Tips for Dog Owners in Apartments and Condos

Cumming, Georgia — We all know what joy having a great dog, no matter where we call home. However, for those who live in condos, town homes, or apartments, a misbehaved dog whose barking and misbehaving disturbs others can easily cause major issues among the most rational of tenants. Bruce Edwards, Master Dog Trainer of Home Dog Training, offers tips for dog-owners who share living space in apartments, condos, town homes and the like.

• The first thing you must do before moving into a multi unit home is to extensively check the unit and complex surroundings for potential dog hazards to ensure your dog’s safety.
• Socializing your dog is very important in a busy, high-traffic location. As soon as you move in, introduce yourself and your dog to your new neighbors and anyone else in the complex. This lets your dog become familiar with the people as well as their dogs that he may come into contact with on a regular basis. Get to know other neighbors who own dogs so you can care for each another’s dogs if one is away.
• Be respectful of your neighbors. Before getting on an elevator, ask the people in the elevator if they are OK with your dog riding along. If there is already another dog inside, wait for the next one or take the stairs. A crowded elevator may quickly cause a “flight or fight” situation between dogs that even are normally OK with each other.
• Always put yourself between your dog and others in the hallway or other open, public places.
• Be overly careful when walking on staircases. Small dogs could possibly fall between the stairs or through the railings. Also, you might trip on your dog as you both maneuver the steps. Teach your dog to walk slowly by your side when on stairs.
• You may think about going to an obedience class or having one-on-one training with your dog. More importantly, allowing your dog to think expends as much energy as physical activity. Engage in 10-15 minutes of training every day on basics such as sit, stay, come, and walking on leash. Practice a few minutes several times a day.
• If it is too cold or hot or raining outside, practice your obedience with your dog in the building’s hallways and other public areas, as well as in your own unit.
• Keep your dog engaged when indoors by providing high-quality, toys such as dog toys from Kong.  Also, use deer antlers as fetch and chew toys.
• You definitely do not want your dog to be known as “that dog that barks all the time”. If he barks when you are at home, learn ways to redirect his attention from whatever is causing him to bark back to you. If he barks when you are away from home, he may be experiencing separation anxiety.  This is caused out of fear and nervousness due to your dog’s feeling that you are not providing the proper leadership.  Talk to us about that and we can help.
• Thing about getting a crate and socializing your dog with the crate. Because dogs are descended from den-dwelling animals, a crate or pet carrier makes a natural shelter and den. Put the crate in a location where your dog feels most comfortable. Crating your dog when you’re not home provides a safe environment for your dog, decreases chances of his barking, and helps prevent him from getting into general mischief. Do not leave your dog unattended on a balcony.