Moving From a House to an Apartment with Your Dog

Moving From a House to an Apartment with Your Dog

The Difference in Moving from a House to an Apartment

The biggest change for an owner and a dog to make when moving from a house to an apartment is the loss of access to a yard. When you live in a house you don’t have to take your dog out several times a day. Many dogs who live in a house with a yard don’t go out for a lot of walks, if at all, because their owners use the yard as the dog’s form of entertainment and exercise. When a dog is regularly confined to its own house and yard, the dog rarely experiences the world. This confinement can lead to a fearful and under socialized dog. 

Compare this experience to that of a dog that lives in an apartment. The owner and dog go out for walks several times a day and the dog gets a lot of repetitive exposure to people, other animals, urban and suburban sounds and common distractions. Although both situations have their own advantages, living in an apartment can actually produce a better socialized dog.  

What questions should I ask myself before moving to an apartment from a house?

What kind of social experiences has your dog had in the past?

 Will he be able to adjust to the increased exposure to living in an apartment? 

For example, if your dog is several years old and fearful of people and noises, you may have a difficult time adjusting your dog to an apartment unless you take very specific proactive steps toward helping your dog through his fears. If you are not willing to help him decrease his fears, your dog may be miserable in a high traffic apartment complex, and his fears and anxiety may increase if left untreated.  

For more information on socialization:

Chapter Nine “Acclimating Your Dog to Living in An Apartment” section “Socialization and Why it is so Important to Your Dog”

What will you do when, for example, company comes over and they are wearing really nice cloths?

If you would normally put the dog outside when company comes over, then what will you do when you live in an apartment and there is no yard? Can you put the dog into a bedroom and close the door? You might want to practice having the dog in the room before company comes over, so both you and the dog can be more ready and relaxed when the real “test” happens. 

Does your dog have any experience in being in a crate for long periods of time? 

For more information on crate training:

See Chapter Eight “Tools to Help You Train Your Dog” section “Using a Crate as an Important Training Tool”

In your previous living condition where was the dog kept when alone? 

Will some changes and training be needed to living in apartment?

For more information on living an apartment:

See Chapter Nine “Acclimating Your Dog to Living in an Apartment” section “Dogs Need to Have Their Own Space” 

Does your dog have chewing, barking or destructive tendencies?

For more information on preventing unwanted behaviors:

See Chapter Six “Preventing Undesirable Behaviors”  

Does your dog have separation anxiety issues?

For more information on separation anxiety:

See Chapter Six “Preventing Undesirable Behaviors” section “Separation Anxiety”

How many people will be handling the dog?

This is important because when more than one person handles a dog then it is critical that all handlers are consistent with the dog in its training. This is similar to children. Children quickly realize which parent will enforce which rules. 

Dogs that were used to having an attached yard where they had free access will now have to be maintained on a strict schedule of food, water and walking.

For more information on acclimating your dog to living in an apartment:

See Chapter Nine “Acclimating My Your Dog to Living in an Apartment”

How long can he currently hold himself between bathroom breaks? 

Does he have a consistent diet and a consistent schedule?

For more information on housetraining your dog:

See Chapter Eight “Tools to Help You Train Your Dog” section “Housetrain Your Dog in One Month” 

Can you afford to bring in a dog walker or take them to doggie day care while you are gone if needed?

If you live alone in an apartment, it is critical to understand that the dog needs to have somebody take them out when you are gone. Since the dog no longer has access to a yard to allow them to relieve themselves than another alternative needs to be established for when you are not at home. Maybe you can take your dog to family or friends to stay with while you are away.

For more information on caring for your dog when you are away:

See Chapter Five “Keeping Your Dog Healthy” section “Caring for Your Dog When You are at Work or on Vacation”