Dogs and dog friendly buildings

When my husband and I got our almost 16 year old dog, we were living in a Glenwood building on the UES. They only permitted tenants to have dogs under 20 lbs. and I'm pretty sure that Glenwood changed their policy and doesn't allow new tenants to have dogs. My suggestion having living in many UES rental buildings is regardless of the size of the dog that you get, pick a building that allows tenants to have any size dog- these buildings are the most dog friendly in my experence.

Not all dogs need the same amount of exercise and it's not size-related. Dalmations are running dogs, need at least an hour a day. Great danes are very sedentary, perfectly happy lying around an apartment. Really active little dogs (like the adorable Jack Russels) need lots of exercise. Check with the AKC.

A friend told me a dachshund makes a great apartment dog because its bark is very deep and behind a door it sounds like a Doberman.

Big Dogs: I was very interested in getting a Great Dane for a while, so I talked to a couple of Dane owners. If they do go out once a day, they are indeed couch potatoes -- but one owner pointed out that you can't put anything at coffee table height because that tail can act like a windshield wiper.

I'm now thinking greyhound -- which are similarly supposed to be great apartment dogs if they get their once-a-day long walk, and there's a lot that are available for rescue. I have had neighbors with Boxers and Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and I would say both those breeds need a TON of exercise to be happy.

I am trying to place clients with a Golden Retriever now, and I don't think there's a Glenwood building that would take them. They'll end up in a brownstone.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

My folks had an English bulldog in a NYC apartment. Didn't need a ton of exercise--they're pretty sedentary dogs. I think she was walked twice a day or so mainly just to pee and poo.

Oh, and they have no tail, so there's no windshield wiper effect (that's very funny, by the way, and a good thing to consider!).

I think NYC should have a large dog tax, which scales with the weight of the dog (on the assumption that the bigger dog defecates more). Dog runs smell like...dog do. This is not anti-dog, it is just about charging dog-owners for the negative externalities they generate by filling trash bins (sometimes sidewalks) with dog poop, mucking up dog-run ares of parks.

I remember getting in an empty elevator once that smelled like a dog, and I thought: if the dog riding the elevator for 90 seconds leaves a smell, what does the owners apartment smell like?

The Upper East Side is great for dogs, that's how we ended up with an apartment there after I emphatically told the broker, "NO upper east side!" (See, buyers are liars ;) ) I thought it was all huffy and unfriendly on the UES, boy was I wrong.

On the Upper West Side, there are Lincoln Towers buildings that allow pets of all sizes, including a listing of mine. People there own some GIANT dogs. Also Battery Park City buildings can be full of dogs. I was showing an apartment there recently and an owner was walking his three magnificent show dog collies. Sometimes there is a one-dog limit, you need to watch for that if relevant to you.

Actually there are *plenty* of buildings with no dog restrictions, you just have to know where they are. If you like brownstones, fine, but you don't have accept a brownstone just because you have a dog.

Normally I won't even go on listing appointments in a building that prohibits dogs, I don't want the listing, and I don't much like 'em with pet weight restrictions, either. I think pet friendly apartments are better long-term investments.

As a landlord I always, always allow dogs, even over-ruling property managers on this issue. That's what security deposits and pet deposits are for. In every case so far, pet-owning tenants have been better than average.

We have a 70 pound Golden Retriever and a 50 pound Pit Bull at 305 East 72nd Street (Charing Cross House). Very doggy building but you would never know it--nary a bark, and the sidewalks are kept immaculate and odorless by the top-notch staff.

The energy level of the dog determines whether a small space will work. Some small dogs can be terrors and will rip up your home. My family raised Laborador Retrievers and they can be very demanding exercise-wise. I agree with LoftyDreams about how it varies from breed to breed, but the individual differences within a breed can be huge.

You might want to consider adopting an adult dog if you possibly can, when you can assess temperament and are out of the puppy time. My sister rescues greyhounds in Michigan and they are *terrific* house pets. Calm, low maintenance, low vet bills (bred to be healthy), rarely bark, sweet and companionable too.

{Manhattan real estate agent.}

fluter, write me! I'd like to email your sister to find out a little more about greyhound rescue (I am a dog person but hubby is not, so I have to have my case thoroughly made before we go down that road ..)

Oh, and please put "streeteasy" in the subject line so I can find it.

ali [at] dgneary [dot] com

as most of you already know I am a cat person but when I was looking I told my broker I preferred buildings that were "pet embracing"...ie any species (okay no bears or tigers), any size. This put little to know damper on my search although I did notice a few "dog weight" policies in postwar high rises. While it may not be as easy to find a place with a large dog as it would be dogless, I don't think its difficult in Manhattan nor do I think you will need to compromise on other features you want. All I can say is if you decide to share your life with a canine companion, PLEASE, adopt from a shelter or rescue group. If you can stand it, consider the NY ACC and save a life.

Thanks for all the helpful comments

Fluter, thanks for letting us know about the temperaments of greyhounds. I hadn't realized that they would make a good apartment pet. Does you sister have a website or email information?

I've got a 70 pound dog, and haven't really had a problem finding a place to live (granted, I'm on the Upper *West* Side). I think you're better served to be focusing on how close an apartment is to a dog park or dog day care or whatever services you end up using. You'll always be able to find a building that'll take you.

The last two buildings I've lived in (one run by Rose, one by Related) have restricted out pit bulls, dobermans, and a couple of other breeds - maybe akitas and rotties. Most dogs are fine.

And, as far as space, I've got a very active Vizsla in an 820 square foot apartment. If we can work that out, I'm comfortable that you can also. :)

I thought I would resurrect this old thread to see if anyone knows how restrictive rental buildings are today when it comes to allowing 2 small dogs. We have an 8 lb dog and are considering getting a second, same size. Our building allows 2 dogs, but makes a point of saying this is a rarity. Any insight? TIA