Can you keep a large dog in a studio apartment?
Keeping a large dog in a tiny studio space is a miserable experience for both owner and animal. The lack of adequate physical room makes it impossible to house a big breed humanely, leading many owners to regret the decision.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Researching different breeds online
- 2Volunteering at local shelters
- 3Adopting lower-energy or couch-potato large breeds like greyhounds instead
- 4Watching videos of desired breeds online instead of owning them
- 5Going to dog shows to talk to breeders
- 6Asking forums for recommendations based on personal criteria
- 7Reading about puppy traits versus adult behavior
- 8Filling out breed recommendation questionnaires on forums
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I wanted a large dog (preferably a Great Dane) but live in an extremely small studio and didn’t think there was a good chance it would be good for the dog.”source ↗
“I want a dog for my family (2 adults, and kids between ages 8 and 12).”source ↗
“Have considered a Golden Retriever but have heard they can be bite-y, which would be a deal breaker”source ↗
“Also love a Rough Collie but don’t want a barker, so…”source ↗
“I got a Golden Retriever dog when I was living in a 475 sq ft studio. It was a horrible experience for us.”source ↗
“I was wondering if anyone out there has owned both of these breeds or had experience with both, and if so, if you could tell me how they compare!”source ↗
“I realized I had to have a dog after fostering a friend's JRT for a month! Please help recommend me some breeds to look into!”source ↗