Tips for Living with a Dog in Your Apartment


Is apartment living new for you and your dog? Or perhaps you’re looking to add a furry companion to your household? In either case, you want to make sure your dog adapts well to its new home. Below are some handy tips to ensure that you and your furry roommate enjoy your new apartment to the fullest!

Tip #1: House Train Your Dog

Dogs are great companions. They love unconditionally and enjoy being with their owners. Yet, they are still animals who may be prone to behavior that’s disruptive to households. To avoid issues like frequent accidents or rambunctious behavior, your dog should be properly trained before living in an apartment setting. There are a few ways to ensure that your dog is properly trained.

Adopting a dog from a rescue agency is a good option. In many cases, the volunteers at these organizations spend time training and socializing these dogs before they’re eligible for adoption. Plus, these agencies also put prospective adopters to dogs that are more adaptable to certain environments and conditions (apartments, families, other animals).

Another option is to enroll in a dog training program. Many local pet shops, veterinarians and other community organizations offer classes to help dog owners teach their pets to respond to commands, walk on a leash, and discourage problematic behavior such as barking, nipping and jumping.

Tip #2: Prevent Your Pet From Being Bored

One of the biggest concerns for dog owners is worrying about their pet’s behavior when they’re not at home. That’s a perfectly reasonable concern. Many dogs (even thoroughly house-trained dogs) experience separation anxiety and/or boredom when their owners are at work, running errands, or enjoying an evening out with friends. During these times, dogs may convey their dismay by barking, damaging furniture, or having accidents. To avoid these issues, there are several things you can do to help keep your pet happy when you’re not home. As mentioned, dogs are easily bored. As much as they love a good nap, they really love to run and play. When they’re cooped up all day with no opportunity to play and exercise, they’ll become sad, bored, and restless.

Make your dog happy and fulfill its need for exercise and play throughout the day. Before you leave for work, take your dog for a walk around the neighborhood. Even better, take them to a nearby park so they can run, play and burn off all that energy. They’ll be tired and content until you get home. After napping all day, they’ll need another walk or some more playtime so they’ll be good for the evening.

If you have a longer commute or work a lot of overtime, you may need some extra help to keep your pooch happy. Hiring a dog walking service to take your pet out for some daily exercise may be a simple solution. Enrolling your pet in doggie daycare is another great option. Not only will your doggo get plenty of exercise, they’ll also learn to socialize with other dogs and people.

Tip #3: Choose A Floor Plan With Lots Of Space

As we previously mentioned, dogs need room to move. Between bouts of running outside and napping inside, dogs like to roam around their homes. Unfortunately, some apartment floor plans don’t offer pets a lot of room to move. Luckily, lofted apartments offer plenty of space to keep dogs happy especially when you’re away. These floor plans not only let dogs explore multiple areas and rooms, but they also feature stairs. This addition really lets dogs stretch their legs, adds a dose of exercise to their daily routine, and provides them with a change of scenery.

Tip #4: Select An Accommodating Dog Breed

Not every dog easily acclimates to apartment living. Larger dogs often find the space too confining for their needs. And some breeds, big and small, are a tad too aggressive for living among so many neighbors. Before adopting a dog, it’s best to review the apartment community’s pet policy. If any dog breed restrictions apply, they are listed in this documentation. Even if a certain breed isn’t restricted from the apartment community, it’s always best to speak with an expert to learn more about which breeds are more at ease in an apartment.

Tip #5: Make Your New Home At Our Dog-Friendly Apartments

When searching for dog-friendly apartments in Lancaster, we hope you’ll consider The Lofts at Worthington! Our lofted floor plans provide lots of space for you and your pet to move, relax and enjoy each other’s company. In addition to our roomy floor plans, our community is conveniently close to a variety of trails and parks, including Buchanan Dog Park and Overlook Dog Park. Plus, each apartment features an in-unit washer and dryer to make accident-related cleanups easier. If you and your dog are interested in calling The Lofts at Worthington your new home, contact us today to schedule a tour of our community!

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