Apartment Living With Your Dog: What To Know and How To Do It

For many dog lovers, a house with a big, enclosed garden is the dream. But flat or apartment living doesn’t mean that you can’t adopt a dog—or that your pup can’t have a great life.

Living in a flat with a dog is just different, with its own set of routines, chores, and maintenance. To help you and your dog be successful, we spoke with Nicole Barnett, a certified dog trainer and founder of We Work 4 Treats in Toronto, Canada. We also consulted with Eleasha Gall, the director of animal behaviour at Bucks County SPCA in Southeastern Pennsylvania, USA.

Both Barnett and Gall have used their knowledge as dog trainers to successfully house their own pups in apartments. In fact, Gall once moved her dogs Gunner and Monster from a 35-acre farm in Pennsylvania to a 500-square-foot apartment in Southern California. If you’re considering either adopting a dog in a flat or transitioning your pups from a house, their advice and experience are invaluable.

Meet Exercise Requirements

One of the most common misconceptions about flats versus houses is that dogs get all the exercise they need simply by having free access to a garden. The truth, says Nicole Barnett, is that the responsibilities of dog parents don’t change, no matter where you live. Whether you’re in a house or an apartment, your dog needs your help getting an appropriate amount of exercise. That means walks, socialisation, and games.

Here’s how to make sure an apartment dog is getting plenty of exercise.

• Prioritise a pet-friendly location if possible. If you’re searching for a flat, prioritise a place with nearby parks and walkable paths for your daily stroll.
• Map out your local trails. Whether nearby or across town, local trails for walking, running, and hiking offer you and your pup a change of scenery (and smells) to keep your daily walks interesting.
• Head to the local park. Your dog will love the off-lead play time, and you both might find new friends.
• Start a new exercise program. Consider agility lessons, flyball, or nosework, which is easy to do even in a small living space. Eleasha Gall added FitPAWS, which is basically pilates for pets, to her dogs’ routine. “About 20 minutes on the FitPAWS and Monster is knocked out for three days,” she says.
• If taking your pup out on your own is a challenge, hire a dog walker, take your dog to daycare, or even bring them along to work if allowed.

Increase Mental Stimulation

Using your dog’s nose or brain helps to stimulate their mind, keeping them active and entertained. Giving them time to sniff on your walks or exposing them to new environments is an easy way to increase mental stimulation.

On days when you can’t get away, the weather is bad, or your pup just needs a bit more engagement, many indoor activities can help ward off boredom and release pent-up energy, too.

“The mental stimulation will make your dog tired in a way that running them and just plain exercise won’t,” explains Gall.

• Treat dispensing toys. “It’s probably the biggest and easiest thing that people can do,” Gall says. She always feeds her dogs from KONGs—freezing them makes the food last even longer. Other options to make mealtime more interactive include snuffle mats and puzzle toys.
• Brain games and hidden treasures. This easy, interactive game also promotes bonding between you and your dog. Simply hide treats around your flat and encourage your pup to seek them out. This makes a new environment very enriching, with fun things to do and find.
• Give your dog chew toys. Chewing (as long as it’s not on your shoes) is good for both your dog’s dental health and emotional wellbeing. If you’re away from home, chew toys help to keep them focused and engaged so they’re less stressed by your absence.

Train Scheduled Toilet Breaks

There’s no getting around the fact that taking your dog out to pee will be more work in an apartment. Some experts recommend starting with 20 or 30-minute morning and evening walks plus, if possible, shorter jaunts during the day. If you’re gone for long hours and your pup will be alone, hiring a dog walker is a great option to offer mid-day relief.

If you’re consistent, your pup will eventually learn a routine, and they’ll naturally adjust their potty needs to match.

Some apartment dwellers also like to use elimination products like pee pads or patches of artificial turf. These can come in especially handy if you live in a large building, says Barnett. If it’s late at night or your lift is down, having an option indoors or on the balcony can save you (and your pup) from a long trip up and down the stairs.

There are a couple of options to bring the outside in (or up) for your pup.

• Artificial turf. Many flat and apartment dwellers put turf on their balconies to give their dogs a convenient place to go. If you have some extra space, you could even find a spot indoors that your pup can access when you’re away. A friend of Gall’s trained their dog to go on a square of artificial grass placed in the shower. Cleanup was easy, and the dog knew that it was okay to go in that spot when the turf was down.
• Live grass. If real earth is more your style, you’ll also find several companies that now deliver patches of live grass for flat-dwelling dogs.

Desensitise Your Dog to Sights and Sounds of Apartment Life

If your pup is going directly from a noisy shelter to your home, your apartment might seem like an oasis of calm. But for the dogs that have been living in a detached home, either with you or with a dog foster, it can be hard to adjust to the constant stimulation of flat life. Suddenly the walls are making noise and there are people right outside the door!

It will likely take some time to desensitise your dog to the sights and sounds of cars, neighbours, and more. To make the adjustment, try the following:

• Put on a white noise machine or gentle music to drown out some of the unfamiliar noises
• Offer treats in new spaces and when passing people and dogs to build positive associations
• Set up a space just for your dog in your apartment, whether that’s a crate or just a cosy private spot to decompress

If your country dog is moving to a big city (as was Gall’s experience), you can also prepare them ahead of time. Take them for walks in a busier environment before the move. You can also download sound effects of common city noises and use them to train your pet in advance.

Reactive dogs in apartments

For pups that are afraid of people or other dogs, adjusting to a flat can be especially challenging, says Barnett. Time, experience, and socialisation training can help to put your dog at ease, but a certified dog trainer’s guidance is also invaluable.

“If you are struggling in common spaces with your dog, there is much we can do to better orchestrate those spaces,” she says. “Hire a trainer that can help you map out the skills needed in each part of your space.”

Even dogs with a history of aggression can do well in apartments with the right tools, Barnett says. She recommends that pups with a history of biting or even severe reactivity wear a muzzle when moving through common areas. This helps to prevent potential issues before they even start.

How To Prevent Apartment Barking

When bringing a dog into an apartment or flat you can probably expect them to be reactive at first. After all, flat living can be startling. And a startled dog is often a barky dog.

“The one thing many clients reach out to me about is usually struggles with hallway noises,” Barnett says. “There is much we can do to dampen the noise disturbance from hallways.”

To help your dog stay quiet and calm, focus on dampening noise, limiting your dog’s view, and helping them feel more comfortable.

• Use sound machines. Alternatively, music can block some of the noise and calm your anxious pet.
• Add or replace the weatherstripping around your door. Weatherstripping works to prevent air from passing through the cracks, and it can help to dampen sounds too.
• Use a rolled-up towel or draft blocker at the base of the door, or hang a heavy curtain over the door. Both tools can be effective in soundproofing your apartment.
• Create barriers to keep your dog away from doors and windows. Barnett suggests a baby gate, but you can also use plants or frosted windows or furniture in front of doors. Just make sure that your efforts don’t keep you from getting outside quickly in an emergency.

Positive experiences can also help your dog to adjust and to stay quieter. It is important to watch what your dog is going through, Gall says. Pay attention to prevent barking. If you hear a noise or see your dog perk up, say ‘good dog’ in an excited tone before they bark. Then engage them with at least 30 seconds of reward activity, such as ball-throwing, a game of tug, petting, or treats.

Making Friends

One of the biggest benefits of apartment living—especially in a dog-friendly space—is the increased likelihood of making friends, both for you and your dog. Whether you frequent your neighbourhood dog park, utilise a dedicated dog run at your apartment complex, or regularly stroll around the neighbourhood, it’s likely that you’ll encounter others doing the same. With a consistent schedule, you may even run into the same people and pups regularly.

For your dog, that means more positive social interaction, allowing them to engage and play with other, increasingly familiar dogs. Even seeing other dogs and people frequently can help with issues like reactivity and anxiety.

Plus, it’s a chance to connect with your neighbours and fellow dog parents. A community of dog lovers can help to offer support or, at the very least, a friendly face for you and your dog as you go about your day.

Further Reading

• • How To Potty Train an Older Dog
  • The Top Puppy Training Tips For New Dog Parents
  • The Best Dog Breeds for Apartment Living, According to Experts