Species-Appropriate Dog Keeping in the City – Is it Even Possible?

Dog keeping in the city is a controversial topic that regularly sparks discussions, even heated debates, among dog owners. The answer to this is, on one hand, simple, but on the other hand, it isn’t. Here, we take a deep dive into the topic, all factors you should consider and all the opinions surrounding it.

What is Species-Appropriate Dog Keeping?

Before we address dog keeping in the city, let’s first explore what species-appropriate dog keeping actually means. What does it entail, and where do dog owners make compromises regardless of their place of residence? When it comes to species-appropriate dog keeping, the following points are typically highlighted:

Proximity and contact with the caregivers
Sufficient exercise
Rest
Mental stimulation
Food
Contact with other dogs

Let’s take a closer look.

Contact with Caregivers

Most dogs intensely seek the presence of their owners. Most owners like and encourage it, at least outdoors. In the home, however, it quickly becomes disruptive if the dog wants to join in the bathroom or takes up too much space in the bed.

Strictly speaking, even sending the dog off the couch, out of the bathroom, or from the kitchen, separating with baby gates, putting them in a puppy pen, or locking them in a crate is far from being species-appropriate. Regardless of the place of residence, leaving a dog alone because you need to work, go shopping, or attend a doctor’s appointment could also be considered inappropriate.

However, there is a potential difference between city and countryside in the recreational area: In urban areas, there are fewer truly dog-friendly places where you can bring your dog along.

Mental Stimulation and Exercise

Leash on, walk, explore the environment and nature, let the dog run free, play, dog sports: there are many ways to keep a dog busy.

However, the first significant difference between city and countryside is immediately apparent. Those living in quieter, greener areas can offer exciting sniffing opportunities right outside the door, take peaceful walks, and thus ensure a very natural and healthy form of exercise and mental stimulation.

In the city, this is significantly harder. There is less green space, more trash, more people, more traffic, and more areas where dogs should not sniff or walk long distances for their health. There are fewer areas where they can run free for extended periods without constant encounters with other dogs and people.

Whenever I mention this argument and suggest that dog keeping in the city is less species-appropriate, I often get this response:

“I take my dog out to the countryside every day!!!”

So, city dog keeping is less appropriate! That’s exactly what this answer implies. If the city were dog-friendly, these trips wouldn’t be necessary.
Nobody really goes out to the countryside every day. There are the overtime hours, a sprained foot, a lack of motivation, bad weather, and a thousand other reasons that can and do come up in daily life.
Travel time reduces the time you can spend with your dog. If you’re stuck in traffic or have another appointment afterward, you’ll have to hurry in the countryside.
The “green” areas near cities are often overcrowded, making them only marginally better than the next park.

Even if there is a daily trip, the next factor still plays a role in urban dog keeping.

Rest and Relaxation

Sufficient rest and opportunities to retreat are fundamental components of species-appropriate dog keeping. In the city, many factors come into play. More people, more traffic, more dogs on less space. All of this adds up to generally more restlessness. Every bathroom break is louder, more hectic, and filled with stimuli.

But for relaxation, there’s always the apartment!

Yes, of course, but this is a very short-sighted view. Because even in the apartment, there are still many people on very little space – relating to the house, neighborhood, and streets. This inevitably means more noise. Slamming doors, doorbells, sneezing, running washing machines, arguments next door or across the hall, honking, revving engines… For dogs, this is all audible within the apartment, which can make relaxation much more difficult.

Food

Whether in the city or the countryside, the place of residence doesn’t matter here. However, feeding is a critical factor in appropriate dog keeping, often neglected. Dry food, for example, is definitely not species-appropriate. Similarly, feeding a dog only once a day or always giving the same food is not ideal. Nevertheless, many owners still feed once a day with monodiets and dry food.

Contact with Other Dogs

According to the law in some countries like Germany, species-appropriate dog keeping includes “sufficient contact with other dogs.” Here, the city seems to have the advantage, as there are usually more dogs in a smaller area. And that’s even without visiting the dog park.

BUT: Appropriate dog contact doesn’t just mean that all dogs should say hello, that there’s constant leash contact, or wild play at the dog park. These “encounters” are often uncomfortable or even stressful for dogs and can be overwhelming.

Because: By the time dogs are adults, they don’t need to interact with random dogs. They need time to establish meaningful and peaceful contact, so they can truly benefit from the interactions.

Otherwise, they might encounter many dogs daily, but still be lonely. The supposed advantage of the city is therefore not a real one.

In rural areas, however, it’s easier to own multiple dogs, which is why it’s common to have two or more dogs in a household. This gives the dogs stable social partners, which is a true enrichment.

Is Dog Keeping in the City Species-Appropriate? These Factors Matter

Although many things speak against dog keeping in the city or make it less species-appropriate, we should consider all factors. After all, there are many differences between dogs and where they live.

The Breed (or Mix)

When answering this question, many quickly say that large dogs are less suited for the city. That’s bullshit. The size doesn’t matter. Certain breeds especially don’t do well in the city. Included are dogs that:

Are very sensitive to stimuli
Have strong territorial instincts
Are prone to barking and guarding
Have extremely high energy levels
Are strongly affected by heat
Are aggressive toward other dogs

This includes, among others, herding dogs, guard dogs, and other working breeds, as well as brachycephalic dogs.

Early Socialization

If a dog is to thrive in the city and feel secure in its environment, it must be accustomed to the urban environment as early as possible. Otherwise, it will suffer from constant stress, which may manifest in many ways, such as fear, accidents in the house despite being housebroken, illnesses, excessive barking, aggression, or self-harm.

It doesn’t matter whether your dog comes from a reputable breeder, a shelter or a backyard breeder. What matters is the gradual exposure during the critical period of periods. Moving a rural dog to the city is therefore not a good idea, as it can lead to sensory overload and insecurity.

In stark contrast, you will never hear an expert – and much more importantly, a dog – say: “Uuuuuh, moving from the city to the countryside… I wonder if that will work?!”

No City is like the Other

When it comes to the question “Is dog keeping in the city species-appropriate?”, one aspect cannot be overlooked: What city and where in the city?

After all, every city is different. Are we talking about the bustling center or the outskirts? About millions of people or a population of 50.000?

In general, we can only say: The louder, more crowded, and hectic it is, the more unfriendly it is for dogs. Not even the park next door, the green space behind the house, or almost daily trips to the countryside can change that.

Is Dog Keeping in the City Species-Appropriate?

There is no clear answer to this question. It’s clear that not every dog is suited for life in the city, and not every neighborhood is suitable for keeping dogs. It’s also clear that owning a dog in he city often requires considerable additional effort to compensate for the limitations of city life.

So, if you want to keep a dog in the city, you should know the potential disadvantages beforehand and carefully consider whether it’s fair to the dog.

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