Having a dog in an apartment or a condo, is nothing like having a dog in a house. It’s a whole different world with a completely new set of training needs. When you take up residence in a condo with common halls, lobby and elevators, you become part of a very close community. Even if you don’t associate with your neighbors, you are all part of the same community sharing the same common areas together.
That atmosphere necessitates consideration for the needs and comforts of everyone else in that community. Below are some tips gathered from the internet about pet safety and maintenance.
1) Always carry a plastic bag or the pooper scoopers provided by the Association and clean up after your dog, especially if you walk on pedestrian pathways.
2) Carry a water bottle to rinse off the urine from the concrete pathways where your fellow neighbors walk on. Alert our staff if there’s an accident that you may not be able to clean up.
3) Always have your dog on leash when inside the common areas of the building. No dog, no matter how well trained, should be off leash when in any building.
4) Keep your dog on a short leash and close to you when walking through the lobby or hallways of your apartment, especially when there are other dogs present.
5) Do not allow your dog to run up to anyone. As hard as it is to believe, not everyone likes dogs. If someone wants to pet your dog, have your dog sit before the person approaches and keep him sitting during the encounter. There are some people who may walk right up to pet your dog without asking. If your dog is on a short leash, you have much better control of the situation.
6) Never let your dog jump up on people, no matter how small the dog is. Teach your dog to sit for praise and petting. Dogs that jump on people can cause a person to be knocked over or scratched. This is especially important for children and older people.
7) If you want to introduce the dogs to each other, have the larger dog lie down while the smaller one approaches. Be very careful with two male dogs, even if they are both neutered. If one of them feels dominant you might experience some growling and snapping. It may be best not to push that introduction.
8) If waiting for an elevator, stand back from the door so that you can get a good look at who’s in the elevator or coming off. People on elevators have a tendency to stand in front of the door and exit as soon as the door opens. If you’re standing directly in front of the door this could pose a serious problem. Have your dog walk next to you when you enter the elevator. Don’t let him enter ahead of you, especially if someone is on the elevator.
9) When riding on an elevator, stand toward the back. Teach your dog to sit next to you and keep his eyes on you during the ride. He should get up and exit the elevator only on a cue from you.
10) Last but not least, always respect your home. Take care of it and don’t let your pets cause damage to the property. All of the above tips should be practiced even when no one else is around you. If you always have your dog under control when inside the building, your dog will accept this as normal behavior that is expected of him. He won’t view it as something that happens only when others are around.
