Okay, Ill be honest, we aren't exactly living in the lap of luxury over here. Our apartment is gorgeous, with pretty views and great amenities. But square footage-wise...its not Rachel and Monica's apartment (Friends reference, people!!!). Now Havi, being the gal she is, has never complained. But that doesn't stop other people from doing so on her behalf...
People frequently stop us to say "you keep her in that apartment all day" or "how does she deal with being in such a small space" and our favorite "well I could never have a big dog because my apartment is too small."
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| Havi on her first day with us, letting us know her favorite thing to do is cuddle |
Here's the best thing about dogs, especially Havis: they don't care! Havi LOVES running around, playing fetch, etc. But she doesn't do it in the apartment. And come to think about it, our parent's dogs don't run around like crazy in their larger suburban homes (they are also both neat freaks, so I cannot imagine that would go over well).
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| To be, or not to be... |
Havi gets walked by us four times a day, one of those walks is for an hour. She goes to the dog park once a week with her dog walker. She goes on a
Big Apple Pittie Pack walk twice a month. She rough houses in the apartment with her BFF Jax four times a week.
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| Dog Park Havi |
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| Walking gear! |
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| Playtime |
The rest of the time she kind of looks like this:
We think everyone has this image of Havi racing across our 500sq feet begging to get out, knocking over precious china in the process (as a sidenote, we have no precious china). But honestly, most of the time our 73-pounder is just chilling on the couch.
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| Havi LOVES her crate while the Grad Students are away.... |
In a 500sq foot apartment at any given time of day, Havi is usually just curled up on the couch. So thanks everyone, Havi's fine, and actually - she hopes you'll give a big pup a tiny chance in your small space!
When I got Daphne (~50 lbs of hounddog), I lived in a giant house... but it was with 6 other people and we mostly just lived in my 10x10 room. It fit my bed, her crate, and not much else, but with the two hours a day we spent at the dog park, that was just fine for everyone! I'm always sad when I hear people say they don't have space for a dog - everyone has space! Though not everyone has the time to make the space work...
ReplyDeleteHey Havi!
ReplyDeleteWow, very well put! We pooches are totally adaptable and with love and care we'll be perfectly comfy anywhere our peeps are. Some folks just don't understand. Your walkies are wonderful!!
Grr and Woof,
Sarge, COP
Four walks a day! Thank you for inspiring me to take my dogs out for more, longer walks. We've actually only been able to completely tire Badger out a few times since we've had him, so he could definitely use some more exercise. (Now convincing me to get out of bed in the morning is another thing.)
ReplyDeleteI think so many people become lazy if they have a fenced backyard or a big house - they think that makes up for not taking their dogs on walks. But I promise you, you are doing much better taking Havi on walks than they are, leaving their dog to wander their big houses or apartments or whatever. Don't feel bad, Havi is doing just fine! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! As long as your dog gets adequate exercise it doesn't matter how big your apt. is. And dogs are creatures of habit - they usually hang out in the same spots. We have a 2500 sf house but our dogs spend 90 percent of their time in 3 spaces - couch upstairs, couch downstairs, carpet under the dining room table.
ReplyDeleteOur one year old 40 lb dog bounces off the walls inside half the time, no matter how much we try to walk her. She's exhausting. I think choosing a dog when you live in an apartment should be less about the size of the dog and more about the energy level of the dog. Someone who lives in an apartment and has less time to exercise a dog should maybe look for an older dog or a calmer breed (not necessarily smaller- look at a greyhound vs. a jack russell for example, greyhounds are giant couch potatoes).
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Each of our foster dogs have taught me something different about what I would want in a dog. Our first was hyper all the time and had a super high prey drive (we have cats). Our second was really calm and a little older with no prey drive. At this point in our life, we are going to need a dog that is a little older, calm but still active, and no prey drive. It's a tall order, but what we've learned through fostering is invaluable for when we're ready to commit.
DeleteThanks Karen & Lindsay, these are good points I didn't make. It is all about energy level of the pooch as well and knowing your dog. Each dog is an individual, like humans! ;)
DeleteDogs don't need tons of space. They just need tons of love and walks!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was first looking to adopt a doggie, I knew I wanted a bigger dog, but was never about size, too. The first dog that I thought I wanted (thank goodness I didn't get her, otherwise I wouldn't have my Lucy!) was a black lab. I expressed my concern over the size of my apartment, and this is what the shelter worker told me: "For a shelter dog, who lives in a crate or kennel most of the day, ANY SIZE APARTMENT would be a palace to them!" So I just keep that in mind, and use that as advice for people who think that they "couldn't have such a big dog in a small apartment."
ReplyDeleteLove this!
DeleteAgree with Karen. The most important thing to consider is the activity level of the dog and what your capable of handling based on your lifestyle. A couch potato type dog will be happy in a small apartment, regardless of his/her size whereas a high energy bouncing off the walls type might not be.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
DeleteIt's so true - apartment size is completely irrelevant! As long as there's room for a comfy bed, the important thing is exercise and stimulation, and having a bigger house doesn't help with that.
ReplyDeleteWe hear this alot living in the city without a backyard (and right now we have 3 LARGE dogs). I know if we did have a backyard we wouldn't have nearly the same connection we have with our dogs, and going on walks allows us to exercise, socialize, and really be on top of any health issues.
ReplyDeleteHavi looks perfectly content, and I agree, I think a lot of dogs are totally fine in a small space, regardless of size, so long as the appropriate effort is made to walk them frequently and allow opportunities for exercise sufficient for that dog's age and activity level. I'd say Havi has it pretty good, and I bet she would agree! (And yes, think of how many dogs like Havi could be saved if people didn't think you had to live in a mansion to have a dog!)
ReplyDeleteWell put. If your dog is getting the exercise they need, then their living space can be any size. I know plenty of people with big homes and huge yards, but whose dogs are completely nuts in the house because they never leave the place!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I get those comments all the time too, and I get really sick of it! I completely agree with Two Pitties that I wouldn't have the same connection with my dogs, and I certainly wouldn't have met my SociaBulls friends! And I hate going to the gym, but walking at least 4 miles a day with Zoe is enough to keep us in shape!
ReplyDeleteAnd sidenote: I love the photo of Havi curled up in a ball on the couch. That's what it looks like around here too! :)
I hate the gym too. Especially treadmills. What's the fun in running for half an hour and not actually getting anywhere? LOL. But walking the dogs suddenly makes exercise a lot more fun. Plus, floppy ears!
DeleteWe don't get too much of the comments but I don't agree when people say they need a small dog because they live in an apartment. Small dogs often need a lot of exercise too!
ReplyDeleteWe do 4 walks a day as well and typically avoid the dog park, but try to go for a run with her or something. Right now, we're 2 dogs, 2 people in 1050 sq feet and we keep one of the rooms shut off to the dogs most of the time (the man cave). And we have plenty of room!
When we lived in LA we had under 1000sf for three dogs and two humans. It was a squeeze!
ReplyDeleteStop on by for a visit
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com
It makes me laugh when I hear people who live in the suburbs say that its mean to have a dog in a small apartment. Most of the city dogs I know get more exercise than their suburban counterparts. Here, we have to put the leash on and walk. Many of my suburban friends open up the backdoor and let their dogs out into the fenced yard, but that's not necessarily structured exercise. (Not that I wouldn't LOVE to have a fenced yard. :) )
ReplyDeletethere is so nothing wrong with having a big dog in an apartment. my friends live in a one-bedroom in queens and have a cane corso and a french mastiff. both dogs are quite fine and dandy. what is wrong with people??
ReplyDelete