Keeping Working Breeds Or Big Dogs In Small Spaces

[Koemi]

I have a JRT x and he's more than happy with a walk every so often. There was a period of time when I was in hospital in another state and he only played up when he was left alone in the house. I've been walking him after sundown for about an hour every night recently (I need the exercise >_>) and he is completely content to sit at my feet the rest of the time.

A guy I don't talk to anymore owned (maybe still has them, idk) a GSD and a GSD x Rotti. His backyard was HUGE but the dogs were incredibly destructive because they never stepped outside the yard. Ever. He would occasionally let the favourite dog in when it was raining and left the cross outside on her own :D The yard was dug up to oblivion, they chewed at ANYTHING they could get their paws on and barked non-stop. Poor kidlets. I don't know why he even has dogs, he barely interacted with them.

[mr.mister]

I might not be a great example as we had our BC when we lived on 15 acres; however he wasn't an outside dog and though he was very happy to come outside for a play and run, which we gave him on a regular basis, being close to me was what mattered with him. He would never take himself for a wander - he always preferred quality time with me be it watching telly or running about outside. He was wherever I was at the time.

I too believe that though it may be a little tougher keeping a working breed in a small area what is really needed is correct stimulation and exercise - what does it matter what size the yard is when you can take him to a park and work him? :D

[Steve]

I might not be a great example as we had our BC when we lived on 15 acres; however he wasn't an outside dog and though he was very happy to come outside for a play and run, which we gave him on a regular basis, being close to me was what mattered with him. He would never take himself for a wander - he always preferred quality time with me be it watching telly or running about outside. He was wherever I was at the time.

I too believe that though it may be a little tougher keeping a working breed in a small area what is really needed is correct stimulation and exercise - what does it matter what size the yard is when you can take him to a park and work him? :D

Its not about the size of the dog or the yard - its about what breed matches your lifestyle.

If you know the breed characteristics and management issues and they suit you -where's the problem.

I know people who have hundreds of acres that have their dogs tied up all day or locked in small pens.

[Odin-Genie]

I have an elkhound (high energy working dog) and a goldie in a medium sized yard. They get plenty of exercise everyday (1-2 hours) plus they play with each other and have free access to the house (with some rooms locked of course). However, on days when they don't get at least one hour of exercise, they dig and chew their bed so I know they've been bored.

I don't think I could've kept them in an apartment or a townhouse type yard. But saying that, even if I had an acre, they would still need the same amount of exercise everyday.

[PuddleDuck]

I have 2 fairly active breeds - a Kelpie X (Doofus) and a Toller (Kodiak). We live in an apartment with a small yard and I get the "dog's shouldn't be in apartments" all the time. It seems to be a really Australian viewpoint, overseas there are plenty of dogs in units and no one seems to be bothered by it.

The way I usually respond is to say to the person - "OK, you have 2 options. I can either lock you in a HUGE room for the day, heaps of space, but with nothing in it. OR I can lock you in a smaller room, with books, TV, phone, computer and comfy chairs. What would you prefer". Most people will say they would prefer the smaller room (of course!).

So then I go on to tell them that is exactly what my dogs have - there are so many people out there with huge backyards and dogs who are bored because there is nothing in the yard except a kennel, whereas my 2 are in a small backyard with heaps of attention, mental stimulation in the form of training, mentally stimulating toys (kongs, leo's, etc) and interesting things to do (we hide bits of cat kibble/cheese/meat in the mulch of the yard and they spend all day snuffling around trying to find it). They essentially have the "small but interesting" room. After that, most people stop telling me off about having the dogs in the unit :D

Having been in the unit with Doofus for about 3 years, and adding Kodiak to the family about a year ago, I wouldn't hesitate to keep a dog in a unit in the future. Ours is pretty open plan and we dont have much clutter, so I wouldn't have a problem with a giant breed in there, or an active dog. But, like so many things, you only get out of it what you are willing to put into it.

Also - most strata's dont make it easy to get in with a dog - we did have to provide references when we moved in with Doof. Once Kodi came along everyone was OK with it because Doof was such a good dog.

[dee lee]

I love that so many people have lived with their dogs in small spaces!

I feel much better about it now!

Thanks!

[Agility Dogs]

I have a tiny yard, and in my search for a dog I have kept this in mind, thinking that certain breeds would not be happy in such a small space.

Along the way I have heard people say that its cruel to keep large dogs or working breeds in apartments and then on the flip side I'm given examples of such dogs living in apartments!

Personally I feel that with the right amount of stimulation/exercise a large dog would be fine in a small space but I would probably wouldnt attempt a working dog.

This isn't a what breed for me topic- having had a recent conversation with a breeder about this I am just interested to hear what others think and what their experiences are.

I think that as long as you are prepared to put in the time and effort it doesn't matter what space you have.

Case in point - I have 2 BC's. My boy needed to be confined to a small area for an extended period due to an injury. He would go nuts if my girl had free access to the yard so they both had to be confined (seperately) in an area no bigger than a largish court yard for almost 9 months.

Xena is a complete nutter. VERY high drive and totally driven to work. The whole time we didn't get one complaint - the most I could get out of any of the neighbours was 'they never make a sound except later in the afternoon just after dark. They make a fair bit of noise for a couple of minutes, but then the auto light comes on and they stop.'

:rofl:We don't have an auto light. That was me getting home and turning the light on!! They no longer even make a noise when I get home, but do now have full access to our yard.

That said the program was (and still is) pretty full on. Walk from 5:30am to 6:30am each morning (not the injured one - he is the most chilled out BC you will ever meet), home at lunch time, out again between 5pm and 9pm 3 nights a week at training or training/working in the back yard for half an hour.

I just don't have to come home from work at lunch any more and the couple of times we've had new neighbours they were absolutely amazed to find out that we have a dog, let alone 2! It's not for everyone, but does show it can be managed.

[Mystiqview]

I have one BC who lives with my folks for most of the time. She is home with us at the moment as hubbie is on holidays.

She prefers to spend her time on the couch or at your feet. We have medium sized suburban back yard. At the moment I have four BC's there. Two pups and two adults. They spend time running around the back entertaining each other mostly. I might get them to the park maybe once/twice a week. The rest of the time, they have free access to us.

Mia will only cause problems when there are no humans around. She will dig or bark. If there be humans around, she is content to lie at your feet.

Again, I think it depends on temperament of the dog, your lifestyle and what you do with the dog.

[Sunnysideup]

I have a Coolie that likes just to be near me more than anything else and I think she would handle small spaces easily providing of cause she was getting a daily run!

[voloclydes]

leo is a large Dalmatian...

he does have trouble inside with his size.... he tends to think he can go where the small ones go like under the tables.

it gets a bit ott... when they all crash... leo takes up the least space he sleeps curled up... all the small ones spread out.

unless i make leo exercise he won't. a large yard would be of no use to him... he prefers where the human is..

[dee lee]

Starting this thread maybe wasnt the smartest idea- now I have all these big dogs I could add to my wish list !!!

Have tried to be oh so sensible!

Oh well, one at a time, maybe the following dog can be a big one...

There is a Dogue down the road...

[Elfin]

I vote Deerhound

You know you want a big scruffer...

[dee lee]

I vote Deerhound

You know you want a big scruffer... :D

You're right I'd LOVE a big scruffer! Oh well, the more the merrier!

Honestly if I could get OH to move house I'd have several BIG dogs. The bigger the dog, the bigger the cuddles.

[ozjen]

As long as a dog is well exercised and mentally stimulated the yard size in not really relavent as most dogs sleep for a large percentage of their day and most will only run around in the yard if they are playing with you or another dog. I have a working breed (Australian Shepherd) but she only goes in the yard when I'm there or to toilet the rest of the time she is indoors. She is however exercised regularly and mentally stimulated training in obedience, tricks, agiliy and playing with me, my smaller dog or hassling the cat who always comes back for more. She also has plenty of toys which she loves to play with. My previous working breed Border/Kelpie X went from a large yard to the small yard I have now with no issues at all.

A small enviorment can also be made more mentally stimulating for your dog with a little planning and there are also interactive toys on the market to make the job easier, but most importantly I think is the human interaction they get each day.

[dancinbcs]

I would not consider selling a BC puppy to anyone who lives in an apartment but they cope fine with the run of the house and a small yard provided they receive lots of attention and exercise. Two that I bred were successfully raised in an inner city terrace house but it did have a small yard and a large park across the street. Many well trained adult Borders would cope in an apartment but a BC puppy in an apartment would be a nightmare. They need lots of room for zoomies and climbing, not to mention all the gardening they like to do Most Border puppies are never still unless they are asleep so the more room they have the happier everyone is. This is not a breed that sits around looking cute as babies. They are much too busy for that.

They usually settle down somewhere between 6 months and 3 years, depending on the individual dog.My current two BCs (aged 9 and almost 6) are very much house dogs but they do like to play together in the yard as I don't allow zoomies in the house. The 9 year old also likes to chase skinks and herd the local pidgeons around the yard for a large part of the day. I have successfully kept up to four in a normal suburban yard but found five was one BC too many.

[Diablo]

Having owned GSD's for many years, they are most happy being with you and follow along where ever you go. They don't use the opportunities of a large yard to exercise themselves unless you are with them to play. GSD's although need a good level of exercise to keep them healthy and active, they can easily live happily in a one bedroom flat.

[aussielover]

Well considering most working dogs are tied up or in a small dog run (when they are not working) don't think there would be a problem keeping a working breed in a small yard/apartment as long as you spend time exercising and interacting with them. Many working dogs would only work for around 2hrs in the morning and then another 2 hrs in the afternoon and spend the rest of the day tied up.

I do find it annoying when people assume you have to have a big yard to have a big dog and even more annoying when people with big yard don't bother to exercise thier dog because they think the dog gets enough in the backyard.

[BJean]

The reason why I wont home large/giant breeds (anatolians, central asians) to owners in an apartment or very small backyard -

is because I believe restricted space compromises the dog's growth and development - the lack of natural movement prevents optimal and necessary growth and stengthening of their muscular and skeletal support.

For me its not so much about 'exercise' but that the dog has room to move around at its own leisure, something simple like running up a hill or incline, playing through the grass etc

is very important for the joints/ligaments of a developing youngster.

It is difficult / impossible to subsitute this constant yet very low impact exercise, in an apartment or courtyard environment with scheduled exercise.

My canine ortho specialist says when he thinks of Anatolian and central Asian, he sees them walking very far distances at a slow amble, being on the move, in a steady non energetic way.

For the most part, any structural (muscular/skeletal) issues that have arisen with the breed, have been also when the dog was raised in a 'small' environment -

even if a dog had a structural fault, growing up in large allotment of land enables the dog to develop compensating muscular support -

so even if a dog walks/runs with a limp, it does so up until the age of 10, 11, 12 ++

it seems to be that for anatolian and central asian, their overall health is better off when they are reared in an environment that allows them space to amble/move around at their own leisure. In an apartment / courtyard / small backyard the dogs are less inclined to move - there's no point in moving to observe only a few metres ahead; a few paces and there at the end of the boundary.

imo it is not possible for a giant dog whose physical soundness relies so much on developing a fit muscular and skeletal system, to develop this fitness and muscular strength in a confined environment.

nb: pending the dog's personality, mature adults can house happily with the right owner in a small area

but a puppy/growing youngster is a big no no

Edited March 14, 2010 by lilli

[mr.mister]

We had 15 acres when we had our BC - but he didn't use any of it!! We only used the front yard for ball throwing and that was it, but that could easily be achieved with an on-lead jog or a designated off leash park. My border was much happier being with me than running around outside and it was the one-on-one stimulation time that counted more than anything else to him.

I do believe, though it may have been more of a challenge, that I could have had him in an apartment, so long as I gave him all the mental stimulation and exercise he needed.

[dee lee]

Its funny seeing this thread surface again!

Not long after I started it I adopted Honey, my 3 year old GR. She has fitted into our lives perfectly and our courtyard has not been a problem.

When we go out she is left inside (she stresses if she is outside) and doesnt even use our yard for toiletting! Really, the only time she goes out there is when we give her a bone.

I take her for an offlead jog at the park every other morning and all others we walk and play fetch. We walk the kids to school and then have coffee together before I go to work. We go to dogtraining and she pretty much comes with me anywhere I can take her. She is one happy dog.

So in short the large dog (well she's small for a GR, but still... ) in a small yard is working brilliantly for us!