City life can be rowdy at times! There is always something to see and do, but that can be a bit overwhelming for our canine companions. If you’re thinking of taking your dog into town or if you’re moving your dog to a new area of the city, check out these survival tips for the both of you.
Choose a breed that lives in the city
If you live in a city and are considering adding a dog to your family, choose a breed or mix of breeds that do well in that setting. If you’re someone whose ideal evening includes couch, snack, and pajamas, don’t bring home an energetic dog who needs hours of exercise and active play. A city dog’s movement can be restricted by little or no garden space, no nearby dog park, and lots of distracting noises and activity when walking around the neighborhood, which can make long daily walks a challenge.
Your living situation is in the foreground here. Review any apartment, condominium, HOA, or other dog regulations that may affect where you live. It’s not uncommon for rentals to require dogs to weigh less than a certain weight (often 25 pounds or less).
There are other ways in which size matters in city life. Some cities’ public transportation / subways require pets to be kept in pet carriers. If you live in the city and don’t have a car, the easiest thing to do is to have a dog that you can take with you and / or that fits in a carrier. Popular breeds to meet these city life challenges include Boston Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, French Bulldogs, Poodles (toy and miniature), and Maltese. Take into account that individual dog personality is just as important as breed characteristics, so find out as much as you can about your potential future fur friend to get the best match.
© Kane Skennar | Getty Images
The 10 best cities for dogs
Some cities have a reputation for being more dog-friendly than others based on certain pet-friendly factors. Rent.com created a survey that looked at the best cities to live with dogs and analyzed the percentage of pet-friendly rentals, the average cost of veterinary care, and the number of pet-related shops and pet-friendly parks per capita. For cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants
RENT.COM HAS DETERMINED THE TOP 10 US CITIES:
- Greeley, Colorado
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Boulder, Colorado
- Tyler, Texas
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Arvada, Colorado
- Naperville, Illinois
- Vacaville, California
- Davie, Florida
Know the rules
In addition to weight and size restrictions, many apartment buildings have regulations about what types of dogs are allowed to live in the building and the behavior of dogs living in the community, as well as requirements that must be followed by guardians, such as: B. Shoveling manure and keeping dogs on a leash. Depending on your apartment building, a violation (or even a perceived violation) of any of the dog rules could result in fines, evictions, or the permanent removal of your dog from the premises.
Laws prohibiting or restricting possession of certain breeds of dogs or mixtures of these breeds, known as breed specific legislation (BSL), are still common in some cities. BSL characterizes certain breeds as “dangerous” or “aggressive”. These discriminatory laws are widely recognized as ineffective and are discredited by veterinary experts. Although there have been legislative victories in some places in recent years to repeal BSL, many communities in the United States still have BSL as part of local law. Before moving to a new area, find out which BSL regulations may apply.
© FluxFactory | Getty Images
Teach city dog skills
The life of a city dog can be great fun, but it isn’t always easy. With more conscious focus and training on your part, your dog will live a happier, more comfortable life in the city. Here are the most important skills for teaching and practicing:
Walking with a loose leash: If you live in the city, your dog will spend a lot of time walking the sidewalk. Teach your dog to walk on a loose leash and not to pull. Not only is this more comfortable for you, it also makes walking your dog more comfortable.
Let it be keyword: On the city sidewalks, your dog will come into contact with all sorts of things, including discarded food packaging, broken items, and other trash. Although they are attractive to your dog, you would want him not to eat them! They can be harmful and even make your dog sick.
Drop it: Along with your “Leave it” instruction, teach your dog to “drop it”. This is a great way to ask your dog to drop something disgusting and swap the trash they found on the street for a treat from you if you’re not quick enough with your “leave it” keyword. By teaching “let it fall” you will avoid the dreaded game of holding away or having to reach into your dog’s mouth to remove rubbish.
Ignoring Other Dogs and People: Not all dogs are social butterflies. It’s okay if your dog doesn’t want to greet other dogs and people. Teaching your dog to ignore the presence of other dogs and people as much as possible will make it easier for him to cope with city life.
City Dog Fun Sites!
Sniffing spot (sniffspot.com). Are you looking for a private and safe place where your city dog has some time to run and play on a leash? With the Sniff Spot app you can search for fenced yards and rent them (by the hour). See pictures of the courtyards, learn about fun features like lakes or other water features, and plan private time for your city dog so he can safely walk off the leash.
American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen (akc.org). AKC’s Canine Good Citizen or CGC test, as well as the AKC Community Canine and AKC Urban Canine Good Citizen tests, are fun ways to show that your dog is good at the city life. These titles are a great training target and can help make you and your dog more attractive to landlords and apartment complexes as they show that your dog is friendly, social, and well behaved.
International Dog Parkour Association (dogparkour.org). Dog parkour, sometimes called urban agility, is a fun, active sport that uses found natural obstacles like boulders, stumps, and trees, as well as man-made obstacles like park benches, bike racks, etc. Parkour offers great physical and mental stimulation as your dog learns to deal with obstacles by walking on, over, under and around them. You and your dog can even earn parkour titles by submitting videos.
Driving with elevators: Elevators can be scary and confusing for dogs. Even if you don’t live in a building with elevators, expose your dog to the elevators the right way, as your dog will have to ride in them at some point. Parking garages and some dog-friendly retailers are great places to teach your dog about elevators. (Need more help? You can teach your dog how to use an elevator at dogster.com.)
© FluxFactory | Getty Images
The advantages and the pitfalls
A huge advantage of living in the big city with your dog is the likelihood that everything you need – from your veterinarian to your pet supply store – is within walking distance of your home. And that’s not all.
From shops to outdoor cafes, there are a number of companies that welcome dog visitors. Running is not only fun, it is also a great training opportunity for your dog!
Having dogs around town is also a great way to connect with other people. If your dog enjoys being with other dogs, this can be friends for both of you. City life can feel lonely at times, but the experience of having a dog is a great way to break the ice. Your dog will break it down for you, and you will likely have conversations with all kinds of interesting people.
Let’s take a look at some of the not-so-naughty parts of city life. One of the worst things about dogs in any big city is that if you have a yard at all, it’s likely very small. Most likely, you don’t have a garden at all, which means that every time you take your dog with you (yes, even at 2am) it will be a public walk. During potty training or when your dog is not doing well, day or night, you will be walking around in public whatever the weather.
Many dogs find the sounds and sights of city life stressful. From constant traffic to lots of other dogs and people on sidewalks, city life can be a challenge for some dogs to find their way around. This can lead to stress-related behaviors such as fear, reactivity, and excessive barking.
And last but not least, animal parents in the city have to work harder to enable their dogs to exercise and exercise on a daily basis.
Of course, we all know that life in the suburbs and in the country also has its advantages and pitfalls. Not only is the city sometimes not beautiful. But for those who love the buzz of energy, easy access to people, dogs, and dog-friendly places, these tips will have your puppy sitting nicely in your town.
