Survey: do you think it is cruel to put big dogs in apartments? just curious ?

Question

i went to my cousin apartment saw a Great Dane and German Shepard mix huge dog that lives on premises but beautiful dog i am just curious on peoples opinions on apartment pets? not chatting making a point.

Answer 1

not if you have time for them and exercise them keep their mind occupied

Answer 2

It depends on the person. I have a great dane in my townhouse. Yeah- he is REALLY big for the space, but we go on several "potty walks" which, alone are not enough. Weekdays, he is my walking/jogging partner- we trot around for over an hour and it is plenty of exercise for the both of us. Days I don't feel like jogging, we almost always go to the park up the road to throw a suersized tennis ball around. Otherwise livingroom fetch works.

Answer 3

Big dogs in apartments are fine. I have an 82 pound dog in an apartment, and he does just fine. As long as they are exercised and taken care of there isn't an issue.

He also rooms with two smaller dogs and (currently) a 36 pound APBT. I have a one bedroom apartment with a spacious back yard for them to hang out in.

They are taken to the dog park on a weekly basis and walked/run daily.  

Answer 4

I think the owner would have to be very committed to making sure the dogs gets enough exercise. Dogs spend most of the time indoors sleeping anyway, but as long as you are able to exercise them and tire them out mentally and physically it would be doable. Personally, I would not do it. My dog loves having access to the backyard and it makes it much easier to potty train. Although some large dogs have lower energy levels than one might think such as Greyhounds.

Answer 5

I have an Akita mix and live in an apartment.  Fortunately, I am able to regularly take her into work with me. I also walk her for at least an hour a day when she does stay home.  Not to mention, she has plenty of things to play with when she is inside the apartment.  On the weekends I take her to an off the leash dog park so that she can run free for awhile.  As far as I can tell she appears quite happy with her living situation.  

Answer 6

It's okay, but I won't recommend it.

As long as they are getting the right amount of excerise and are healthy, they should be okay.

It's not cruel.

Answer 7

Some apartments are larger than some houses, so I guess it depends on the space the dog has.  Most people who live in apartments have doggie parks and places to exercise their dogs.  My neighobrs have huge fenced back yards and nobody pays attention to the dogs, nobody plays with the dogs, and nobody loves the dogs.  I bet my neighbors dogs would love to live in an apartment with someone to love them.

Answer 8

yes because they need space to run around and play and be a dog  

Answer 9

Whats your point?

Dogs don't care where they live, they just want to be with us.  What is important when living in an apartment is meeting the dogs exercise needs and giving him mental stimulation.

I live in NYC and dogs of all sizes live in apartments, to make it works demands a commitment.  Does your cousins' dogs seem happy, healthy and comfortable?  If so, I don't see an issue.

Answer 10

yes- but simply because i dont think any dogs should live in apartments. i think all dogs should be able to have access to a garden whenever they want to go outside or go toilet.

Answer 11

A number of large dogs become couch potatoes if kept indoors.  I don't think it's cruel as long as the pet has toys and something to keep him/her occupied during the day when the owner isn't home. I do not believe in keeping any dog outdoors all the time.  To me my dogs are a member of my family, so during the day, they are crated while I'm at work where they sleep and stay calm and in the evening, they go out in the back yard and play with me.. ball, frisbee, chasing birds, etc.

Regular exercise is must for large dogs, unlike small dogs that can run in small places, larger dogs need the larger areas.

Answer 12

No, not at all. In fact a lot of large and giant breeds make excellent apartment dogs, better than most medium breeds. Great Danes, Bullmastiffs, and Wolfhounds are just some of the larger breeds that can make great apartment dogs. These breeds are generally content to lounge around the house as long as they get a couple good walks a day. They tend to bark less than a lot of the smaller breeds (which neighbors appreciate) and are not as high energy as the medium sized terriers and herding breeds

Answer 13

Cruel is not the right word but it wouldnt be a good thing if they werent taken out several times a day for exercise, fresh air, etc.  

Answer 14

No, the important issues are how much energy they have and how that energy is released. For instance breeds like the mastiff are very mellow, easy going dogs. They don't require a lot of energy output so taking them for a walk is enough. A dog like an Irish Setter, however, would need more so it would take either a house with a yard where the dog could exercise or more output from the owner to release this energy. There are a large number of small dogs that actually have so much energy they would be worse for a small apartment than many big dogs. Just going by outward appearance is not going to give you the best fit for the situation.

Answer 15

As long as they have proper exersise, they are fine.  

Answer 16

Giant sized dogs make very good apartment pets.  Great Dane, St. Bernard, Great Pyrenees, to name a few.  I don't consider a German Shepherd a giant breed, and they are pretty high in energy, so I wouldn't recommend one for an apartment.

Almost any breed will adjust to apartment living, but some breeds are just easier on the owners than others

Answer 17

No, I don't think it's cruel.  It all depends on how much time the owner devotes to exercising the dog.  If the owner doesn't take it outside to get exercise, then that's cruel... not the fact that it's in the apartment.

Answer 18

if they get out once daily for a run (twice would be better). Then the apartment should mostly be for them resting.

If not then it is cruel and they will be living an unhappy life.

Answer 19

No its not cruel, why should someone have to get a small dog (if there are not size limitations) just because they are in an apartment? I live in a two bedroom isn't not that big but I am also lucky enough to have a backyard and a park close by.

As long as the animal is getting the attention and exercise it needs there is no reason why a big dog can't be an apartment dog.