Opinions on townhomes and Labs

[Berna]

Cookie and I live in an apartment and we are doing great. Labs do great in apartments as long as they get regular exercise.

[Tanya]

Thanks! I realize that a huge yard doesn't mean you don't have to exercise a dog, besides I am pretty active outdoors anyway and it's nice to be able to have a companion on hikes and walks.

I'm also a the type of person who thinks a fish bowl is too small for a goldfish so I'll buy the 20 gallon tank for 1 fish.

I am like that for crates. My 40 pound smaller dog is in a 42" crate (or she was). haha

I didn't think you would rely on the yard, I meant that more as an aside, taht many people use the yard as a crutch. I admit, it's handy as we can play a bit of fetch and I can have people over. I am not walking distance to two dog parks anymore like I was when I lvied in an apartement!

The bigger issue is barking. this will depend on how well build the townhomes are and how sound carries. I hear dogs go wild as we walk by their homes. or reacting to noises outside. or barkign when you leave the house.

[Lyra]

I am like that for crates. My 40 pound smaller dog is in a 42" crate (or she was). haha

I didn't think you would rely on the yard, I meant that more as an aside, taht many people use the yard as a crutch. I admit, it's handy as we can play a bit of fetch and I can have people over. I am not walking distance to two dog parks anymore like I was when I lvied in an apartement!

The bigger issue is barking. this will depend on how well build the townhomes are and how sound carries. I hear dogs go wild as we walk by their homes. or reacting to noises outside. or barkign when you leave the house.

I live on a lake, with a lot of hiking/biking/nature trails plus the neighborhoods are nice to walk through. The yard would mainly be for when my daughter, who is 11 right now, needs to let the dog out to potty and I am not home yet. She does wonderful when walking my sister's boxers, but until a puppy learns leash manners I don't want to put that pressure on her. She was not allowed to walk our last dog, due to the DA issues. Not because she couldn't control him, but because I was more afraid of other people not being able to control their dogs (and he was honestly pure muscle as he did weight-pulling). But I actually miss doing the early am and evening 2 mile walks!

I also think a yard is handy for when there are other people over and there are the accidental "let-outs." Kids are especially good at that.

The barking I am a little nervous about, I have never actually had a dog who barked excessively or at everything so I am hoping that trend sticks. I am aiming for sometime next year to purchase so I have some time to browse, my goal is for an end-unit if I get a townhouse if I can't get a house. I don't have to be out of my current home at any point, but I just want to own my place.

[charliebbarkin]

My neighbor has a young dog (maybe five months) who barks when he's crated the entire time they are gone. I can only hear it if my house is totally silent and even then it's not that bad. Honestly, I can hear my other neighbors' baby crying if my house is silent as well. So, noise is noise, everyone makes some at some point. I wouldn't worry about it.

[JenC]

Your home is where you sleep and spend your down time. It doesn't matter if it's an apartment, townhouse or mansion. You will be finding places outside to exercise the dog and you'll still need to do that...

[arentspowell]

My dogs aren't excessive barkers but they do bark when there is a knock on the door and sometimes they hear something outside. Our next door neighbor actually told us she never hears our dogs and complimented us on how quiet they are! Lol

[GrandeLSM]

I never wanted to have a lab in my townhouse, until my best friend let me know that his dog's father had another litter. I wish I hadnt waited so long. As long as you like taking walks, the dog will grow up healthy and happy.

[HaleyJo03]

We lived in a town home with two labs but we made sure they got plenty of exercise before and after work. For a while we didn't even have a fenced in yard which wasn't much when we did fence it in but we never had a problem with exercise. Now that we have a home with a pool and big backyard I still keep the same routine with exercise. It just became part of my routine after so long. It's not impossible just make sure you exercise your dog a lot and provide mentally stimulating stuff for your dog to do when your gone.

[Sam I Am]

My dogs couldn't care less about the size of our home or yard. The only thing I can think of is check that the HOA (if there is one) doesn't have a rule about the size of dogs living there.

[fidgetyknees]

No experience .... but I seriously would have an issue having to leash my dog up to go potty first thing in the morning - have to do that in hotel rooms which we stay at about 6 weekends a year and it is annoying. As for exercise, you sound you have that covered. I love my yard for playing fetch ... and we play that 4-5 times a day. Your life would be easier if you go for more mellow breed lines if you decide to go with no yard.