I have noticed a very common trend.
Whenever people attempt to rehome a dog that, as they realized, is too much of a dog for them, they express a wish to find a place with a huge backyard, ideally on some acres, because this puppy is sweet and all, but not an “apartment dog.”
Rescues are guilty of it, too—you can often find in the descriptions that some of their dogs have to live in the country. After all, the Pissfingers meme hasn’t emerged out of nowhere.
To this trend, my response is simple: I am angry. Angry, not because people did not do their research when they acquired a dog. Not even because rescues, who claim to be dog experts, should know better.
I am angry because, once again, dogs are being misunderstood, their true needs are not being communicated, and, as a result, are not met.
The ironic thing is that there is no such thing as “apartment dog.” Any dog can comfortably live in a small house or a flat, as long as they are given an appropriate work to do.
I have known a couple who lived with a Caucasian Ovcharka in a studio. Every morning and every evening, they were taking him out for long walks, and two times a week, they were taking him out to do some obedience and protection.
Another memorable case was an older lady with three German Shepherds, who lived in a very small house with a backyard the size of a dinner table. Likewise, with regular walks and training, the dogs did just fine.
A massive livestock guardian breed and a high-drive herding breed—both thriving because their people understood what their dogs are. That understanding matters far more than someone’s square footage.
Because if you take these same dogs and toss them into a big yard without supervision or a job, you will get destruction, noise, and anxiety. It may look to an inexperienced eye like the dog is being goofy or happy. Often it is the opposite: the dog is frustrated, under-stimulated, and trying desperately to burn energy without guidance.
And then what? Go find a home with even more acres to destroy?
Dogs do not need acres.
Dogs need training and interaction.
Dogs need a purpose.
Dogs need a job.