Soloviova Liudmyla

Truth be told, one of the main reasons why many people decide not to adopt a dog is lack of space or finances, or both. If you are living in a small space that is tailor made for you, then making room for a pet can be a challenging situation. There are definitely several factors to take into account, but that doesn’t mean you should deny your love to a pooch that would surely be much happier with you than in a shelter somewhere.

Depending on your lifestyle, there are options to consider if you are keen on getting a four-legged best friend with you, and here is what you can do to make both them and you feel good about living together.

Choose your breed carefully if you live in a small apartment, because a dog’s energy levels significantly vary, depending on their origins. While some working breeds like Samoyeds and Huskies are simply beautiful and incredibly smart, they require a lot of space to move around, preferably outside. One of the main traits of all working breeds is they are highly energetic, and if they don’t get the chance to get that energy out of their system, they can become depressed, and even aggressive. Smaller dogs are a better fit for the smaller apartments, but again, not all of them, as they can get very fussy and loud. If you love bigger dogs, there are some who have a couch potato temperament, like the Great Dane. The most important task is to do your research when it comes toc dog breeds. You might want a certain kind of dog, but if your circumstances are not close to optimal, you might be setting yourself and your doggy up for lots of trouble.

After you’ve picked your pooch, one of the first things on your to-do list should be to make a place for them in your apartment. This means creating a space for them where they will feel safe. This is where you could put their bed, food and some toys. Even though the whole of your apartment will become their domain (and don’t fool yourself in thinking it will not be so), dogs need a place that is entirely their own, where they retreat when they’ve done something wrong and aren’t in good graces with you. If you believe your dog should be crate trained, then make sure their crate or den is at all times available to them, it will make them feel at ease.

Exercise, exercise, exercise! No matter the breed you opt out for, dogs are active creatures, and they need to be outside pretty much every day. Especially if you have a young pup on your hands, exercising them will practically save your life, and probably most of the furniture in your home. Puppies get overexcited very easily and they have much more hectic energy than grown dogs, so you’ll need to know how to deal with it. Take your pooch out twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, and make sure to see their tongues out before getting them back in, that will show that they are happy and getting tired, which means they will rest when they come home.

Routine is also very important with dogs, especially while training them to do their business outside and obey simple commands. Try your best to establish a time of the day when you walk them and feed them, because with time their metabolisms learn to work according to an established routine, which saves you from having to go out to walk your dog at three in the morning. Also, it will be easier for the dog and his bodily functions to know which time of the day is for feeding, and which for the toilet use, so to speak.

As dogs who aren’t socialized enough tend to either become too shy or aggressive in the presence of unfamiliar dogs and people, make sure that he has doggie company from time to time. Be it a dog play date, spending some time in a dog park near you or hanging out with your friends and neighbors who have dogs as well, organize whatever works for you. Also, bear in mind that, if you leave your dog alone a lot, you will need to compensate for it with some extra exercising time or you can ask your neighbor to check in on your doggie once or twice a day. Separation anxiety is a serious issue, and can end in complete withdrawal of your pup, not to mention nervous chewing and relentless barking.

Having a small apartment shouldn’t be an obstacle when it comes to getting a dog, but it does require adjustment and thinking in advance.