Why do people who live in small apartments, work and travel a lot, get dogs?

[Anonymous]

It's not the why people have dogs in small living spaces that stumps me, but the how. We have a decent sized house near tons of walking trails, but have been turned down numerous times by rescues because we don't have a fenced yard.

Ironically, our neighbors with fenced yards, just put the dogs in the yard and never take them out for walks or socialization with other dogs.

I don't see that as being better for the dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and DD begged for years to get a dog. I had zero desire to get one until we had a decent fenced-in yard. No way was I walking a dog first thing in the morning or late at night, or in the extreme humidity, or in the snow. Sounds miserable to me, but if it works for people, good for them.

We finally moved, got a big yard, and a big dog. He’s supposed to be a high energy mix who needs a ton of exercise. Turns out he’s lazy as hell and hates the humidity as much as I do! He goes to pee and comes right back in, at least in the summer. In the winter, he’ll go out to lay in the snow. Dogs have their own personalities and breeding can only predict so much.

Ha! I have a double-coated northern breed that is in danger of overheating every summer. Does he realize it? No! He wants to go jogging in all weather. In the snow, he doesn't want to come home. I feel so bad curtailing his walks in the heat, but really, it's for his own survival. I wish we could move to a cooler place! Maybe my son can take him when he goes off to college up north

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not the why people have dogs in small living spaces that stumps me, but the how. We have a decent sized house near tons of walking trails, but have been turned down numerous times by rescues because we don't have a fenced yard.

Ironically, our neighbors with fenced yards, just put the dogs in the yard and never take them out for walks or socialization with other dogs.

I don't see that as being better for the dog.

I foster for a rescue. Rescues are insane with the interview questions, owning vs renting and fence thing. As the foster human, talking to prospective adopters but not having the last word on who gets to go home with the dog, I've seen perfectly responsible potential adopters get refused while slightly off-kilter people get the dog just because they own their house. Or just because they have a fence. As if any of these was a good predictor of how well a committed human can care for a dog! The most dedicated dog lovers I've known live in apartments.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't really matter how small or big your place is in my experience because my dogs have always wanted to be where their people are. It's not like my dog is going off to the guest room or basement and hanging out by himself even now that I have those things. He's a stage five clinger. Same with the backyard - it's convenient to just be able to open the door and let him out before bed or first thing in the morning but he doesn't go out there alone and tire himself out. I still need to walk him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not the why people have dogs in small living spaces that stumps me, but the how. We have a decent sized house near tons of walking trails, but have been turned down numerous times by rescues because we don't have a fenced yard.

Ironically, our neighbors with fenced yards, just put the dogs in the yard and never take them out for walks or socialization with other dogs.

I don't see that as being better for the dog.

I foster for a rescue. Rescues are insane with the interview questions, owning vs renting and fence thing. As the foster human, talking to prospective adopters but not having the last word on who gets to go home with the dog, I've seen perfectly responsible potential adopters get refused while slightly off-kilter people get the dog just because they own their house. Or just because they have a fence. As if any of these was a good predictor of how well a committed human can care for a dog! The most dedicated dog lovers I've known live in apartments.

I'm the PP with the spoiled Golden who also fostered for awhile until the "no fenced yard" thing became an issue, and it's a ridiculous requirement. I'd send a dog to a studio who gets 5 walks a day vs a home where they're pitched out alone on a stake 24/7 alone in a fenced yard. The foster I worked with would have put a dog in what I felt was a neglectful situation before giving a dog to a committed owner in an apartment and I just couldn't stomach that. It's a huge blind spot in terms of recue and adoption as far as I am concerned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are lonely.

This. Dogs are a less intensive emotional investment than human companionship.
Owners can ignore their neediness, crate them, shunt them to a kennel, shut them up with a snout strap.
Can't do that with a problematic girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse/child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are lonely.

I would also add that some people have no people skills. They are shy, no good at relationships and virgins. Pets just accept them unconditionally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are lonely.

I would also add that some people have no people skills. They are shy, no good at relationships and virgins. Pets just accept them unconditionally.

Hi Brunch Granny!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are lonely.

I would also add that some people have no people skills. They are shy, no good at relationships and virgins. Pets just accept them unconditionally.

Hi Brunch Granny!

PP here.

[Anonymous]

Op, I'm with you. I don't think I saw a good answer why people get a dog in an apartment or what kind of person gets one.
I grew up on a farm where we had all kinds of animals. I have no desire to bring an animal into my apartment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what is also impractical? Children. Yet they're still popular.

Sure, but people who have kids in really child-unfriendly places also get a ton of questions about why they would choose to do that. Like if you had a child in a studio apartment in a neighborhood where the nearest playground was 5 blocks away, I think people would also be like "why would you do this?"

5 blocks is not far. Who are all you lazy people raising low tone children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in a single family house in the suburbs and have a daily dog walker and board our dog when we travel. We have a big fenced yard but he doesn’t like to hang out back there by himself. What you’ve described isn’t that different from the life my suburban dog lives.

Except for the big fenced yard, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other people can afford dog walkers, sitters and boarding and you can’t, OP.

OP here. I can afford it, but it seems like a lot of money to spend in order to NOT spend time with your dog. It's different to me than people who have kids and then put them in daycare and send them to school -- most people do not have kids "for companionship". They do it because they want to raise kids, and part of that is getting them good care and an education.

But the main reason people get pets is for companionship. It seems odd to me to get a very high maintenance pet when you are going to be away from them for long periods of time often. I'm sure the dogs to fine with the dog walkers and sitters (and may even enjoy them), but it seems like an odd choice from the perspective of the human.

It seems like all the burden of having a pet with more minimal enjoyment because you are working/out/traveling so much. The main reason I don't have a dog is that I would not want to ever have to choose between my dog and going out to dinner or taking a last minute weekend trip, but I know people with dogs often have to do this because they will say to me "oh I'd love to do that but I have to worry about the dog."

This has nothing to do with someone living in an apartment instead of a house. Fine you don't understand and won't get a pet. Don't have children either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what is also impractical? Children. Yet they're still popular.

Yep this. At least you can leave a dog at home alone. Young children need a sitter/caregiver every second you need to be away.

Children over time become more and more independent. Not true with dogs or any pet. There will never be a time when the dog can get its own food or take itself for a walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't really matter how small or big your place is in my experience because my dogs have always wanted to be where their people are. It's not like my dog is going off to the guest room or basement and hanging out by himself even now that I have those things. He's a stage five clinger. Same with the backyard - it's convenient to just be able to open the door and let him out before bed or first thing in the morning but he doesn't go out there alone and tire himself out. I still need to walk him.

Same here. Permanent shadow