I’m way behind the times, but my big dogs are lazy af. They like walks (not too long, not too hot, definitely no weather) and one likes to look for lizards in the backyard. They mostly hang out indoors on furniture in the immediate vicinity of their favorite humans. I guess if we had acreage like we used to, one would run around after things, but one would do no such thing. TOO MUCH EXERCISE
It is a shame that more shelters do not take lifestyle into account with re-homing, but I can understand the reason behind them wanting a yard. In the end, they do not want the dog to develop struggles due to lack of exercise and be returned or re-homed again, which can be very traumatic. They want to ensure that the dog's lack of living space is not the reason for this. Mind you, being ignored in a yard is no life either.
Aww, Kristi, you know this hits with a dog love arrow to the heart, in a good way. We're so used to taking Walter out for walks and little trots as I called them, since I don't run anymore, my husband and I look at one another and say - it's just not the same with him gone. The truth is, as long as Walter was with us, he was happy. So being a good dog mom and dad is so about your pup's needs too.
Ugh, Paulette. I'm so sad for you this week. The void is huge when we lose them, isn't it? Nobody to come running when you open a bag of chips in the kitchen. No REAL reason to get out and go for a walk. 😥
I’ve always had a yard. 30 acres at one point. I think this makes me a bit lazy, though. The 30 acres included our horses, so the dogs always got to go on rides and such. I have a small backyard here, big enough that the late Deerhounds made a race track in it, but still not large. These dogs are not park suitable, but I walk them and sometimes take them on hikes.
We took my daughter’s dog in, he was living in an apartment with them. She is a diligent walker and Parker (when it’s empty), but this dog is incredibly high energy and I don’t think he was suited to apartment life. He got into some trouble and he’s “wanted” by the Fluff-B-I where they live.
Here he tears apart the woodpile looking for lizards for HOURS even in blazing heat, and I throw balls for him (again if it’s not hotter than the lowest Hell). My other dog chases him and they tug.
I don’t think yards are a deal breaker. In fact, yards may encourage more lax care, because I see plenty of neighbors that just leave the dogs there and never take them out. Maybe they have dog doors (maybe not? 😬) but I see little to no interaction. I’m sure the whole damn neighborhood can hear me trying to get the lizarding Pit inside when I need to leave!
Amen. Engagement is key. My neighbors two doors down (I don’t know them well), have 2 dogs and a double lot fenced backyard. For a city house, their yard is HUGE! And their dogs are miserable! They are barking all the time, and I can feel their angst. They just want attention, engagement, and stimulation beyond their “job” of keeping prey away from the precious chickens.
My neighbors next door (I do know them well) have three very large pittie mixes. And their house and yard is tiny! And those dogs are wiggly happy all the time! They rarely bark. Their sounds are almost giggles that match their happy wiggles. Their humans are both home all day long and they get all day stimulation.
My corgi has a fenced yard with a doggie door. The fence is such that she could run zoomies around the whole house if she wanted to. The only time she does that is if I’m late for her morning walk. She has the option to go outside anytime she wants, without me. She prefers to spend most of her day in her window perch watching the bird feeder at eye level, or dozing at our feet. She gets her zoomies and curiosities out every morning on a nature walk with her husky/shepard best friend. I asked my dog trainer about this, if she needs more stimulation or socialization…her answer was that my dog is an introvert. Go figure. So am I.
My condo of 7 years overlooks the community walking path and its always full of dog walkers. There aren't many yards in this neighborhood (condos and townhomes) so all the community dogs know each other just from being out walking.
I had a retired greyhound. They are the super dogs for inside small areas, as all they want is 15 minutes outside everyday. They basically snooze the rest of the time.
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.
Also, your friends are doing great things rescuing beagles. I’ve watched documentaries about what science uses beagles for and it is HEART-WRENCHING!!!!
As a resident of New York City with a big dog, I can safely say my dog is much happier living in NYC, than she was in her former home that had a yard with a dog door. The key for my dog is not only engagement with her, but access to the myriad experiences that pique her curiosity (she loves all the sights, sounds, and exchanges of the city) and time spent off-leash doing dog things (Central Park allows dogs off-lease until 9 am every morning). My dog probably exercises and gets to run free more than most dogs regardless of where they live. Ultimately, I think it depends on the dog and the kind of life we help create for them.
Lisa, I’m SO glad you posted this because I have always wondered about NYC dogs. I think my dog would be terrified of all the noise and action. She’s scared of a plastic bag blowing in the wind 😂
I’m intrigued by dog owners in NYC. I once went down a Quora rabbit hole about “Where do dogs pee and poop in the streets of NYC?” You guys don’t have grass just any old place in the city, do you? Quora people said their dogs poop in the gutter on the roads lol.
Kristi, my biggest fear in moving my dog to the city was the noise…I thought she was really going to struggle, but I think because there’s constant noise, it kind of drowns out the extremes. It actually didn’t take her that long to adjust. Plus, I think all the attention (she’s a total looker), just made her feel like a superstar every time we leave the apartment. She loves it!
No, there isn’t grass or dirt readily available. There are a lot of parks and most have areas relegated to dogs, but dogs do just go on the street. It took my dog a minute to figure out that it was okay to go on hard surfaces. She will just move close to the edge of the curb to pee and poop, so she’s away from the flow of traffic. Then of course, it’s my job to pick up her business. She does prefer to go in the park during her morning walk if that’s available though. NYC dogs are urban dwellers who, like their owners, adjust for life in the city.
I find this fascinating, really. I never think about city dog life because I live so far out in the burbs that I can walk to the city limits and just keep on walking 😂 Our biggest obstacles are moose and deer hahaha.
I can appreciate your experience. I moved to NYC from Oregon where we would encounter deer, coyotes, and other wild animals regularly. My dog wasn’t as happy there though, because so much of Oregon requires dogs to be leashed, even on hiking trails in rural areas. When my dog moved to the city and discovered that she could run off-leash every morning in Central Park, she had a whole new lease on life. It was a remarkable life change in her curiosity and vitality. It made the transition so much easier than I ever could have imagined.
I love love love this wonderful publication and wanted to pose a question to you related to the use of the term “dog ownership.” Does that relationship of us owning the other feel true for you? I don’t feel like I “own” my dogs anymore than I “own” children or I “own” the Earth. These are autonomous beings with their own agency, feelings, needs. I feel like I am in companionship with my dogs; I steward their lives. I’m responsible for their well-being, yes, but they are also reciprocal to my well-being in so many ways. I do not own them, and they do not belong to me. They pass through my life on their own planetary adventure, and I do my best to take care of them en route, and I feel lucky for having intersected them. I just wondered if that feels true for you as well? I also wonder if reframing the language and the power relationship between humans and not only dogs but all other animals could open up the potential for us to treat them with more compassion and care? Perhaps something to ponder. Know that I very much appreciate your writing and your work. It’s wonderful to receive. 🙏🏼
I’m so glad you’re enjoying my posts so far! Thank you for being here.
As far as “owning” my dog, while she is 100% my equal life partner, I do feel like we “own” our pets. We have to license them, we’re responsible for their safety and well-being, and she’s definitely a prized possession, hence she is “owned.”
I’ve moved on from “owning” to “parenting.” Domestic animals, especially indoor companion animals are 100% dependent on humans for their physical and emotional needs. A good parent acknowledges their role in the well-being of another and commits to providing the best within their abilities. Kids eventually grow up and move on. They need less care over time. Pets need care and consideration all the time. It’s a commitment for their lifetime that not everyone understands when they shop or adopt. The people who’ve responded here sound committed to the well-being of their dogs. Thank you. Not every dog is so lucky.
Absolutely, the quality of a pet dog's life depends on its human partner(s). We do have a fair-sized fenced yard, but like all everyday amenities, Nora is easily bored out there. It doesn't at all replace the need for daily romps at the neighborhood field/dog park.
Yup. Sometimes I have to go out and stand in the yard with Nora for her to take any interest in anything going on out there. It's like having a toddler . . .
Having a yard is essential if the dog is meant to be an outside watchdog (hence the existence of doghouses), but smaller dogs can fit well into apartment and condo living provided they are allowed to live there.
I totally agree! Long post with a typo that I attempted to edit, but have no patience to reconstruct - the point was: Dogs need plenty of outdoor time and interaction - that does not require a yard. Rescues can be quite elitist, and like all human endeavour, often flawed by human bias to a particular belief. Sad!
I TOTALLY agree. I did have (for 15 years) a large lab/weimaraner cross, with severe social anxiety - he was an unusual case - who required a yard because he hated on-leash walks, in our crowded neighbourhood, and could not tolerate the dog park (bully magnet in our local off-leash areas which can also be very crowded). And we have a large yard, so life was easy. But with the right, motivated owner, he still could have lived a good life, yardless, if the owner had access to spacious off-leash areas as you do. He had great recall and we often walked local conservation trails, where he roamed off-leash but never out of sight. His much smaller brother, adopted age 4, now almost 26, LOVES walks. He does not like to be in yard alone, now that bro is gone, so yard time is just a leash-free walk, anyway. So these guys were opposite ends of the spectrum - but both would do fine with an owner who ensured plenty of outdoor time. I think rescues that prioritize yard over bond, are WRONG.
Elizabeth, thank you for sharing both sides of your coin. I agree, not all dogs are dog park dogs. It can be overwhelming. Dezi actually has a lot of triggers and anxiety as well and leash walks have been an ongoing work in progress. She's pretty good now but will never be the type of dog i can get lazy with.
Finally someone agrees with me! Got my vizsla/lab at 8 weeks old. Townhouse living, no yard but close to a park. He got 7-8 walks a day and was heeling on a leash within a few weeks. He got way more exercise than a dog in a yard and so much one on one attention. We got a yard at 10 years old and he has no interest in running around by himself without me. We still go outside with him every time. The vizsla in him also makes him clingy but I’m so happy with how I was able to raise him with no yard. All about engagement as you stated! Thanks for writing this and I wish all rescues could see this.
Yesssss!!! It's so good to hear from others whose dogs have had the same great life despite not having a yard! For me, the only thing I can see my new yard being SUPER handy for are the days in winter when it's -30 degrees out. It feels so useless to get bundled up only to go outside for 5 minutes to poop 😂 Now, on those days she can just go poop and zoom for 5 minutes in the yard while I sip on my coffee lol.
I wish he’d poop without me in the winter but I think the vizsla makes him more clingy than other dogs. The good thing is we pick up his poop instantly every time so we never have to horrible spring poo clean up. 😂 but yes below zero is not fun.
Yes it's true and I feel the same way! It's only certain shelters here that have that requirement which blows me away considering how dog-forward Calgary is. We have dog parks everywhere!!
I’m way behind the times, but my big dogs are lazy af. They like walks (not too long, not too hot, definitely no weather) and one likes to look for lizards in the backyard. They mostly hang out indoors on furniture in the immediate vicinity of their favorite humans. I guess if we had acreage like we used to, one would run around after things, but one would do no such thing. TOO MUCH EXERCISE
It is a shame that more shelters do not take lifestyle into account with re-homing, but I can understand the reason behind them wanting a yard. In the end, they do not want the dog to develop struggles due to lack of exercise and be returned or re-homed again, which can be very traumatic. They want to ensure that the dog's lack of living space is not the reason for this. Mind you, being ignored in a yard is no life either.
Aww, Kristi, you know this hits with a dog love arrow to the heart, in a good way. We're so used to taking Walter out for walks and little trots as I called them, since I don't run anymore, my husband and I look at one another and say - it's just not the same with him gone. The truth is, as long as Walter was with us, he was happy. So being a good dog mom and dad is so about your pup's needs too.
Ugh, Paulette. I'm so sad for you this week. The void is huge when we lose them, isn't it? Nobody to come running when you open a bag of chips in the kitchen. No REAL reason to get out and go for a walk. 😥
Thank you, Kristi. Exactly!
I’ve always had a yard. 30 acres at one point. I think this makes me a bit lazy, though. The 30 acres included our horses, so the dogs always got to go on rides and such. I have a small backyard here, big enough that the late Deerhounds made a race track in it, but still not large. These dogs are not park suitable, but I walk them and sometimes take them on hikes.
We took my daughter’s dog in, he was living in an apartment with them. She is a diligent walker and Parker (when it’s empty), but this dog is incredibly high energy and I don’t think he was suited to apartment life. He got into some trouble and he’s “wanted” by the Fluff-B-I where they live.
Here he tears apart the woodpile looking for lizards for HOURS even in blazing heat, and I throw balls for him (again if it’s not hotter than the lowest Hell). My other dog chases him and they tug.
I don’t think yards are a deal breaker. In fact, yards may encourage more lax care, because I see plenty of neighbors that just leave the dogs there and never take them out. Maybe they have dog doors (maybe not? 😬) but I see little to no interaction. I’m sure the whole damn neighborhood can hear me trying to get the lizarding Pit inside when I need to leave!
Loooool I have never heard Fluff-B-I 😂😂 That made me laugh out loud!
Amen. Engagement is key. My neighbors two doors down (I don’t know them well), have 2 dogs and a double lot fenced backyard. For a city house, their yard is HUGE! And their dogs are miserable! They are barking all the time, and I can feel their angst. They just want attention, engagement, and stimulation beyond their “job” of keeping prey away from the precious chickens.
My neighbors next door (I do know them well) have three very large pittie mixes. And their house and yard is tiny! And those dogs are wiggly happy all the time! They rarely bark. Their sounds are almost giggles that match their happy wiggles. Their humans are both home all day long and they get all day stimulation.
My corgi has a fenced yard with a doggie door. The fence is such that she could run zoomies around the whole house if she wanted to. The only time she does that is if I’m late for her morning walk. She has the option to go outside anytime she wants, without me. She prefers to spend most of her day in her window perch watching the bird feeder at eye level, or dozing at our feet. She gets her zoomies and curiosities out every morning on a nature walk with her husky/shepard best friend. I asked my dog trainer about this, if she needs more stimulation or socialization…her answer was that my dog is an introvert. Go figure. So am I.
Three neighbors. Three very different dog lives.
Interesting contrast all on the same street, hey?
My condo of 7 years overlooks the community walking path and its always full of dog walkers. There aren't many yards in this neighborhood (condos and townhomes) so all the community dogs know each other just from being out walking.
I had a retired greyhound. They are the super dogs for inside small areas, as all they want is 15 minutes outside everyday. They basically snooze the rest of the time.
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.
See, this is what bugs the crap out of me!
Also, your friends are doing great things rescuing beagles. I’ve watched documentaries about what science uses beagles for and it is HEART-WRENCHING!!!!
It is disgusting how animals are treated. Breaks my heart.
Exactly. Why does science use Snoopy? 😞
Or any dog 😪
As a resident of New York City with a big dog, I can safely say my dog is much happier living in NYC, than she was in her former home that had a yard with a dog door. The key for my dog is not only engagement with her, but access to the myriad experiences that pique her curiosity (she loves all the sights, sounds, and exchanges of the city) and time spent off-leash doing dog things (Central Park allows dogs off-lease until 9 am every morning). My dog probably exercises and gets to run free more than most dogs regardless of where they live. Ultimately, I think it depends on the dog and the kind of life we help create for them.
Lisa, I’m SO glad you posted this because I have always wondered about NYC dogs. I think my dog would be terrified of all the noise and action. She’s scared of a plastic bag blowing in the wind 😂
I’m intrigued by dog owners in NYC. I once went down a Quora rabbit hole about “Where do dogs pee and poop in the streets of NYC?” You guys don’t have grass just any old place in the city, do you? Quora people said their dogs poop in the gutter on the roads lol.
Kristi, my biggest fear in moving my dog to the city was the noise…I thought she was really going to struggle, but I think because there’s constant noise, it kind of drowns out the extremes. It actually didn’t take her that long to adjust. Plus, I think all the attention (she’s a total looker), just made her feel like a superstar every time we leave the apartment. She loves it!
No, there isn’t grass or dirt readily available. There are a lot of parks and most have areas relegated to dogs, but dogs do just go on the street. It took my dog a minute to figure out that it was okay to go on hard surfaces. She will just move close to the edge of the curb to pee and poop, so she’s away from the flow of traffic. Then of course, it’s my job to pick up her business. She does prefer to go in the park during her morning walk if that’s available though. NYC dogs are urban dwellers who, like their owners, adjust for life in the city.
I find this fascinating, really. I never think about city dog life because I live so far out in the burbs that I can walk to the city limits and just keep on walking 😂 Our biggest obstacles are moose and deer hahaha.
I appreciate you sharing your insights!
I can appreciate your experience. I moved to NYC from Oregon where we would encounter deer, coyotes, and other wild animals regularly. My dog wasn’t as happy there though, because so much of Oregon requires dogs to be leashed, even on hiking trails in rural areas. When my dog moved to the city and discovered that she could run off-leash every morning in Central Park, she had a whole new lease on life. It was a remarkable life change in her curiosity and vitality. It made the transition so much easier than I ever could have imagined.
And that's all that matters 😊❤️
I love love love this wonderful publication and wanted to pose a question to you related to the use of the term “dog ownership.” Does that relationship of us owning the other feel true for you? I don’t feel like I “own” my dogs anymore than I “own” children or I “own” the Earth. These are autonomous beings with their own agency, feelings, needs. I feel like I am in companionship with my dogs; I steward their lives. I’m responsible for their well-being, yes, but they are also reciprocal to my well-being in so many ways. I do not own them, and they do not belong to me. They pass through my life on their own planetary adventure, and I do my best to take care of them en route, and I feel lucky for having intersected them. I just wondered if that feels true for you as well? I also wonder if reframing the language and the power relationship between humans and not only dogs but all other animals could open up the potential for us to treat them with more compassion and care? Perhaps something to ponder. Know that I very much appreciate your writing and your work. It’s wonderful to receive. 🙏🏼
Sunni, I call my clients "dogparents" as I believe, like you, that language is the start of how we treat everything and everyone, including our dogs.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying my posts so far! Thank you for being here.
As far as “owning” my dog, while she is 100% my equal life partner, I do feel like we “own” our pets. We have to license them, we’re responsible for their safety and well-being, and she’s definitely a prized possession, hence she is “owned.”
Or maybe….she owns ME! 😁
I’ve moved on from “owning” to “parenting.” Domestic animals, especially indoor companion animals are 100% dependent on humans for their physical and emotional needs. A good parent acknowledges their role in the well-being of another and commits to providing the best within their abilities. Kids eventually grow up and move on. They need less care over time. Pets need care and consideration all the time. It’s a commitment for their lifetime that not everyone understands when they shop or adopt. The people who’ve responded here sound committed to the well-being of their dogs. Thank you. Not every dog is so lucky.
Absolutely, the quality of a pet dog's life depends on its human partner(s). We do have a fair-sized fenced yard, but like all everyday amenities, Nora is easily bored out there. It doesn't at all replace the need for daily romps at the neighborhood field/dog park.
I feel the same way! I think Dezi probably won’t want to spend much time out in her new yard unless i’m out there with her. We shall see!
Yup. Sometimes I have to go out and stand in the yard with Nora for her to take any interest in anything going on out there. It's like having a toddler . . .
Having a yard is essential if the dog is meant to be an outside watchdog (hence the existence of doghouses), but smaller dogs can fit well into apartment and condo living provided they are allowed to live there.
I totally agree! Long post with a typo that I attempted to edit, but have no patience to reconstruct - the point was: Dogs need plenty of outdoor time and interaction - that does not require a yard. Rescues can be quite elitist, and like all human endeavour, often flawed by human bias to a particular belief. Sad!
I TOTALLY agree. I did have (for 15 years) a large lab/weimaraner cross, with severe social anxiety - he was an unusual case - who required a yard because he hated on-leash walks, in our crowded neighbourhood, and could not tolerate the dog park (bully magnet in our local off-leash areas which can also be very crowded). And we have a large yard, so life was easy. But with the right, motivated owner, he still could have lived a good life, yardless, if the owner had access to spacious off-leash areas as you do. He had great recall and we often walked local conservation trails, where he roamed off-leash but never out of sight. His much smaller brother, adopted age 4, now almost 26, LOVES walks. He does not like to be in yard alone, now that bro is gone, so yard time is just a leash-free walk, anyway. So these guys were opposite ends of the spectrum - but both would do fine with an owner who ensured plenty of outdoor time. I think rescues that prioritize yard over bond, are WRONG.
Typo! Almost 16! 26 is way-wishful thinking 😓
The first time I read it I was like WOW!!! But figured it must have been a typo 😁
Elizabeth, thank you for sharing both sides of your coin. I agree, not all dogs are dog park dogs. It can be overwhelming. Dezi actually has a lot of triggers and anxiety as well and leash walks have been an ongoing work in progress. She's pretty good now but will never be the type of dog i can get lazy with.
Finally someone agrees with me! Got my vizsla/lab at 8 weeks old. Townhouse living, no yard but close to a park. He got 7-8 walks a day and was heeling on a leash within a few weeks. He got way more exercise than a dog in a yard and so much one on one attention. We got a yard at 10 years old and he has no interest in running around by himself without me. We still go outside with him every time. The vizsla in him also makes him clingy but I’m so happy with how I was able to raise him with no yard. All about engagement as you stated! Thanks for writing this and I wish all rescues could see this.
Yesssss!!! It's so good to hear from others whose dogs have had the same great life despite not having a yard! For me, the only thing I can see my new yard being SUPER handy for are the days in winter when it's -30 degrees out. It feels so useless to get bundled up only to go outside for 5 minutes to poop 😂 Now, on those days she can just go poop and zoom for 5 minutes in the yard while I sip on my coffee lol.
I wish he’d poop without me in the winter but I think the vizsla makes him more clingy than other dogs. The good thing is we pick up his poop instantly every time so we never have to horrible spring poo clean up. 😂 but yes below zero is not fun.
LOL I will be out there picking up the -30 poop as well. I don’t care for springtime poop-soup!
I think it also depends on what the human needs. This human needs a big yard and daily adventures.
I'm with you on the daily adventures! I need those like I need air 😁 I love getting out!
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!
Yes it's true and I feel the same way! It's only certain shelters here that have that requirement which blows me away considering how dog-forward Calgary is. We have dog parks everywhere!!
I have incoherent grumblings right now
Yup. Same.