girl, sitting, on, windowsill, of, condo, with, dog

Advice for Living in a Condo with a Dog

Of course, we don’t have to go over all the reasons you’ll be living in a condo with a dog. Your pet is your family, enough said. If you can keep that attitude front-of-mind when choosing and moving into a condo, then you’ll both be happier for it.

1. Research Your Neighbourhood

This is true for any move you’ll make. However, if you’re planning on living in a condo with a dog, you’ll need to look for certain amenities, especially if you’re buying a condo in an urban area. Of course, if you could move in beside a dog park, then your condo search is over. If that doesn’t look like it will happen, check out distances to parks, or any public greenspace, before choosing where you’ll buy.

2. Think About the Location of Your Unit in the Building

There’s two things to consider here. With condo buildings getting taller with every new build, it’s tempting to get one with a spectacular view. However, your dog may need to go outside several times a day. If you’ve never had to wait for an elevator to get to higher floors in a condo building, you’ll soon find out why it’s one of the drawbacks of opting for the view. So you should consider the prospect of doing it three or more times a day before choosing an upper floor.

Similarly, even if you find a nice unit on a lower floor, consider the distance to the elevator. It may not be on the same scale as waiting for elevators and long elevator rides, but once you choose it, you’ll appreciate being closer to the elevator in many buildings.

3. Envision Your Dog Living in Your Unit

Yes, most newer condo units are not large. Still, you should scope it out from your pet’s point of view. Is there an accessible, easy to clean place for water and food dishes? What about where you’ll keep their toys; and, if they have their own bed, where will it go?

4. Ask to Take Your Dog to Showings

The size of your dog might make this a tough one. A dog’s reaction to their new home can help you decide on your new home. If they are small enough, it shouldn’t be too difficult to ask.

5. Make Sure Your Dog is Socialized

This can be a tough one. Especially if you’ve lived in a detached or semi-detached home with its own yard for a long time. The transition to condo life can be stressful for both of you, for many reasons. For your dog, it means getting used to more people in more situations. Situations that they haven’t experienced before — like people ‘suddenly’ appearing when an elevator door opens. Even if you’re sure they will get used to it, at least plan for a transition time.

If you’d like more advice on condo life, check out our article What to Know When Moving Into a Condo.