After months of scouring adoption sites and shelters, you’ve finally found the perfect pooch to bring home! However, there’s one slight wrench in your plan: you live in an apartment. While you have enough space for you and your pup to cohabitate in, you’re not quite sure how to make your place comfortable for them. While it can be daunting to bring a new dog into an apartment, there are plenty of ways to make your place pet-friendly so that your dog can thrive.
From making sure that your dog has all the essential supplies it needs, like dog bowls and a comfy bed, to keeping your floors and furniture safe from puppy accidents, we’ve got tips and tricks on how to give your dog the best apartment life.
First and Foremost: Communicate With Your Landlord
When you live in an apartment, it’s essential that you let your landlord know about your plan to get a dog. Often, apartment buildings will have specific rules about having dogs on the premises. These rules can pertain to a variety of things including:
- The maximum size and weight a dog can be (most apartments restrict dog weight to under 35 pounds).
- The number of dogs and other pets that are allowed in a single unit at once.
- Where the dog is allowed to be in communal areas in the apartment building.
- The type of breeds allowed in the apartment building.
Additionally, most apartment buildings will require a pet deposit fee to cover any cleaning or damage costs that may be needed after you and your dog move out. If you know that your current apartment building does not allow dogs, it’s not a good idea to try and sneak a new pup into your building without consent.
Your landlord will eventually find out, and you’ll be put in the terrible situation of having to choose between giving your dog up, or finding a new home when you may not be prepared to. If you find that your current apartment building doesn’t allow dogs and you still want one, it’s best to consider moving to a dog-friendly building before you welcome a furry friend into your home.
Dog Bowls
Once you’ve gotten the okay to bring a dog into your apartment from your landlord, it’s time to stock up on the essentials that they’ll need. You’ll want to get your pup a good set of dog bowls so they have dedicated dishes for food and water to eat and drink from.
For ease of cleaning and durability, look for dog bowls made of dishwasher-safe stainless steel. Many dog bowls also have silicone covers that come in a variety of hues, so you can choose one that suits you and your dog’s style. You can even get your pup’s name engraved on the bowl! They might not be able to read it, but your dog will absolutely be grateful to have a dish of their own to eat all of their meals out of.
Crate Training
When living in an apartment building with a dog, you want to be especially courteous of your neighbors. This means making sure your dog is well-trained and keeps barking to a minimum. Crate training is a great way to train your dog to settle, and is also helpful to use when you have to go out and can’t watch your dog.
If your dog is older and more relaxed, you may not need a crate, but most younger dogs can benefit from this form of training. It’s a good idea to practice crate training while you’re at home, so your dog can feel safe in the crate and won’t get alarmed and start barking. From there, you can work up to leaving your dog in the crate by itself for a few hours at a time, so they get comfortable with being alone and don’t bother your neighbors with constant barking every time you go out.
Protect Your Furniture and Floors
Dogs have the tendency to make a mess of things. When living in an apartment, you want to make sure that you puppy-proof your home from any accidents that might occur. If your dog has the tendency to go to the bathroom in the house when it’s nervous, leave out pee pads when you’re going to go out.
Alternatively, you could limit your dog to a certain area of the house to ensure that they don’t go in areas that are hard to clean, like a carpeted living room. To keep your furniture safe, establish rules about what objects your dog is and isn’t allowed on, so they know not to use the couch as a chew toy.
In Conclusion
Living in an apartment with a dog doesn’t have to be difficult. By communicating with your landlord, getting the right supplies, and training your pup to avoid excessive barking and accidents, you and your furry friend can easily live a happy, healthy apartment life together.
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