now!

Building connections with other dog owners is great too, from this you may end up getting a dog friend (if your dog is so inclined) but the best thing is it gives you a chance to talk about your dog and any issues you may be having. When I moved in I had numerous chats that Jasper is anxious, overexcited and reactive. Due to this people understood when I told them not to interact and they also understood if he had an “unseen reaction”.

For this reason I recommend taking the stairs at more “peak times”. Stairs allow you to give space and also turn around and even leave on a certain floor if you're in a really tricky situation.

Obviously if you're on the 10th floor this isn't really an option, I struggle getting to the 4th floor but I only take the lift after Jasper's evening toilet break or his morning walk after my gym session.

Exercise is super important and should be paired with mental stimulation due to it being harder to keep our dogs active during apartment life.

Physical exercise will help bring our dogs energy levels down.

Try thinking of a nice den for your dog. Jasper's crate is open and covered during the day with a memory foam cushion, water, a blanket and a teddy. After we come back from a walk he goes straight into his crate and crashes out.

Be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions, to expect the unexpected and to hopefully grow from negative situations and scenarios.

You can find more information on how to mentally stimulate your dog here in my blog post for a full and complete guide packed with knowledge, tips and different activities for mentally stimulating your dog.

Have you any experience living in an apartment with a dog? Any tips to share? Leave a comment below 👇🏾