And Puppy Makes 3

Like most people, I love dogs. I couldn't imagine living without one and the very first thing I did (even before we moved out) was to find a dog. I would've gladly adopted a dog but the "right" dog who came our way ended up being a mutt puppy--a mix of red and blue heeler and Border Collie with unique coloring. It is a medium sized dog and if you know what a medium sized dog looks like in a small apartment--like a horse. 

I know I'll have to be strategic in planning how to properly contain the newest member of our family and still have a chic and clean flat, but I'm willing to work on it. His name is Benji Trouble and he's already won his way into my heart. I know he's going to be a great companion and the better I train him, the easier it will be to keep the flat attractive. I know Febreeze and static-remover brushes will be useful items in the house! Nobody wants a house smelling like dog. 

From prior dog-owning experience these are things you need to keep your house intact:

- a dog crate. This isn't to keep your dog locked up for long periods. Ideally, you shouldn't keep your dog in there longer than his age. Puppies under 6 months old shouldn't stay in a crate for longer than 3-4 hours at a time, and it should be comfortable and cozy for them. Think: cozy blanket, chew toys, bowl of water. The crate should be big enough for him to move around and turn in. 

-flea\tick leash and spray. Keeping bugs outside is important since you don't want an infested house. Brushing your dog regularly and a flea leash and formula is a good bet to keeping them at bay. 


-A cozy bed. If your dog isn't allowed on the bed or couch, invest in a dog bed for him to enjoy sleeping in. 


-Stain remover spray (Accidents happen)


-Dog shampoo (a clean dog means a clean house)


-Lint roller (to get fur off clothes, furniture, etc). 

   With a lot of exercise, dogs can definitely enjoy apartment living. Giving your dog something to do like agility classes keeps his mind busy and sharp. It is great to get him outdoors as much as possible--and there is a hidden benefit: exercise for yourself. I'm excited to see how incorporating a larger dog into our lives (and home) turns out. We've always had toy dogs so this is a new experience! Welcome home Benji!

Apartment-Dwelling K9s

THE ALL ADORABLE FAWN PUG PUPPY

PULI DOG FAMOUS FOR ITS MATTED FUR

    Dogs are great. You know, they're smart, cute and affectionate. The problem is, there is hundreds of breeds of dogs to choose from and they're all so loveable! Apartment-dwelling dogs are usually small to medium sized dogs, and even when you narrow it down to that you have purebreds, mixed-bred hybrid things with cute names that all end in -Poo and toy versions of this and that. 
    Since every responsible dog-owner knows it is unethical to get a dog from a pet store that likely abuses animals in puppy mills (especially in Quebec which has no animal right protection laws and Ontario that has very lax laws) or from puppy mills themselves that disguise themselves as loving breeders (you can usually spot these ones as they usually sell many different breeds of puppies all at once). Even with the small amount of family or professionally bred dogs left, narrowing one little pup is very hard. I have always wanted to adopt a dog who needs a good, loving home but our pound doesn't have smaller dogs!

     My love of dogs began with a friend's chihuahua who became my companion everywhere (and I mean everywhere from dentist appointments to the supermarket). We decided to get a dog, our first dog unknowingly from a pet store when I was too daft to realize what the poor animals went through before they arrived behind the glass stall. I bought a Pomeranian puppy for $800 that looked like an odd, alien cross between a mini Golden Retriever and a long-haired Chihuahua. I had fallen in love with the little guy and knew I had to have him. It was a sickly, puppy mill abused puppy that ended up having many health problems and remained very aloof. 
     For my fiancee's birthday I bought her the most adorable pug puppy in the world from a kindly breeder in the neighbourhood for $550. Our Pug, R, was so sweet and intelligent and well-trained we were so in love and our Pomeranian liked having a playmate. Unfortunately, when we had to leave our old apartment our dogs couldn't come with us and instead reside happily with an elderly, lonely relative who is very appreciative and grateful for the company of our sweet dogs (who we see often).
     It is hard to think of getting another dog after having such wonderful, amazing pets and I cannot imagine a new pet being as personable as our furry Pomeranian or as sweet as our Pug but then again, it's wise to keep an open mind. I know it would be too painful to get another pug or Pomeranian so other breeds I have in mind are:


Komondor
Pumi
Tibetan Terrier 

MY POMERANIAN & MY PUG PUPPY!

 Puli
Chow Chow
Basenji
Kishu (Japanese)
Long hiared Whippet
Portuguese waterdog
Otterhound
Portuguese Podengo
English bulldog
Japanese Spitz
Harrier
Jack Russell