Anyone have indoor dogs?

I would just like to add that I applaud and congratulate you for being so thoughtful, doing some research and making the very wise decision to wait. Dogs are a huge responsibility and too many end up abandoned because people don't understand this and don't look into it properly. Good for you - I'm so impressed and I wish I could just give you a hug for being so responsible! It's wonderful to see.

I just wanted to say good job on researching first. When I got my Schnauzer, Koty, he was just a baby (right at 6wks, which was way too young) and I lived in an apartment on the 2nd floor, so walks were a must. I can remember some mornings at 6am standing out in the rain or snow for 45mins - an hour just waiting for him to go "potty". I would not take him inside until he did. Now, I will agree that paper training can cause problems, but it doesn't always. When I got Koty, the apartment that I lived in did not require vaccination records of the resident dogs. I was over protective and refused to take him outside until he finished his puppy shots. He's now 7yrs old and I've not had a problem with him in the house.

We, also, have a Border Collie and 2 Shetland Sheepdogs. Of course, we live in a house now and do have a fenced in yard for the dogs to run, plus I'm a stay-at-home mom, so I'm home almost all of the time with them. As far as the cat litter box, we do have it in a separate room and have a baby gate up at the doorway. This prevents the dogs from bothering the cats' food and their litter box, but allows the cats to come and go as they want.

Yappiness is a big problem with many small dogs or herding breeds (not all, but many). This can be kept under control with patience and consistency when training not to bark.

Also, I have to watch my BC because she loves the cats and wants to "herd" them. Another thing you'll need to keep in mind is how much grooming you want to deal with. Koty goes to be professionally groomed ever 6-8wks. The Shelties and BC get brushed out thoroughly, at least, once a week, and bathed when needed. Our male Sheltie gets bathed more frequently, but he's a therapy dog and has to be kept super clean for visits.

I would continue to research the breeds, and meet as many of these breeds as you can. Meeting them face to face is the best way to get to know them, though.

Good luck!

Since you already have a litterbox, and you like the idea of puppy pads, why not join the two ideas, and train a new dog (when you decide the time is right to get one) to use a litterbox too? My chihuahua, 5 yrs old, has used a litterbox all her life, and she doesn't mind sharing it with my cat, or the foster cats that I so often have going in and out of here. In fact, it works out well because the cats follow her up in the box and cover her "stuff" over for her.

I live in Ohio and litterbox training beats the heck outta taking a small dog out in 2 ft of snow in the wintertime.

You DON'T want a JRT with cats - unless the dog is crated when you are not there. JRT's are prey killers (ratters) and can attack and kill cats/kittens. There was an incident (from a JRT message board) about an owner having JRT with his cats. They had been raised together for years - one day he came home to one dead cat and the other was almost dead - JRT was shaking it! He warned those with cats to crate the JRT's if you are not there.

I would not train a dog to litter box or pads. IMO dogs are suppose to eliminate outside - whether they are big or little.

Small dogs tend to be more yappers, so you might consider a little older dog for your apartement who is already potty-trained. Larger dogs can live in an apartment if you give them plenty of walking time. Larger dogs also can hold for longer periods of time, so you wouldn't have to worry about them going in the house

We have a lab who adores cats. We have a house, but she would be fine in an apartment - she's an inside dog - only goes out for potty or if we are working in the yard; other then us walking her

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

You DON'T want a JRT with cats - unless the dog is crated when you are not there. JRT's are prey killers (ratters) and can attack and kill cats/kittens. There was an incident (from a JRT message board) about an owner having JRT with his cats. They had been raised together for years - one day he came home to one dead cat and the other was almost dead - JRT was shaking it! He warned those with cats to crate the JRT's if you are not there.

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I agree about JRTs. You have to be super careful. Now one of my best friends has a JRT, a JRT/Rat Terrier mix, 2 cats, and 4 rabbits, and doesn't have any problems, but she's a certified pet dog trainer (obedience & agility). She works for a vet's office, is a therapy dog trainer/tester/evaluator, is an AKC CGC tester/evaluator, and she used to train dogs for service work. Also, she doesn't allow the dogs anywhere near the cats or rabbits without supervision. Even with her level of expertise, something could happen. Also, JRTs really don't make good apartment dogs. WAY too much energy. I have 3 high energy dogs (BCs are one of the highest) and I wouldn't take on a JRT. They're just way too much for me personally. LOL!

Also IMO the smaller dogs are harder to keep out of the litter box to eat the "treats". Keno's been trained to not go into the room where the pan is located. Even if one of her balls goes over there she will not cross into the room - she tells us to get it for her

Think everythings been covered but just to add.
Not sure ours would count as an indoor but shes in the house alot and we have a tiny garden that I suppose is more of a big dog littter tray,lol. She gets about 2-3 walks a day ( maybe just one on rainy days as she runs away otherwise and heads home without you). She does go out in the little garden when she does get out but sometimes in the mornings she goes in the kitchen but its always same place so seems to me its easy enough to train them to go in one place.
Make sure you get plenty of toys if your out alot and I have to say be ready as dogs are alot less independent than cats (or just ours is).
Good luck introducing the cats to the dog, you'll probs be less worried about the cats and more about the dog

i own 2 dogs 1 large breed lab and one german shepherd/collie both are indoor dogs but have acsess to a fenced in yard where i let them out for the toilet and they play out there when we are outside. I think training them on pads is ok but not the best thing. both my dogs were trained on puppy pads at the start, you must remember some dogs are fussy my lab will only wee in the garden he needs to go for a walk at least twice a day to go a number 2 while my other will not do it unless he is in the yard. so you may have problems with a pup holding it in. As for small dogs i find them harder work than larger dogs, i havent had to much experiance with them but the ones i have known drive me crackers the barking is unbelivible they are very yappy and some have a habbit of ankle biting so will need to be watched around your cats, i wouldnt advise a jack russel as they are a no no with cats , although people will disagree but the things i have seen still hunt me now. I wouldnt have a dog unless i had a garden or i was home to take him out every 4-5 hours for toilet time as letting him toilet on your porch could cause future problems. any way good luck in what you decide to do and i would love to see pics

I was going to suggest an older dog, but then read that you lived on the 3rd floor, so that might be a little hard on an older dogs joints and legs. I would not suggest paper training, I think it just causes more problems than its worth. I would crate train the dog, and have a neighbor come and let it out during the day if you are at work all day. I have a greyhound mix, a beagle mix, and a golden retriever. They are happy with a walk and playing in the yard. Some small dogs are yappy, so you would have to make sure the dog was not a yapper beforehand. I think greyhounds are great apartment dogs. Yes, they are large, but contrary to what some people think, they are ctually couch potatoes and can do with 1 walk a day, and are more than content to sleep on the couch beside you. Also, because they are bigger, they should be able to hold their bladder longer than a smaller dog, and could easily wait through an 8 hour work day. And, there are a TON of greyhounds for adoption, that get retired from the racetrack. Greyhound rescues are all over the place. Good luck with your search when you decide you are ready for a dog.

You've already recieved some good advice from our fellow TCS friends. But i just wanted to add this- please do NOT allow your future dog on your balcony. Dogs can jump- it does happen.

Please read Norris' story http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...ghlight=Norris

and this would be the link on his fall from the apartment building
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...ghlight=Norris

Please do not allow your dog out on a balcony -under no circumstances is it a safe idea.

Have found a couple of sites that have doggy toilets, one with grate only & one with grate & grass. www.citystreetmarket.com/DogLitterBox.html - Wiz Dog, or www.uniquedistributors.com/dogpotty.html -Pup Head - with dog grass. Its worth considering if you really want to get a dog.

I have two indoor dogs. Large. Hershey chases after Lucky because she HATES dogs. She does not tolerate him. So I have to watch out for her, and make sure she isn't in the room, when he has freedom in the house. So he is in the Utility Room anytime I am gone. And Whisper is in her crate when we are gone. And, she is a puppy. But they are both indoor dogs. They are both Labs. Good luck!!

My sis has a mix breed small dog that uses a litter box. It works great for them!

As for JRTs I do have one and I have 2 cats and my little kitten I found. He loves the cats LOL. Especially the kitten!!

I also have 2 other dogs, all my pets are indoors.

My brother has a Great Dane and she is a very calm laid back "BIG" girl, and he lives in a very small house without a fenced in yard. She is barky however.

I have big dogs, all inside. It isn't hard. I wouldn't have it any other way. I grew up with big dogs outside, and you know what, I missed out on so much.

We were kids and played outside a lot, but didn't really spend near the time with them as we did with the small indoor dogs. Bonding was not near as high with the outside dogs (due to lack of time) and they destroyed a lot more stuff too (frustration and boredom). Not many people spend hours a day (or even an hour daily) in their backyard.

Some gets dogs for protection and put them in their backyard. This makes me laugh, what is the dog protecting, your yard? Many time "yard dogs" bark so much humans ignore it and real alarms can't be distinguished from false alarms.
It isn't you or your house they are protecting out there. My inside dogs protect the house and the humans inside the home, not the bare backyard.

I would miss out on so much if my dogs weren't indoor. They are a big part of my life, sleep with us, and provide us with entertainment and company. Most dog's don't exercise alone outdoors either, walks are are important and essential. My indoor dogs get at least a 30 minute walk per day, most of the time more. Fetch is also a favorite game.

Dogs are dogs, they are all social beings. To me it isn't even a rational decision to make to force a dog to live outdoors rather than giving him/her access to indoors with their human pack.

It isn't fair to treat one differently just since it weighs 15 extra pounds than another. I wouldn't appreciate if someone did that to me simply since I gained a little weight. Weight is subjective, dogs are social and all should live indoors with their humans IMO.

Good luck, I think a retired greyhound would be a wonderful choice! I know someone that owns one and the dog is just wonderful.

Kudos for giving this alot of thought and making an informed decision. If more people did this there would be alot fewer dogs in shelters!

Before I moved into a house, I had a one BR apartment. I had both Tal (my year old Lab) and Midnight (my 9 y/o cat) inside. I always make sure that Tal has enough exercise. I also give him lots of attention when I am home. A dog is a big commitment and dogs are higher maintenance than cats for sure.

Tal rarely barks. In doing my research last year I read that many folks in places like NYC have Labs and other large breeds who do very well in small apartments but they get plenty of exercise.

Like others said, a bored unexercised dog is a wrecking ball and a problem child waiting to happen.

I live in a 534 sq/ft house, with my husband, five cats and three dogs. I have two rotweilers and a boston terrier. We raised Frau from a puppy in an apartment (which was actually bigger than the house we have now! ) on the third story. We didn't let her onto the balcony unless we were with her, and the manager said it was actually illegal to have a dog out there without a human. And to have them potty out there.

My advice is to research your breeds. Decide what you want/need in a dog, go to dog shows and talk to breeders and handlers, pet the dogs, see them in action. Watch the obedience trials. Even if you decide to rescue, knowing what breeds went into your mix will help you understand their drives and training requirements. My brother has a bulldo/JRT mix. She looked like a bulldog as a puppy, so he thought she would be mellow and big. Instead, she is a 40 lb jack russel with an unlimited supply of frantic energy and enough drive for ten dogs. Certainly NOT the dog he should have gotten.

I personally don't feel that the size of the dog limits what breed/mix can live in an apartment. As long as they are properly and lovingly trained and exercised accordingly, any dog can live happily with it's owner.

I think there are many good breed choices for an apartment. It is my understanding retired racing Greyhounds do well, but many are NOT safe with cats. We use to live in an apartment that allowed pets. One person had Shelties, which I would not recommend. I am speaking in general terms, but they seem to bark quite a bit. One guy had Bloston Terriers. They were fairly quiet, and easy to housebreak according to him. I think the best idea is to speak with a rescue. They know their dogs, and can help you pick the right one for your situation.

My friend works for this company . . . Might be a solution for you

http://www.doggysolutions.com/