Hmm... It's true that the title of this article may give rise to a second (and third) meaning about the topic addressed... But I clarify here that the friend under consideration... is a DOG.
On the date on which I write this article, World Dog Day is celebrated all over the world. It is the date (as good as any other) used, all over the world, to mark something as important as the existence of an animal that humanity domesticated many centuries ago and that became a 'faithful friend' of human beings.
However, there is a huge variety of breeds and crosses, with their different sizes, weights, behaviors and needs, to such an extent that they are often (too) often not taken into account by their owners or guardians when welcoming them and share the daily life with them. It is very common to have households with dogs at home, whether it is a house with an ample private outdoor space, or an apartment in the middle of a city, without any terrace or balcony.
As I have come across multiple clients who share their homes with these faithful friends of ours, I wanted to deepen my knowledge about the implications of having a dog at home and how best their caregivers should do to provide everyone (humans and animals) with a healthy and harmonious life.
To do this, I (once again) had a conversation with Dr. Daniela Nunes Simões, a veterinarian for 10 years, responsible for a veterinary practice in Matosinhos. This conversation took place before the World Dog Day. Here is a transcript of it:
Marco Moura Marques (MMM): Hello, Daniela! Thank you very much, once again, for agreeing to have this conversation and allowing me to share it with those who follow, read and listen to me.
Daniela Nunes Simões (MMM): Hello, Marco! I am the one who appreciates the invitation and the trust. It is a pleasure to be able to share my experience and knowledge about ‘Man’s best friend’, who will have a special date dedicated to him in the coming days.
MMM: Well, the choice of the date for our conversation is not random. I wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate World Dog Day to ask you some questions. Can I move forward?
DNS: Go ahead!
MMM: So here goes… We all know that there are many, many families who have dogs in their care. And because recent statistics point to this, I dare to say that in large urban centers there has been an increase in the average number of dogs per household. Something will justify this, for sure. So I ask you: what are the recognized advantages of having and caring for a dog?
DNS: There are studies that tell us that being close to dogs reduces the likelihood of us suffering from depression or heart disease. They help combat loneliness and a sedentary lifestyle and are social animals that can, on a walk outside, for example, make us interact more easily with those around us.
MMM: I see. And knowing this, does it make sense or, to put it another way, can we or eventually should we have one or more dogs in an apartment?
DNS: The answer is usually: yes, we can. It's perfectly possible. However, ensuring their well-being is the responsibility of their owners or guardians. Access to food, water, veterinary care is part of this responsibility, but it also includes caring for the dog to remain happy and stimulated, with regular access to spaces where he can exercise his condition as a dog. Sniffing freely, for example.
MMM: So any dog can live happily in an apartment?
DNS: Well, it's a difficult answer to give in a, let's say, closed way. Living in an apartment doesn't just mean having less space, it also means that stimuli will be less throughout the day. This is like that in comparison to living in a house with a garden, for example, where they can probably more easily observe other animals and move more freely.
MMM: With space being a problem, does that mean a small dog is better suited to an apartment?
DNS: In my opinion, adaptation may not have so much to do with size and breed, but rather with the dog's temperament, the physical activity it can perform and our own availability to adequately care for the mental and physical stimuli that a dog needs. Of course, this time and level of activity will depend from dog to dog, but not necessarily just based on size.
MMM: And what does this availability of owners or guardians imply?
DNS: Usually involves more time spent with the dog outdoors and exploring the surrounding areas. Now this in a house will be, in theory and in practice, easier. But living in an apartment with a dog in no way prevents owners from providing this to their dogs, that is, availability to be with them and interact with them. Inside the house, this dog's interaction with the world around it becomes only more limited and dependent on us, so that this fundamental part of its life is satisfied.
MMM: What about the breed of a dog? Is it also a factor that determines his greater or lesser adaptation to living in an apartment?
DNS: When we adopt an animal of a defined breed, we know that, from the outset, it is more likely to have certain behaviors. So, yes, the breed can influence the way the dog adapts to our lives. But whether in the case of dogs of a defined or mixed breed, our work from the beginning should be to establish the relationship we want to have with our dog, as well as establishing the routines and predictability that we know we can maintain. This will be the most important thing to create a balanced dog, whatever the circumstances.
MMM: Is routine important?
DNS: Yes, a lot. Different dogs will need different spaces, different routines, but they always need a routine and a lot of predictability. It is important, for example, that the tours are daily, at more or less the same time and of the same duration. This gives them the security to explore more and trust us more.
MMM: Is it recommended or preferable that the dog is always accompanied in the apartment where he lives?
DNS: No, on the contrary. The truth is that most dogs have several rest periods during the day, which alternate with periods of less or more activity. It is very important that they know how to be calm and relaxed when unaccompanied, even if their guardians are always at home, this distance and independent spaces must be created.
MMM: How to do it then?
DNS: In addition to periods of rest at home, in a quiet place, we must cultivate moments for them to express their normal behavior of sniffing, digging, interacting with the outside environment. Therefore, living in a house can be easier and not so dependent on our presence. If we do not cultivate these moments, we run the risk of the dog adopting behaviors of anxiety and frustration, with probable destruction of objects around them, whenever they are alone. Different dogs will have different levels of intensity, energy and curiosity, so it is important to adapt to each case.
MMM: Can you share some tips?
DNS: Yes. As we have already discussed, the routine must be constant when it comes to food, walks, exercise, rest... It is important that walks do not only serve hygienic needs, but that the dog is allowed, every day, period of exploration abroad and even socializing with other dogs in a friendly atmosphere. On the other hand, at home, it is important to provide something for dogs to chew and gnaw on. This is a natural, anti-stress behavior that should be cultivated and directed away from furniture and shoes. There are toys, snacks, food dispensers suitable for this function and that allow for some mental stimulation that will make them calmer and satiated.
MMM: In an apartment we can also have problems with the neighbors if the dog causes excessive noise.
DNS: Yes and it's a frequent problem, unfortunately. But barking and howling is one of the dog's forms of communication and it's hard to avoid it at all. However, if it occurs in excess, we may have to investigate the causes. These may originate, for example, from seeing other animals passing by on the street and considering this an extension of their territory. Or it could be a manifestation of anxiety at being alone at home and not knowing how to manage the situation in any other way.
MMM: And what to do in these cases?
DNS: In these cases, I always recommend a conversation between the owners or tutors and the veterinarian so that, together, they can try to get to the source of the problem. The doctor will be able to advise the best path to follow, which can include training the dog, adapting its space, adopting routines or changing to better routines, etc. Or even scheduling an appointment with a specialist in behavior and anxiolytic medication, in some cases. There is something that, in many cases, helps the dog and that in cities is a more or less generalized practice, which is the dog's going to a "day care center" a few days a week. There the dog has the opportunity to run, play, socialize and release some excessive accumulated energy.
MMM: Now changing the topic a little: are there any legal obligations arising from the presence of dogs in apartments?
DNS: Yes. There is mandatory electronic identification of dogs, cats and ferrets using a microchip. And, in the case of dogs, there is also anti-rabies vaccination. There is also a legal limitation on the number of animals that can live in an apartment. In other words, and referring only to the most frequent domestic animals, 3 dogs or 4 cats may live together, or a total of 4 animals. In special cases this number can be extended to 6, particularly in rustic or mixed buildings. But be careful, in the case of apartments, the Condominium regulations may establish a lower number than that provided for in the Law.
MMM: Ah... I wasn't aware of that. And what is the Law that stipulates these limits and special cases?
DNS: Well... you can consult this information in detail in Decree-Law 314/2003.
MMM: But Condominiums cannot prohibit animals in apartments, right?
DNS: Right. This freedom is enshrined in the Law. However, they may stipulate rules and limitations regarding the movement of animals in common areas of buildings, hygiene conditions, noise, etc.
MMM: Well... after hearing all this from you and thinking about some realities that I come to realize here and there, I ask: is it possible to have happy dogs in apartments?
DNS: Yes, of course it is possible. It is possible to have happy dogs in almost any situation, just provide the necessary care and respect their dog nature, adapting our routines to include them. If we do so, they return the love and respect we give them in triple.
MMM: They give us back in triple what we give them... Daniela, I'm going to take the opportunity to end our conversation with everything that symbolizes that phrase. I thank you, once again, for your collaboration. I am sure that your advice and comments will be of great help to many people, whether those who already have dogs in their care, or those who are thinking about getting one and want to receive triple of what they give them.
DNS: It was my pleasure and I am grateful for being able to share a little of what I know about the behavior and needs of these beautiful animals that give us so much.
By way of conclusion of this article, and already out of the context of this conversation, I leave here a confidence that I feel I should share: I have been sharing my life with Daniela for 7 years now and with Tocha, our cat, feline, cute and fuzzy, for practically the same time. Both Daniela and I have had dogs in our homes separately. In my adult life, I decided not to have dogs in my care again, precisely because I considered not having the space, availability and routines necessary to make a dog happy in my company. Daniela took in Dick, a black, short-haired Labrador, helped him grow and accompanied him throughout his life. And since she moved house, for a life with me, she gave Zek, an energetic boxer-cross male, to his Parents (with whom he lives very well), precisely because she does not have the space, availability and routines necessary to make him happy. But one day, we believe, we will have the necessary conditions to add a 'faithful friend' to the family!
If you need additional advice on this topic and/or if you are planning to move house, do not hesitate to contact me:
Marco Moura Marques
+351 967035966
marcomouramarques@kwportugal.pt
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