Good Dog for Apartment Living

[aborgman]

I have no first-hand experience with this breed, but since my wife is on a similar quest as the OP I've heard this second-hand suggestion a number of times:

Get a "retired" greyhound.

As someone that used to have two greyhounds - I agree.

There is no better large dog for apartment living than a Greyhound.

 

[aborgman]

I would not recommend a greyhound. I used to foster them a few years back and although they are great indoor dogs/couch potatoes, they're not really very good outdoor dogs...as in for hiking and stuff. They have very thin skin which tends to rip in the bushes and briars and it's also difficult to teach them to come when you call. Especially if there's a squirrel half a mile away and they take off after it.

Greyhounds (and other sighthounds) should never be off leash outside a fenced area - so getting them to come when you call is somewhat irrelevant. They're fine for hiking (the skin is thin but doesn't tear that easily), unless temperatures are low.

Also as someone else mentioned, a lot of them are not trustworthy around cats, though some are fine.

I'd say it's about 50/50 coming off the track, but most can be socialized to small animals.

 

[aborgman]

Greyhounds or whippets are pretty mellow but, as others have said, they need major exercise

Those others have been wrong.

A greyhound needs no more exercise than any other dog to maintain health, and generally less than other dogs to maintain sanity.

Our male - even when we got him right off the track - was never interested in more than 5-10 minutes of running as fast as possible per day. No other exercise at all. Probably slept, on average, 20 hours a day.

Any dog - you should plan on getting it 30 minutes of exercise per day - and a Greyhound is less likely to need all that time than most breeds.

and, if they get loose, they'll be three blocks away before you can blink.

Maybe...

...and that is a problem with all sight hounds (Greyhounds, Whippets, Salukis, Afghans, Elkhounds, Wolfhounds, Deerhounds, etc.) - you're supposed to keep them leashed, because if they see something to chase they will chase it.

 

[Petebass]

Greyhounds or whippets are pretty mellow but, as others have said, they need major exercise and, if they get loose, they'll be three blocks away before you can blink.
.

Believe it or not, this isn't even a question of how fast these dogs can run. Even slower dogs can outrun the average human. Heck I can't beat my Border collie in a 110 yards race unless he gives me a 55 yard head start.

More important is the dog's inclination to run away. Some dogs will instinctively not venture too far away from their owners or homes... ours have escaped while we've been at work but then waited on the driveway for us to come home. Others will just bolt..... believe it or not is probably only 25% breed, another 25% individual dog personalities, but a whopping 50% of where the dog perceives itself in the hierarchy at your home. If the dog thinks he's "top dog", he has no reason to return home. In his head he's the king, he's confident, he can manage without you just fine. He'll also behave like a pratt and won't listen to it's owners.

This is all part of the puppy training, but it's often overlooked. Like I said before, to train a dog, you have to first learn to think like a dog.

 

[electracoyote]

As someone that used to have two greyhounds - I agree.

There is no better large dog for apartment living than a Greyhound.

+1

Before acquiring Danes we almost went with Greyhounds because they are so gentle and love to lounge, just fine with small rooms. Danes are the same way.

Anyone who thinks certain large breeds don't do well in an apartment environment is most uninformed.

 

[Steve S]

More importantly, if Fido suffers a demonic possession and goes into a beserker rage, it's good to know that you can take him in a fight!

I used to think about this when I watched those old "Frankenstein" movies. If I was the doctor, my monster would have been only 2 feet tall.

 

[shakerattleroll]

Dachshund +1.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

I am pulling it off at the moment with a beagle its been a struggle but you couldent ask for a better cuddle buddy.