lifestyle/house size and dogs?

mandwhy

mandwhy

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Hello :-)

I live in a flat at the moment and was wondering whether it would be at all possible for me to have a dog? It would most likely be a rescue, age/size/breed not really important just temperament. I would rather like a small older dog that is chilled out and just wants a safe, quiet home.

It is ground floor and quite large, but we don't have a garden just communal gardens which are quite big also. Lots of green space nearby for walks.

Does anyone have a dog and live in a flat/not have a garden?

I am a full time student for the next 2.5 years so at home a lot then I am likely to work full time so that throws another problem in, although by that time we (my partner and I) will be able to move into a house as we will be able to afford it (Cambridge rather expensive).

I'm just wondering what sort of lifestyles people have as a lot of rescue places specify that you should not leave the dog longer than 3 hours etc and I just wonder how many people work full time and manage it OK? Do you leave the dog in the garden and have some sort of kennel or outbuilding or does it stay in the house?
 
I have a 2 yr old terrier who we have had since he was 12 weeks old. We've just moved house and have a reasonable garden now, but in our previous house, which was small, we only had a tiny yard rather than a garden. It was absolutely no problem, we had a park round the corner and plenty of other places to go for a walk.

We work full time and our dog stays at home, since he was 12 weeks old. We used to go home for lunch but haven't done for the past few months. He stays in the house and sleeps in his bed, he has the radio on, and seems to just sleep! If we leave chews etc for him, he ignores them until we get home! He was crated until he was about 11 months old and still chooses to sleep in his crate a lot.

I think the only real 'concession' we made was that, given he is alone all day, we choose to have him sleep with us :)

Some rescues are very much not flexible, but others will look at the bigger picture and the fact that dogs do manage to cope home alone - ask around locally and I'm sure you'll get recommendations of rescues to go to.
 
My lifestyle sounds very similar to yours. Huge ground floor flat, no direct access to a garden, but huge communal garden and access to miles and miles of park land at the end of my cul de sac. I'm also at uni and only have 10 contact hours. I'm hoping to work full time over the summer though.

I've got a whippet. Hes crated when I leave him, but only for a maximum of 4 hours. Any more than that is only once in a blue moon and in that case someone comes in to walk him. If I work full time over the summer he'll go to doggy day care. It costs the same to have him looked after all day as it would to pay a dog walker to come in once a day (about £10 a day)
 
Awesome thanks :-) yes I was thinking if I get a full time job over the summer or obv after uni I would think of getting someone to come and walk the dog, but yes if doggie daycare is the same price that would be a good option too :-) I have quite a few local friends who could pop in as a one off if I was going to be out longer than usual (I babysit for them etc!).

I was thinking a rescue might be a better option as there might be some who have lived in a flat or small house perhaps with an older person who had passed away.
 
When I was 21 and newly married, my husband and I lived in a flat. We took on a three year old Whippet. We both worked full time. Ash would be taken out on lead when my husband got up - about 6.00, and prior to when I left for work -about 8.30. I would have a two hour lunch break - 2-4 - and Ash would be walked again. I would get in about 6.00/6.30 and quickly nip him out for a tiddle. Husband would walk him again about 9.30-10. It worked for us and Ash.:)
 
I don't live in a flat now, but know plenty of other dog owners that do and can see how it can work out fine as we've spent time with our 2 in hotels. To be fair its more what space the human is happy with as a dog's kennel space is pretty small in comparison. Gardens are useful, but i don't think its essential to own a dog.

I was working full-time (9-5) when i adopted our 2 x 2yr old greyhounds, the rescue was fine with this as i was able to pop home in my lunch hour. I leave the dogs indoors when i'm out and they tend to sleep most the day, even when i'm home.

Its great that your willing to consider older dogs. OAP's dogs can be used to 24/7 company so could suffer with separation anxiety if put into your situation though a decent rescue would look to match you with a suitable dog. Don't take it personally if you get rejected by some rescues, they all have different policies so worth looking around and many home outside their local area.
 
Oh I do like greyhounds they are lovely elegant dogs and most seem pretty chilled out around the house. Not so keen on their urges to chase things though!

Are there any breeds you would suggest? I actually quite like staffies as they are so loving and there are so many in rescue, although boyfriend isn't keen on them probably because of the image etc, but I think he could be persuaded. I'm not sure if one would be suitable though?

Minimal shedding would be great as I am a bit sensitive, but have always had cats at the parents house and been fine with that, I think I am fine with dogs too but have never actually lived with one and wouldn't want that to ruin things!

Also we have all laminate floors here, I know a lot of dogs don't like it but not sure if it is a problem for most?
 
mandwhy said:
Are there any breeds you would suggest? I actually quite like staffies as they are so loving and there are so many in rescue, although boyfriend isn't keen on them probably because of the image etc, but I think he could be persuaded. I'm not sure if one would be suitable though?
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Can not recomend whippets enough. Very little shedding of fur and such loyal and brilliant dogs. Don't worry too much about the chasing, my whippet is quite good will come back without a worry. Its the saluki who likes chasing the birds. As long as they are trained ok its not a problem! :)

Laminate flooring, we have it in the house and not a problem. But we do lay down a warm rug in front of the fire so they can lay down, they like the warmest place, often in bed with you :P
 
mandwhy said:
Oh I do like greyhounds they are lovely elegant dogs and most seem pretty chilled out around the house. Not so keen on their urges to chase things though!

Also we have all laminate floors here, I know a lot of dogs don't like it but not sure if it is a problem for most?
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I've a soft spot for staffies, but don't know much about them, sure other's on here can.

Some greyhounds are fine off lead and there's groups that foster greys in homes so are better placed to tell you if they'd be suitable candidates. There's a greyhound event in Newmarket next month at AHT http://mildenhall.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/ if you wanted to find out more about them & test allergies.
If they appeal could also look at lurchers as a type rather than breed they come in a range of looks/sizes/energy levels. http://www.lurcherlink.org/llink/forum/index.php?c=3 and http://scrupleswhippetrescue.co.uk/ for whippets,though are other places.

I've one dog that doesn't really like the slippy laminate, but manages and the other happily runs about on it, if necessary can just pop a few cheap rugs down till they gain in confidence.
 
i have 3 dogs and live in a flat.im blessed with having a garage attatched to it and set of my own stairs and own front door-yest still a flat.my dogs have the garage to themselves.get walked 3 times a day and come to work with me.as long as dog gets PLENTY of exercise and not left on own to long dont know what the problem is.alot of these rescue centres speak out their arse.
 
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