Does The Size Of Your Home Really Matter When Getting A Pet Dog?

The idea that big dogs need a big yard and that if you live in an apartment you need a small dog is too oversimplified. What should be a concern rather than just the dog's body size is its general level of activity. A dog that is known for high general activity will typically require more exercising space than a dog who is not, whether it is a small, medium, or large dog.

To a small dog that is highly active, a house will seem perhaps twice the size as to a large dog. Small dogs can obviously get more exercise in an apartment than can big ones. The general rule that large dogs require a large backyard generally holds true more for the active large dogs like the Airedale and Irish Setter than for the more sluggish large dogs such as the Bloodhound or Norwegian Elkhound.

Of critical importance to owners wanting to keep a dog in an apartment are the traits such as tendency toward excessive barking, which is a disturbance to neighbors, the amount of hair shedding, the dog's destructiveness when left alone, and its odor. Some dogs, such as Beagles and Labrador Retrievers, have a stronger body odor than Keeshonds and Poodles, for example. The Doberman Pinscher has short hair, is fairly easy to clean, has little body odor, and is very low in general activity, so it could be an ideal pet for an owner who wants protection in an apartment.