What's a good dog for apartment living that I can also take running?

Question

I'd like a dog I could run 3-5 miles with, and also would not mind being indoors during weekdays. I'd exercise it in the mornings and evenings.

Answer 1

DON'T get the little dogs like terriers and toys that so many people may suggest - they bark a LOT and make TERRIBLE apartment dogs.

I highly recommend these Sight Hounds - Greyhounds, Salukis and Whippets are terrific apartment dogs, as long as you can take them out for a long daily run. They can easily work up to five miles and you'd be the perfect owner for one. Inside the apartment, they are couch potatoes (like our Borzoi - Russian wolfhound) and you won't even know they're around most of the time. They are very quiet and easily housebroken and much better than most small dogs. Be careful if you're adopting a racing greyhound off the track. They are often fine, but many have behavior problems (like destructive chewing) from being locked in a cage with little socialization. Also, remember that sighthounds are hunting dogs and some will kill small animals (cats, rabbits, toy dogs) if they haven't grown up with them.

Find a good breeder by going to www.akc.org or talking to people at dog shows. You can also find info about the breed clubs on the akc site - they probably have a rescue group where you can get an older dog for less money. The best breeders will be members of their breed club, promoting healthy dogs with great temperaments. They should ask you a bunch of questions to make sure their puppy will be getting a good home. If all a "breeder" seems to care about is whether your check will clear, you can be sure he won't care a week later when the pup is dying from distemper or parvo and you want your money back.

Whatever you do, DON'T go to a pet shop, a flea market or buy one sight-unseen off the Internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are often kept in deplorable conditions - spending their entire lives in small wire-bottomed cages. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there.

Answer 2

I'm not sure what size of dog you're looking for, but I lived in an apartment with my Lab for about 2 years and didn't really have any problems. If you get a big dog, exercise in the mornings and evenings will help you more than it will help him! I noticed that my Lab would get destructive if I skipped a morning workout before leaving him for a while. I would normally run 2-4 miles in the morning with him, and take him to the park to run on his own in the evenings. I was lucky enough to have 4th floor apartment, and left the patio door open on cool days so he could relax on the balcony. Exercise was definitely key for making apartment living less stressful for each of us! Good luck!

Answer 3

Jack Russle Terrier

Answer 4

I would say greyhound but I'm not sure if one could run 5 miles at once. If you mean 2.5 miles twice a day, then that might be more like it. They can run fast but just don't have the endurance to go forever. "The World's Fastest Couch Potato" :)

Answer 5

If your willing to get out and exercise a dog that much you can get any dog you want. My vet recommended I get a greyhound bc they love to lay around indoors, but love to run and be playful outdoors. Good Luck.

Answer 6

A Jack Russel Terrier.Brilliantly intelligent and tireless.Needs good training though because when left on their own they get restless and up to mischief.

Answer 7

Jack Russel Terrier, if you promise to give him the exercises he NEEDS! Make sure to crate train him.

Answer 8

Try checking out a Brussels Griffon, they are smaller but so awesome, they attach to usually one person, and are great friends, and they are fast so they should be able to keep up with you.

Lorena

Answer 9

Great Dane---although these are huge dogs everyone agrees they are best to be raised inside......They dont like to be outside. But they do need their exercise.

Answer 10

Boston terriers. though I would not do this in a lot of heat. my dog loves running with me when i actually do it.