The apartment or condo dog
Having a dog in an apartment or a condo with multiple ßoors, halls and elevators is nothing like having a dog in a house. You canÕt just open the back door and let him out Ñ you have to put the leash on and go with him, even when itÕs freezing cold or raining outside. You have to deal with narrow hallways, large, noisy lobbies and elevators, along with other dogs and people sharing the same areas with you. ItÕs a whole different world with a completely new set of training needs.
When you take up residence in an apartment or condo with common halls, lobby and elevators, you become part of a very close community. Even if you donÕt associate with your neighbors, you are all part of the same community sharing the same common areas together. That atmosphere necessitates consideration for the needs and comforts of everyone else in that community. There is a certain way you behave in an apartment building that is based on good, old common sense. 10 commandments for condo dog owners 1) Always carry a plastic bag and clean up after your dog, especially if you walk on city streets. If you use a common grassy area, you'll want to help keep it clean. 2) Always have your dog on leash when inside the common areas of your apartment building. No dog, no matter how well trained, should be off the leash when in an apartment building.
3) Keep your dog on a short leash and close to you when walking through the lobby or hallways of your apartment.
4) Do not allow your dog to run up to anyone. As hard as it is to believe, not everyone likes dogs. If someone wants to pet your dog, have your dog sit before the person approaches and keep him sitting during the encounter. There are some people who may walk right up to pet your dog without asking. If your dog is on a short leash, you have much better control of the situation.
5) Never let your dog jump up on people, no matter how small the dog is. Teach your dog to sit for praise and petting. Dogs that jump on people can cause a person to be knocked over or get scratched. This is especially important for children and older people.
6) Teach your dog not to bark in the common areas of the apartment building. Dog barks get very loud, even from a small dog, when inside any building. There will be times when your dog will be surprised by something and bark, but you can teach him to stop barking on command, just like you can teach him to speak on command.
7) When you encounter another resident dog inside the apartment building, keep your dog on a very short leash and, if possible, have him sit or lie down while the other dog passes you Ñ especially if yours is very large. Keep control of the situation.
8) If you want to introduce the dogs to each other, have the larger dog lie down while the smaller one approaches. Be very careful with two male dogs, even if they are both neutered. If one of them feels dominant you might experience some growling and snapping. It may be best not to push that introduction.
9) If waiting for an elevator, stand back from the door so that you can get a good look at who's in the elevator or coming off. People on elevators have a tendency to stand in front of the door and exit as soon as the door opens. If youÕre standing directly in front of the door, this could pose a serious problem. Have your dog walk next to you when you enter the elevator. DonÕt let him enter ahead of you, especially if someone is on the elevator.
10) When riding on an elevator, stand toward the back. Teach your dog to sit next to you and keep his eyes on you during the ride. He should get up and exit the elevator only on your cue.
Last but not least, always respect your home as if you owned it. Take care of it and donÕt let your pets cause damage to the property. Crate your dog when youÕre not home. Be sure your cat uses his litter box and not the carpet. I know you pay a pet deposit to cover damage when you rent with animals, but itÕs really nice to get that deposit back when you leave. We lived in our high-rise for 18 months and got every penny back when we moved out. It was like getting a nice bonus. ThatÕs lots better than having to replace things that have been damaged by your pets.