I am a 22 year old college male about to graduate. I want to get a puppy sometime in the next few months to go with my new apartment. I will have the puppy for about 8-10 weeks 100% one on one to train and be around before I start a 5 day a week 8-3 job. The problem I feel is that I would like a herding dog as they suit my personality the best. They are high energy, on the go, and very friendly and loyal. I think a Belgian Tervuren or Belgian Sheepdog would be the perfect running partner and park dog. I run about 2-3 miles a day and would always get in quality time with the dog so exercise and space outside wouldn't be an issue for it. I am worried about how a dog would hold up for 7 hours a day 5 days a week by itself if allowed to roam the apartment (I wouldnt shut it in a room)
Experts, please offer your advice on these breeds. Also open to recommendations on other breeds but keep in mind little toy lap dogs or small terrier dogs probably wont be the best for my interests It can definitely be done, but are you sure you are up for it?
You would have a 7 hour working day and then on top of that you'd have devote minimum of 2 hours activity (training, exercise, mental activity) solely to the dog. Running 2-3 miles alone is not going to tire out a Belgian Shepherd (don't run with it until it's at least 1 year old), neither is 30 minutes on the leash walks.
While an adult Belgian Shepherd can stay alone for 7 hours a day and are fairly quiet indoors if properly activated, then 7 hours is the maximum. This means that you'll have to go home straight from work, you cannot meet your friends for a drink in the evening, go to the cinema, go out to eat, go to the gym for a workout etc.
I don't use crate training and my pets have always been allowed to roam the house, but you need to have a safe area for it to be alone in, especially during puppy and teen phase - and a bored teen Belgian Shepherd can rip your home to shreds in no time.
Also, you need to be mentally alert with this kind of dog. It's intelligent, reads you like an open book and you have to be one step ahead of it at all times. A Belgian Shepherd is not a Border Collie or a Golden Retriever, it is sharper and a breed typical Belgian Shepherd will most likely test you and try to outwit you.
Belgian Shepherds tend to mature slower and go through a more difficult teenage phase than more breeds. They need an experienced handler and intensive socialization. Be too hard and it will ignore you, be too soft and it will walk all over you.
You will need to work with the dog's guard and protection instinct, which will surface when it's about 2 years old. The dog needs to respect you and look to you before it makes any decisions (such as deciding the new neigbour is a threat and going to do something about it).
Many experienced dog owners with more time on their hands and live-in family back-up have found that the Belgian Shepherd was too much for them to handle. So I would urge you to seriously take some time, study up on the breed some more and then some. Don't let yourself be enarmoured by looks alone (Tervueren and Groenendaels are beautiful dogs) or intelligence, speed or grace (these traits come at a price: easily bored, frustrated, understimulated = intolerable dog).
Also, if you are a first time dog owner, I would suggest you reconsider and perhaps look at some other breeds that are similar to the Belgian Shepherd, but easier to handle.
Labradors for example are also high energy, on the go, very friendly and loyal. Belgian Shepherds are loving with their family, but much more reserved and aloof than Golden Retrievers or a Labradors, so if you're looking for the Lab and Golden's affection and love of all people, do not take a Belgian Shepherd.
Australian Shepherds are also high energy dogs, but more low key than Belgian Shepherds, especially when it comes to sharpness. No matter what breed you choose, you need to be aware that whatever free-time you have needs to go to the dog. Thanks for such an intelligent reply. There are so many people here who wouldn't listen to advice and would get a dog anyway... and regret it. It's so refreshing to hear your reply. Good luck with finding a dog! Report It
Both breeds prob. aren't suitable for apt. life.
Greyhounds or whippets are excellent short-hair "running" dogs.
Consider those.
Gd. luck. you do not need a herding dog for an apartment. herding breeds can become horrible dogs if they cant exercise the way they were meant to. get a doberman... i love my dobie, shes a couch dog for the most part... but will protect her territory. honestly if you do not want a little dog you need to wait until you dont live in an apartment. a herding dog can not live in an apartment. they need a large yard to run in. even if you do take it out frequently its not very fair for him or her to live in a tiny apartment. no dog should be left alone 7 hours a day. my dogs go out 5 to 6 times through they day. you need to wait until you have a house and more time Wheaton Terriers are hearding dogs, and they are great apartment dogs. I don't think a puppy (actually any dog) should be left for 7 hours at a time. Can you find a good doggie day care near you? Otherwise don't get a dog. A cat can handle being alone for that length of time. Good Luck I have to say that I think you would need to confine the dog somewhat when it is home alone. It's in the best interest of the safety of the dog bc let's face it, puppies will chew and they don't know what is ok to chew on unless you are there to correct them. 7 hours isn't too long to be left alone as long as you, or someone (maybe a dogwalker), can come by midday and let him/her out to play a bit and relieve itself. i really like border collies they are super smart or old english sheepdogs they rock! I would agree neither dog would be good in an apartment. it would go stir crazy. Being alone for so long with no yard to run in either would be a recipe for a disaster.
I really wish I could find the excellent article a friend shared a while back about someone with a high energy dog in an apartment who was out much of the day. It was heartbreaking, but it really got the message across. I'll edit the link in to my answer if I can find it. I think, with your active lifestyle and all that time to devote to training, most breeds could work out well for you.
I wouldn't get a high-drive breed or a high-energy (comparably) breed. So I'd stay away from Malinois, Australian Cattle Dogs, Border Collies, etc. Some German Shepherds can sometimes be difficult jogging partners because of the way they're built.
I would think these herding breeds would do best in an apartment: Bearded Collie, Belgian Sheepdog or Tervuren, Briard, Canaan Dog, Puli, Pembroke or Cardigan Welsh Corgis.
Of those, I'd think the Canaan Dog might do best with the lifestyle you've described.
I will add one thing though. I don't know what you're studying or if you have a job yet, but when I graduated, it was difficult to find a place I could afford with a dog. Furthermore, when you're young you move around a lot, switch jobs, etc. Even if right now you have the perfect apartment and perfect job, be sure to consider the future.
Many apartments have weight limitations. It will likely be a challenge to find a place that takes such a large dog. Not impossible, but do be aware of it. I'm sorry but you will not be doing any herding dog a favor keeping them in an apartment. it is not fare to a breed that needs a lot of stimulation to keep them happy and your 2-3 mile runs won't do it. boredom in these dogs will cause you a lot of grief, if you don't give them something to do they will find something on their own and you won't like it. Honestly I think most herding dogs would not be suitable for an apartment. No matter how active you are, most of them need more space than that.
That being said, I think a sheltie or standard schnauzer may be a good fit. They are both fairly small, but not so small that they are easily stepped on, or hurt, or generally, un-macho ;) They are both active and very intelliegent breeds. Easily trained and very well suited to an active lifestyle.
The only thing with leaving either of these breeds home alone is to make sure they are occupied. Just keep pantry doors and trash cans shut, and make sure the dog has plenty of bones or toys like kong balls. They both do faily well on their own as long as they arent bored (schnauzers more so than shelties) and both greatly enjoy exercise and a "job" (teaching the dog to carry a small bag, doggie backpack, toy, or his own leash while jogging gives him this feeling of having a job ;) )
Good luck finding the right dog for you:) I don't know if herding dogs are the best apartment dogs - i have a border collie and he drives me crazy inside if he hasnt had hours of activities outside a day....we had to enroll him in doggie daycare during the week so he could work some of his energy out while we were gone. I will say that border collies are awesome dogs...they have great personalities, and are beyond loyal however they are high maintence.......
i never thought i would crate a dog - but after our border collie ate our couches and carpet when he was a puppy i changed my mind -----so you may want to rethink that no crate thing until he is older unless you want a chewed up house!!! Good Luck!! I agree with most here that neither of these breeds are a good choice. You may or may not get it to work, but I think the bigger issue is you are renting. Landlords do not usually allow large dogs. Most have weight limits and those limits are rarely as much as Tervs and Belgian Sheepdogs weigh. I see too many dogs in the shelter where I volunteer that are given up because the owners are moving. I suspect most of those are renters needing to move from a pet friendly apt to one that is not.
I would suggest you wait and get a dog after you own your own home. At last! A question about my breed -- the Tervuren!
A Belgian Tervuren or Sheepdog can indeed be kept in an apartment, but (and it's a big one) you have to make sure the dog is kept mentally and physically exercised. A puppy (and even young adults) will not do well at all left to it's own devices for 7-8 hours at a time. If you'd like your apartment redecorated, it's ideal...as the tervlet will peel wallpaper, gnaw on woodwork, etc. Things your landlord won't be thrilled about. I would confine a puppy to either an ex-pen in the kitchen or a crate while I was away - for their own saftey and to know my house would still be standing when I returned <g>
That said, I have friends in NYC with tervs... and have placed 2 dogs in NYC and one in Hoboken - all but one went as puppies and they're fine. BUT, they have owners who are dedicated to seeing that they're not just home alone while they work. They have utilized 'doggie day care' and dog walkers. When their dogs were older, they were able to reduce the # of times the dog walker came per day, but it's a long haul. They were paying for a dog walker to come 3x a day for about 9 months, then 2x a day for another year and now, only 1x a day...more if they're delayed at work.
You really can't begin serious running with a dog until their growth plates have closed, and I recommend not doing any serious running (more than 1 mile at a sustained pace) until they're at least 18 months old. My NYC dogs run 3-5 days a week, about 3-5 miles each time....they are just about to be 6 years old.
One other caveat about the Belgians...you've stated you're looking for a herding dog because of the energy level,*very friendly* and loyal. Well, two out of three there <g> The Belgians typcially are very friendly with those they know, but breed standards state that they are to be aloof with strangers. That said, I've bred a few 'mayor' personalities, and I find males to be a bit more open minded towards people than females. However, if you're looking for a herding breed that loves everyone... Belgians aren't your best bet.
We raised our first Terv, eons ago now, when we lived in a townhouse with no yard. It can be done, but it all depends on the commitment of the owner. I agree with most of you . Herding dogs are not dogs that are suitable for an apartment . They are herders and need a place to run and be free . Otherwise, you'd come home to a house that is literally destroyed from the dog either going crazy or just out of bordem.
Plus, I also would keep in mind that most apartments will not allow big dogs into apartments. Im not saying all will, but they are a dime in a dozen . I would check with your landlord to see if its on the up and up to have a big dog . If not , I wouldnt consider anything large or extra large . I would also reccomend you stay away from any hound breeds as well if you live in an apartment . Please dont get a herding dog. Even if you run 3 miles a day, the fact that you arent home for 7 hours means you really dont have the right lifestyle for one. These dogs need to be busy ALL THE TIME. If you leave one alone for that many hours, I guarantee you will have some behavior issues. It could manifest in crazy barking all day, or the dog could eat your apartment. If you then crate the dog, the dog will literally go crazy from the inactivity and inability to see its environment.
Get a golden or a lab, or even a greyhound, but please, not a herding breed. |
