I have an aussie that is going on 6 years old that lives with my parents while I'm away at college. He is fear aggressive so does not do well with strangers or dogs. He has gotten much better lately but I still cant have strangers coming up and petting him or anything like that. My parents may be selling the house and moving into town. I had originally wanted to bring him with me here when I get an apartment next year or 2 years from now but had decided against it because I dont want to stress him out moving into town and having no yard. Anyone know if a complete country dog can move into town and live in an apartment? This is not a dog that could go to dog parks but I would get him back into an agility class for excersize. I feel awful for him if he cant have space to play outside, he spends pretty much all his time chasing tennis balls, running in the woods, and swimming in the lake.
Aussie in Apartment?
- Thread starter Lauren17
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At six years old he should be okay with a little less outside play if you give him things to keep busy (interactive type toys) and take him walking. The agility would be interesting for him, but not sure how he'd do if he doesn't like being around strangers.
Honestly, I don't think you have much of a choice as it doesn't sound like he could legitimately be rehomed.
Honestly, I don't think you have much of a choice as it doesn't sound like he could legitimately be rehomed.
I have a Border Collie AND a Corgi mix in an apartment... so there!!! 
Gonzo is somewhat fearful and reactive to other dogs. But, if anything, living in an apartment forces you to do much more training and much more socializing. Which is a very good thing. His reactiveness has drastically improved. He used to get very offended by other dogs lunging/barking at him, but every single dog in this complex does that on-leash, so I've had ample opportunities to work with him and he will now heel at attention even when passing the rudest of dogs (a Pittie mix with moronic owners, actually). After a while, you will get into a routine, and you'll know the dogs that live around you, who to avoid, who is nice, etc. I went through the same dilemma that you're going through, but in the end, I know my dogs are happiest with me and I know that I can make it work. Go to the dog park after hours. Find a quiet park in your area and go there with a long-leash to play and practice Obedience. Tennis courts are also really good for playing fetch. Take long walks, with a long leash if there are trails around. Your pup will probably be thrilled to go on so many walks every day, and be able to check out all kinds of areas and smells and sights. My dogs definitely get 10x more walks and their leash manners have gotten impeccable... backyards are awesome, but they're also an excuse not to go on walks, get real bonding time, and train.
What kind of training are you doing? Just curious.
Gonzo is somewhat fearful and reactive to other dogs. But, if anything, living in an apartment forces you to do much more training and much more socializing. Which is a very good thing. His reactiveness has drastically improved. He used to get very offended by other dogs lunging/barking at him, but every single dog in this complex does that on-leash, so I've had ample opportunities to work with him and he will now heel at attention even when passing the rudest of dogs (a Pittie mix with moronic owners, actually). After a while, you will get into a routine, and you'll know the dogs that live around you, who to avoid, who is nice, etc. I went through the same dilemma that you're going through, but in the end, I know my dogs are happiest with me and I know that I can make it work. Go to the dog park after hours. Find a quiet park in your area and go there with a long-leash to play and practice Obedience. Tennis courts are also really good for playing fetch. Take long walks, with a long leash if there are trails around. Your pup will probably be thrilled to go on so many walks every day, and be able to check out all kinds of areas and smells and sights. My dogs definitely get 10x more walks and their leash manners have gotten impeccable... backyards are awesome, but they're also an excuse not to go on walks, get real bonding time, and train.
What kind of training are you doing? Just curious.
Any dog breed can do well in an apartment. I have a high energy albeit small dog in an apartment right now and I plan on adding another dog next year (most likely either another pap or a border collie). We make it work, but it is a lot of work. It's nice here where we have 4 other dogs to help entertain her and acreage to just let them run free on, BUT I do actually miss the apartment time. We do more together there because we're forced to. If I don't, she'd destroy the place, lol! My schedule with her is very different there. We walk for at least an hour and a half every day. I try to make sure she's getting very engaging walks too, so we go to campus or busy parks, but then again she loves people. She's not a dog park dog- doesn't play with toys and doesn't like strange dogs. So we improvise. I've found a few big fields around the town to take her and let her run. She lives to run. Sometimes I even bring a few jumps and set them out there. I'm sure I look like a moron to most people but it works. We also have a really nice offleash trail near where I live.
So you can really make most dogs work in an apartment.
That said, sometimes what's best for your own dogs is not to move them. I've been there before. When I moved out I had a 9 year old sheltie that I ended up leaving at home with my parents. It was tough, but she was old, set in her ways, and was very attached to my sister's dog that had lived with her her whole life. I just couldn't justify moving her at that age with all her health problems simply because I would have been more happy. But then again, my parents were fine with taking care of her and that was a big factor.
So you can really make most dogs work in an apartment.
That said, sometimes what's best for your own dogs is not to move them. I've been there before. When I moved out I had a 9 year old sheltie that I ended up leaving at home with my parents. It was tough, but she was old, set in her ways, and was very attached to my sister's dog that had lived with her her whole life. I just couldn't justify moving her at that age with all her health problems simply because I would have been more happy. But then again, my parents were fine with taking care of her and that was a big factor.
He's been in agility classes before and was fine. He'd make a big entrance usually and bark at everyone but would calm down when we started working. I think he'd take quite a bit of time to get used to walking in a busy area. He doesnt get walked at home much since I left and he doesnt get to do agility at home anymore either so he would get more of that coming to live with me, but he wouldn't get his big yard and lake. He's a huge tennis ball addict so I would have to find somewhere for him to play. I'm not positive my parents will be moving, it depends on whether the house sells soon or not I guess. He will not be rehomed. I'm going to need to work with him going to busy areas this summer I guess to make this easier on him. I have one of the halti collars for him that I used to use at agility in case another dog came running at him I could get control of his head before he could lunge. I might try that walking him in busy areas incase someone tries to pet him or is jogging by. Thanks for all the help!
I lived in an apartment with 2 Collies when I started college, and they had moved from a home with a yard, so had to make the same type of adjustments. All of a sudden, we had to leash walk for exercise and to potty every day, something which used to only be reserved for dog shows. They adjusted fine because we found ways to get exercise indoors. I didn't have any furniture in the middle of the room (like a coffee table), so we had room to play catch/fetch, etc. indoors. We made it work and they were content.
I had always planned to get another aussie when I got an apartment, but I figured I'd get a puppy so it would just grow up living in an apartment, since Boomer is so not a city dog lol. But now that he's probably going to move anyways I guess I'm just going to have to find ways to help him adjust to it. I also feel bad to take him away from our other dogs, especially preston,they are pretty good buddies. But theres no way I can bring all three of them to an apartment haha. The other two would do better in an apartment but I dont really want my parents keeping Boomer in town because they wont get him the excersize he needs and they arent as careful with him and strangers/dogs.