In the life of almost every person - or family - sooner or later a moment occurs when an idea appears (and actively discusses) about the appearance of someone shaggy and four-legged in the house. In the first place in popularity at all times remains a dog. And since the animal for many years becomes a member of the family and the other other inhabitants of the house, usually the future owners carefully choose it and have long debates about which dog is best to get in the apartment. Our article is just for such conscientious people. It is designed to help them determine the main parameters for selecting a pet.
What breeds should be avoided?
Since the population today lives mainly in cities, before deciding which dog is best to get in an apartment, we will dwell on those whom it is better not to bring into it. And not because animals are not good at all: they are simply the least able to live in such conditions. First of all, they are greyhounds. It must be remembered that, firstly, they are pack dogs. That is, in proud loneliness, they do not feel very comfortable: the owners can replace their brothers in a very small degree. Secondly, they need not just movement, but running. For a day, a greyhound must run at least 10 kilometers — and you can hardly provide it to her. There are cases when the owners of the greyhounds tied dogs to the door of the car and drove in a circle to walk them. Lack of movement makes dogs nervous and prone to run: given that they reach speeds of up to 80-100 kilometers (albeit not for long), you have no chance of catching a pet.
It is also not worthwhile to have too large dogs like Irish wolfhounds and commodors in a city apartment. They will just be too crowded there. In addition, the former are also quite mobile - your housing will be routed regularly as a result of their activity.
Selection Option: Destination
And this is the most important factor! Before you think about which dog is best to get in the apartment, decide what you need it for. If you need a caretaker, you should look at such breeds as the Rottweiler, Doberman, Staff Terrier, Shepherd Dog (except Scottish). Black Terrier and Giant Schnauzer are also suitable. If you just need a companion and comrade - the choice is much wider. As it can be hunting and decorative breeds, and ordinary mongrels - that is, you go to the following parameters that must be considered when buying a dog.
Selection Option: Apartment Size
Many people think that small dogs are more suitable for keeping in small apartments. This is not entirely true. Too large will really be cramped in a one-room "hruschech", but there are not so many such breeds. The rest of the animals adapt well in a limited space, if it is not too overloaded with furniture. Do not forget that the main events with the dog occur on the street. In an apartment, an adult animal sleeps for the most part. So if you are not too lazy to walk with your pet, the size of the apartment should not affect the choice of breed. The only thing that limits you in the size of the dog is the dimensions of the kitchen. A room of four square meters is not suitable for feeding, say, St. Bernard. So the decision which dog is best to get in the apartment, if it is small, depends mainly on the size of the feeding place.
Selection parameter: dog size
Preferred height and weight of the animal itself is determined mainly by the sympathies of future owners. However, we note that a small dog is best suited for an apartment located in a high-rise building - you can pick it up, going down in the elevator. Few of the neighbors will agree to enter the elevator, which houses a hefty dog. The same considerations apply when traveling in public transport, especially in the subway: if you have, say, Newfoundland, you will have to develop land routes for traveling around the city. Purely from a pragmatic point, small dogs are also comfortable when shopping. Even in large supermarkets, they often do not pay attention to the muzzle of a pincher, chihuahua or Chinese crested fish sticking out of a bag or in a jacket lapel. The same Pekingese, spaniel or bulldog will have to be tied on the street.
Selection Option: Care
It is equally important to consider the content of the dog in the apartment. If you are not ready to bother with the hair of the animal - comb, trim, cut, choose short-haired breeds: pug, French or English bulldog, sharpei, dachshund, dwarf pinscher or basset hound. If you are not afraid of this type of care and you like hunting breeds, of the small ones, the best breed of dog for an apartment is the cocker spaniel (or other varieties of spaniels). However, it must be remembered that hanging ears often tend to catch a cold and catch up. It is quite difficult to treat them, so many owners of hunting dogs in winter put on hats with sleeves for their ears. Bug-eyed dogs - bulldogs, pugs, Pekingese - often have eye problems. When choosing these breeds, be prepared to buy eye drops and persuade the animal to tolerate.
Selection Option: Character
It is almost impossible to guess exactly what character your puppy bought will be - it will depend, among other things, on the atmosphere prevailing in your family. However, each breed has some common features that can help you orient yourself. So, dwarf pinschers are rather nervous dogs, they are afraid of even sharp sounds and bark a lot. The same claims can be made to the toy terrier. If you do not agree to put up with the bustle and constant sounds in the apartment, it is better to get a calmer dog. Of the small breeds, shih tzu, scotch terriers and yagd terriers are quite balanced - everyone needs grooming and long walks, but the sanguine are also cheerful in temperament. In general, the smaller the size of the dog, the more she is raving. Therefore, in relation to nerve conservation, medium-sized dogs are much more suitable for an apartment - they bark only on business. True, there may be other disadvantages. For example, a bulldog snores, and if he likes to sleep in your bedroom, you will have to get used to the night roulades. For many, the best breed of dog for an apartment is a retriever, and a labrador, and a golden one. They are calm, patient, beautiful and affectionate. Not without reason are most guide dogs of precisely this origin.
Selection Option: Walks
Without them, of course, nowhere. And if you have already decided to get a dog, it means that you are mentally prepared to take it outside at least twice a day. However, different breeds walk in their own way. For those who do not like active movements and physical exercises, decorative dogs that will mince nearby on a leash, or phlegmatic people like an English bulldog or Chow Chow, are most suitable. It is quite lazy that you can get yourself a Chinese crested one - it can quite easily be accustomed to the cat tray, although walking with it is not worth neglecting. All hunting breeds, which, in particular, include York (due to its good looks and size, many often forget that he is also a hunter), require long walks and games during them. The same applies to schnauzers - and rizena, and mittels, and little zwergs during walks are very mobile and insist on your participation in their entertainment.
Selection Option: Enrollability
In this article we do not consider the features of conservation breeds, we are interested in which dog is best to get in the apartment. So this will not be about training. But any dog lives, so to speak, in society and must abide by certain rules of the hostel. Dogs learn to cleanliness quickly, and they themselves come to her idea, they only need to explain that they need to wait for going out. However, even puppies who have not learned to endure do not shit throughout the apartment, but try to “do things” in one place, usually next to the front door.
However, the dog must follow other rules you have set. And then her burrows begin to appear. Moreover, even in small dogs, it can be quite harmful. For example, if a dachshund did not like one of the family members, she could gnaw at his slippers without showing any interest in other people's shoes. Pinchers are very difficult to learn to be silent; they should be walked only on a leash, because they don’t listen to commands, even the simplest ones. Some hunting dogs - basset hounds, spaniels and dachshunds - also ignore teams on the street because they are fond of smells. At the same time, setters, who are also hunters, can be trained in very disciplined behavior - even a street with heavy traffic cross without a leash. Easily trained sharpei, terriers and chow chow. Retriever and collie are the most intelligent and obedient - but they can hardly be classified as small dogs.
Selection parameter: baby
There remains the most important factor that must be taken into account when choosing which dog is best to get in the apartment. Especially if the child is still small. Naturally, responsible parents will not start any animal if their offspring is not even one year old, but if he is already three years old, then a dog is selected for an apartment and a child. Choosing a very large animal is not worth it - except for St. Bernard, Newfoundland and Shepherd, they are very good-natured and friendly to children. However, they have a lot of hair, which is fraught with getting an allergy in the baby, and the first two breeds are also slobbery, which is not too hygienic. Very small ones are also not very suitable - an absurdity can simply inadvertently cripple an animal simply by sitting on it. In addition, we recall that the "trifle" is foolish and will violate the regime of the child. It is better to stay on such breeds as shar pei, miniature, pug, scotch terrier, dachshund. Terriers for young children will probably be ideal, as they will willingly take part in their fuss.
If a child asks a dog
A slightly different dog is chosen for the apartment and the child if your son (daughter) wants to have his own animal. Firstly, to trust the beast to a child under six years old - this means providing himself with additional cares. Your descendant is simply not yet able to deal with it. It is better to wait until the age of eight: if the desire does not pass, then the little man has the most serious intentions. Since he still has little strength and character, he will have to choose from small breeds, in extreme cases medium dogs will do. It will be better for the apartment, for the child and for you, if the dog is also short-haired so that your offspring can take care of him. Dachshunds, the same sharpei, bulldogs, pugs or a cute charming cur.