Dog Lovers and Apartments in Austin, TX

There seems to be two views held about this subject, and no middle ground.  Some here in Austin, Texas see it as perfectly acceptable, even preferable, to keep a dog in an apartment. Others consider it cruelty, inconsiderate and unhygienic.  So the first thing to do if you’re looking to rent a new apartment in Austin for yourself and Fido is to ensure not only that the landlord allows pets, but also that there is a consensus among residents regarding animals.  Nothing is worse than to be a pariah in your own apartment complex—a person scorned and rejected as “that dog owner.”  Even if the lease allows pets.

You can’t do a survey to establish this, obviously.  You can only evaluate the probability of similar attitudes when you inspect your new apartment before signing the lease.  Dog lovers, like birds of a feather, stick together. You’ll know if pets are a part of the culture here. For those of us who believe that a pet in the apartment is preferable to a human roommate—they don’t have friends over late, play loud music or leave dirty dishes in the sink—there are a few practical tips you need to follow. 

Many dogs, large and small, can live happily in an apartment if you teach them a few basic habits.  Now remember, a happy dog is far easier to train and less likely to bark excessively, so take the first step and ensure Fido is exercised, because no dog is happy with a totally sedentary life.  No human being should be either, but that’s another story. 
Different dogs require different levels of exercise, but most need a minimum of a daily walk. If it’s pouring rain, obviously you can miss today’s outing, but Fido still needs to relieve himself, and not in your kitchen! 

If you don’t like exercise or are unable to take Fido for a daily walk, choose breeds with low energy levels or small toy dogs that can get sufficient exercise by running around the apartment and jumping up and down on your couch, and biting friends’ trouser legs.  Breeds with low energy levels that are ideal for apartment companionship include Daschunds, Cocker Spaniels, Sussex Spaniels, Bulldogs, Whippets, Beagles, Bassett Hounds and most Terriers.  Other breeds do poorly in apartments because of their high needs for exercise, and they include Pointers, Dalmatians, Border Collies, Retrievers and Setters.  These animals need to be out in the woods chasing wildlife or have large areas to run. 

There are many apartment complexes in Austin that allow pets.  These complexes usually have residents who are tolerant toward, or even loving of animals.  Some landlords require documentation showing the animal’s vaccination history, license, proof of sterilization and even a certificate of graduation from obedience school—seriously.  Obviously, you’re expected to clean up after your pet inside and out, and keep Fido under control at all times.   The biggest problem dog lovers have in these dog loving apartment complexes is aggression between their animals which unfortunately can lead to conflict between owners.  No one likes to see his or her Chihuahua savaged by a pit bull.  It tends to stress relationships. 

And if you’re one of the group who doesn’t like pets in apartments, thinks cats in condos and dogs in dwellings is cruelty—NEVER, NEVER rent an apartment in a pet-friendly complex.