Do Big Dogs Really Need A Yard To Live A Happy Life?
I think it depends on the type of dog owner you are.
I’m sure most of us large-breed dog owners drool over the idea of having an acre of romping space in our backyards. Some of us fantasize about having ANY yard space, period. Even a patch of grass the size of a yoga mat with walkout-level access would suffice.
The reality is that a home with a yard is unattainable for a huge population of dog lovers.
We live in condos, find fresh air on balconies, and ride elevators to get outside.
But does all that really matter to a dog?
I guess it depends on what kind of human you are.
Dezi has always had two homes, neither of which offer a yard. My retired mother and I live on the same street. She’s in a townhouse, I’m in a condo, and we adopted together, intending to share Dezi-duties. It has worked beautifully for four years.
Our imminent new life…
Next week, we’re moving to a new home and it’ll be the first time in my dog’s life that she’ll have a yard. I wonder if she'll even know what to do with it.
If we think about how shelter dogs live until they’re adopted, any loving home is more comfortable than one small slot in a noisy row of kennels. No shade thrown at shelters, though. They’re saving dogs’ lives every single day, but there’s only so much space they can provide.
So, from that perspective, an apartment isn’t a bad option.
Take New York City as an example. It has over 600,000 registered dogs but I highly doubt it has 600,000 yards inside the city. It’s a concrete jungle.
The ‘logical’ order for happy dog life.
Of course, country life would trump yard life. Any big dog will tell you that!
And yard life might trump apartment life.
Apartment life totally trumps shelter life.
But the REAL winner in the chain of happy dog life?
It’s active ownership.
Nothing beats a fully engaged, mindful, and active lifestyle with your dog.
Between Dezi having two moms, she gets a minimum of three walks a day and at least one of those involves a drive to the off-leash park, the river, the countryside, or the mountains.
Outside of my day job, I consider dog-moming a real job.
I know for certain that Dezi hasn’t been laying around her whole life wishing she had a yard to hang out in because she knows at some point in every day she gets to blow off steam with all her peeps at the park.
Sure, the schedule can be gruelling with a job, a dog, a personal life and three newsletters to maintain. But when you sign up for dog-mom life you commit, regardless of whether you have a yard.
This is why I don’t think big dogs require a big yard to live a happy life.
I know Dezi would much rather be kickin’ it with ten other dogs at the park and smelling mystery pee on neighbourhood light posts, than by herself behind a fence. She’s a socialite!
Now that we’re going to have our own yard we’ve already got plans to have her friends over regularly. It’ll be just like the dog park, only the moms get to relax with “mom juice” once in a while 😁
Aside from play dates, I guarantee we’ll still be out and about every day because that’s just the life I’ve created as a dog mom. I need it for my health and well-being just as much as she does.
Many shelters and rescue agencies ask about yard space on applications for potential new owners. While I completely understand they want the best possible outcome for their adoptable dogs, I don’t think they should assess wonderful people based solely on dwelling type.
I personally know people who have been turned down for adoptions because they live in apartments. Those people are then forced to turn to breeders if they want a dog, which negates the entire “Adopt, don’t shop” mantra that shelters live by.
In many cases, the perfect opportunity for the perfect dog-and-owner partnership could be sadly missed if the “yard” box isn’t checked off on a form.
What do you think?
Have you ever been rejected from adopting because you didn’t have a yard?
How do you feel about big dogs not having yard space?
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Ok, let me get this straight. You aren't able to adopt if you don't have a yard? I'm a little upset right now.
Lots of people with yards would not be good dog parents. Having a yard is not some magical better-person-maker.
Sure, a yard is better. But shouldn't all people then also have a yard? This is real yard-inequality here!
I have friends who were turned down by a Beagle rescue because they have a waterfront home. Said friends are active walkers. Finally when others adopters returned the Beagle and no one else wanted her my friends were able to adopt. The beagle had a happy life with them. My friends later added other beagle rescues to their family.