Dogs in apartments (Inner city living) - Where do they pee?

[aspie*mum]

How can you have a dog in an apartment with no yard? (only a balcony).  

Where does the dog pee?  

Does it hold it in all day whilst you are at work?  

Or do you put like fake grass on the balcony?  

Train it to pee in the shower?  :O?

I have always had a yard with a dog door so the dogs could pee when needed and these questions might sound stupid but I can't find the answer anywhere!

[i-once-was-bump]

Forgoodnesssake cats and dogs sleep 20 hours a day.

My dog is now 15 but when younger she had 1 hour of play time everyday then she would sleep whether we were home or not.

It doesn't matter how many hours I leave my unit when I get home the cat has to use the litter tray and it is the first time since I left in the morning so he has been sleeping all day.

Both dog and cat have access to darkened rooms, hot sunny rooms, rooms with windows wide open and they can get right up to the grill and always be indoors.

They are healthy and happy.

Icy are you opposed to animals being kept as pets?

If so, I understand what you are saying (and respect your right to say so) but don't agree with it.

[icyfroth]

We'd love to have a dog and a cat, bump, but we live in an inner-city apartment and both work full-time.We would never subject a poor creature, not even a goldfish, to adjust to the vagaries of our lifestyle, and spend the day cooped up in a tiny flat or on the balcony, waiting for us to come home.

Not that the body corporate would allow it anyway.

I used to feel sorry for the poor dog across the road howling all day out of loneliness. I think they moved out, or surrendered the dog, I haven't heard it in ages.

[monstersinthedungeon]

As long as a dog has regular exercise, and enough mental stimulation, I can't see why they can't be happy and healthy living in an apartment with no yard. Too many owners seem to think that dogs are self-exercising - have a yard, don't need to walk them, they can run around the backyard all day.That's usually not the case, (unless you have two or three young dogs together, who often will entertain themselves as a group playing together), most dogs, especially single dogs, won't spend the day running around your yard when you're at work, they sleep.

A good and happy dog is a tired dog, so as long as it's getting enough physical exercise morning and night, and enough mental stimulation as well, I really can't see a problem.

You work quite short hours compared to most, just leave a changing variety of things for your dog to do during the day - frozen stuffed kongs, puzzle toys and treat balls, etc - make the food in the toys/games a part of their daily diet, so the dog has to work for its food instead of having it served up in a bowl.

You will probably find the dog will sleep most of the time you are away anyway (you could set up a webcam to see -the dog probably sleeps most of the day when you're at work now, despite having a yard in your current home).

[chinchuckchick]

I would have a doggy door installed and then fit the glass pool fencing to the railings (or replace the railings with the glass if you are allowed) then the dog can have access to outside for the toilet and some fresh air and sun without you worrying about it going over/through the rails.

[azureline**]

My dog is about 6 or 7 yo, he literally lays around all day.... if I leave the room, he follows me.....and lays down again. The Op's dog is probably happy to sleep all day, given he has a playmate and gets walked.

[clair.de.lune]

lol @ packs of small fluffy domesticated dogs running around the countryside hunting for food

LOL

icy thinks she knows what she's talking about again

[clair.de.lune]

lol @ poor little fluffy dogs living some sort of existence on an inner-city balcony wearing incontinence pads.

except it's not lol, it's sad. 😞

You know you're not even worth responding to but aspie asked a question, I answered.

My MIL moved into a retirement home she was allowed to take her old dog but when the dog passes, no more animals. She is on the first floor, I explained to aspie what she does about the toileting, a large pad on the balcony covered with fake grass and lots of walks outside.

If you have a problem with that icy I shall give you the retirement village number, no maybe not.

[aspie*mum]

The apartment complex I am looking at buying into does allow dogs in the body corp.  Only common areas are the underground car park, and the lobby/elevator.  Can't see the dog spending significant amounts of time in any of these areas.  

The balcony doesn't have railings (the apartment is 2 years old, so very modern), the fence is like rendered concrete, so not possible for the dog to squeeze through any holes as there are none.  But I would be worried he might somehow get over the fence if he was out there unsupervised.  It's not possible to put a dog door in as opening to the balcony are large sliding glass doors and pretty sure you can't put a dog door / cat flap in safety glass.  We have one at our current place but it's in normal glass.

We have other pets like stick insects & green tree frogs, but they will be fine to move, although I am thinking about giving them to my brother as he gave them to my daughter and she's not really interested in looking after them, just the dog.  I keep asking him not to give her pets as presents (there has been quite a few) but he doesn't listen!

[crystal-gems]

I think we should keep things in perspective here (I am not speaking about you Aspie).

We are not talking about a utility/working/gun/hunting dog.

The dog being discussed is a wee thing.....a lap dog.....an inside dog, virtually a toy dog.

These dogs are very suited to apartment living provided the appropriate care is given, ie walks, etc.........and this is being given by Aspie.

[azureline**]

Yes, you cannot put one in safety glass but you can buy these panels for the door to include a pet door, however, I would be worried too about the possibility of falling if he does try.

Dog door for sliding door