Living With a Dog in a House vs an Apartment

Over the past few years, I’ve experienced nearly every type of living arrangement you can imagine with my dog Willa: a townhouse, an RV, a suburban home with a backyard, and now, an apartment in the city. Each setup came with its own perks and challenges - not just for me, but for her too.

If you're wondering whether a dog really needs a backyard, or whether apartment living can meet a high-energy pup's needs, here's what I’ve learned from switching back and forth between the two.

Potty Breaks: The Trade-Off Between Convenience and Routine

Living in a house meant quick and easy potty breaks, just open the back door and let Willa out. It was especially convenient on rainy nights or early mornings when I wasn’t quite ready to face the world.

Apartment living, however, requires more preparation: you have to put on your shoes, jacket, get the leash, make sure you look normal before walking out the door and finally navigating to a suitable/grassy spot. This added effort can be particularly challenging during extreme weather conditions or when unwell. It’s more effort, but it also builds routine and keeps both of us more active. The trade-off is real, but manageable.

Exercise and Stimulation: It’s Not About Square Footage

There's a common misconception that high-energy dogs can't thrive in apartments. In reality, I’ve found that what matters more is how intentional you are about your dog’s daily movement. Willa gets just as much exercise now in an apartment as she did in the house, it’s really up to you, the dog owner.

Without a backyard, I'm more intentional about Willa's exercise routine—morning 5K runs, off-leash fetch sessions, and regular visits to dog-friendly hikes and beaches. In many ways, apartment living actually encourages more structured activity. A yard is great, but it’s not a replacement for engagement and most dogs don’t entertain themselves just because grass is available.

Dogs mostly just sleep at home or chew on their toys anyways if they get enough exercise and stimulation. If you want to get a dog who needs a lot of exercise but you live in an apartment, don't let this discourage you. If you're actively working your dog and giving them the proper time and attention they need then you'll be fine.

Cleanliness and Safety: What You Notice Changes

Living in a suburban neighbourhood, our walks were often serene, with minimal litter and distractions. Walking around a clean, well taken of neighbour is such a dream for dog owners, you can enjoy the walk a bit more and relax while you walk. In contrast, living in an apartment that has regular foot traffic for shops, bars, businesses, bus routes, naturally comes with more litter. While I’m walking Willa I’m constantly watching what’s in front of her while she sniffs away. There could even be glass or food on the ground so it’s important to be on high alert. Not the relaxing hikes we are used to. It's essential to be attentive to your dog's surroundings to ensure their safety.

The upside? She’s learned to walk through more distractions and has become incredibly well-socialized and less nervous around strangers.

Noise Sensitivity: Adapting to the Soundscape

The auditory environment differs significantly between houses and apartments. 

Depending on where your apartment or house is located this one could be the same, but from our experiences living in a home is generally much more quiet than living in an apartment. Apartment living, especially in bustling areas, exposes dogs to a myriad of sounds; traffic, sirens, and urban commotion. We do think the constant hum of outside noises effects her senses, she gets used to the louder and unexpected noises, but this constant exposure can desensitize some dogs, while others may find it overwhelming. It's crucial to observe and support your dog's adjustment to these stimuli.

While living in a home tucked into a quiet and safe neighbourhood, we rarely heard outside noises, but when we did Willa would alert us to any unusual noises, showcasing her natural watchdog instincts. There were teenagers on the street at 1am and we woke to Willa barking, her deep scary bark, it scared the crap out of me because she’s never done that before. With the house always being quiet we believed it heighten her senses to the sounds she deemed needed our knowledge and attention, an incredible skill if you think about it!

Wildlife: Suburban Bears, City Crows

Yes—there were bears in our backyard. Living in the suburbs of British Columbia meant regular encounters with raccoons, skunks, and even black bears. Willa’s alertness often gave me a heads-up long before I spotted anything.

City life feels safer in that sense, though you do occasionally spot mice and rats, and I know in Alberta urban coyotes have become a big problem for pets.

And the crows? They run the streets. If you know, you know.

Protection of the House: Dogs Step Up

Willa is not a guard dog, but she’s an excellent watchdog. In houses, she was quick to alert us to anything she thought was suspicious. Now that we’re in an apartment, her baseline is calmer, simply because there’s more consistent noise.

What’s fascinating is watching her instincts adjust based on her surroundings. Dogs are incredibly intuitive that way.

Vizsla’s a are natural watchdogs, they wont protect you in a fight like a Rottweiler/Dobermann, but you will know somethings coming before you hear it yourself. One of my favourite things about living in a house was watching Willa naturally fall into the role of the protector of the house, well she chose that role for herself lol. Any time something unfamiliar stirred around the house Willa would warning bark and point her nose where we should be looking. It was sweet and impressive to see that side of her, wanting to keep us all safe. 

Apartment living, with its constant foot traffic and neighbouring noises, can either heighten a dog's alertness or lead them to become accustomed to the hustle and bustle. Now that we’re in an apartment, her baseline is calmer, simply because there’s more consistent noise. Training and reassurance play key roles in helping your dog adapt appropriately. One of the benefits is she doesn’t bark other than warning barks so she’s super quiet in an apartment!

Final Thoughts

The idea that dogs need a house to be happy is outdated. Dogs need attention, exercise, structure, and love, not square footage. Apartment living comes with extra responsibilities, but it also pushes you to be more engaged and intentional with your dog’s daily needs.

That said, don’t get me wrong. We’d love to have a house one day. But as a millennial who has worked hard for everything I have, home ownership in Vancouver still feels like a distant dream. It’ll either take a move to a different city or a winning lottery ticket to make it happen. Until then, Willa’s got mountain trails, ocean views, and a warm spot on the couch.. what more could a dog (or human) really need?

Whether you have a backyard or just a shared patch of grass, what matters most is the effort you put in.

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