Dogs and Condos - Never the twain shall meet?

This post is inspired by my new-found friend, Dora. Dora loves dogs but can't keep any as she lives in a condo. In Malaysia apparently, most, if not all condos do not allow dogs. While it hasn't stopped some dog lovers from keeping them illegally, clandestine living is tricky. How do you sneak a 30kg labrador pass the guards? Ok, while you could sneak a 3kg toy poodle in a bag, can you really stop a dog from barking?

In the US and Canada, you would probably find more dog-friendly condos. Closer to home, in Singapore, some condos allow dogs. Even so, dog owners there sometimes face uphill battles with neighbours who don't share the same love for dogs. The fact is not everyone loves dogs, not all dog owners are responsible owners and not all dogs are well behaved (most times, it's probably due to the owners behaviour). When you have to live in close proximity in a condo and share common areas, the combination of these factors can be explosive.

Assuming we live in a perfect world, what type of dogs are appropriate for condo living? Most people assume that small dogs would be appropriate for condo living since they are...small and would probably require less space to run about. That's not entirely true because some small dogs (e.g. Jack Russells) are actually quite loud, active and require lots of exercise and attention. The key is to examine your lifestyle and to research the characteristics of the breed you are interested in to evaluate suitability for condo-living with you. Dog ownership requires time and commitment, even more so, if you live in a condo because you don't have a garden for the dog to romp around.

Of course, once you already have found the perfect dog for you, be a responsible dog owner. Go for obedience training, take time to reinforce the training, pick up the dog's poop, keep the dog on a leash when walking the dog in the condo compound and exercise the dog adequately. Come to think of it, all these tips apply to dog owners who live on landed properties as well!

P.S. My humans came to a difficult decision not to bring me to Bangkok when they relocated there 2 years back. Condo living was one of the factors. Fortunately, my dad's parents were willing to look after me whilst they were away. (And when they had to go away, mum's parents dog-sat me.) I made lots of new friends, canine and humans whilst living with them. Now that my humans are back, I am home with them again! Grandpa misses me though. Now that I'm not around the cats have been sleeping on the roof of his car and leaving scratch marks...