Pitbulls are very misunderstood dogs. They are stereotyped as being ferocious and aggressive when in reality they are some of the most friendly and loyal dogs you could meet.
Yes, Pitbull can live in an apartment if they are not banned in your apartment or locality. Though you need to make sure they are well cared for.
To find out whether or not Pitbulls can live well in an apartment, we need to see what makes a dog apartment-friendly and whether Pitbulls fall into those categories.
How to make your apartment a good space for your Pitbull?
Let us look at ways you can make it easy for a Pitbull to live in an apartment.
Big living space
A Pitbull is highly energetic and loves to run around.
Make sure that the living space is spacious and decluttered for your pet to roam around freely without being cramped or bumping into furniture.
Soundproof walls
Soundproof walls are more as a courtesy for your neighbors than for the dog. Pitbulls have a loud bark and it barks often.
You can soundproof your walls so as not to disturb the neighbors who might get disturbed and complain about your pet.
Set up its space
Make a separate space for your Pitbull in the apartment. Keep all its belongings and toys there, along with its bed and cushions.
Make sure there is enough light and air and the temperature is ideal for your Pitbull.
Keep the place clean and wash the sheets and cushions often. You can keep its bowl of food and water right beside its bed.
Use a quality indoor bathroom mat
Get a good-quality bathroom mat for your Pitbull. It will help keep the place clean and can be cleaned properly when your Pitbull makes it dirty.
It can also be used by your dog when it exercises.
Provide plenty of toys
Pitbulls love to play and they can get bored very easily. They are always looking for something fun to do, so make sure that you get your furry baby enough toys to play with.
You can look at some of these almost indestructible toys.
This way, when your Pitbull is cooped up in the house, it will have something to do rather than cause damage to your belongings.
Get dog toys, chew toys, and stuff that will keep it engaged for a long time.
Taking care of a Pitbull in an apartment
Let us look at factors that you need to be aware of while taking care of a Pitbull living in an apartment.
Train it properly
The first thing to do is to train your Pitbull to adjust to an apartment. The best way to do this is to bring a Pitbull to an apartment when it is just a puppy and has not spent a lot of time out in the open.
Otherwise, it may find it difficult to cope up in an apartment.
Exercise
A Pitbull is a very energetic dog that needs plenty of exercises.
You should make sure that your Pitbull has space to run around in the apartment, apart from taking it outside for exercise at least twice a day.
Feed it well
Make sure that your Pitbull is getting the proper amount of food. Check its appetite often and take it to the vet if you notice that it is not eating properly.
A well-fed Pitbull will be happier and more tolerant, while if it is hungry for long periods, it could get anxious and act out.
Socialize your Pitbull early and often
While Pitbulls love humans, they can be wary of strangers.
Therefore you should socialize your Pitbull at an early age and as often as possible.
This will ensure that it becomes tolerant of other children and humans, which is especially important when you live in an apartment.
This will make them more human-friendly dogs.
Follow a routine
While living in an apartment, a routine is important. When you have set a time for everything, it is easier to train your dog.
It will also be easy for your Pitbull to live in the apartment when it knows what to do at what time and make it disciplined.
This includes potty time, meal times, and playtimes.
Visit the vet regularly
A Pitbull is not the best suited for an apartment. So it is important that you take it to the vet regularly so that you can check whether or not it is okay, since animals cannot express how they feel.
Breed restrictions
There are actually some restrictions when it comes to keeping pets in apartments. Not all apartments are pet-friendly.
Even among the ones that are, a lot of neighborhoods ban certain breeds. Pitbulls, specifically, face a lot of discrimination in society and are banned in a lot of places.
First, you need to check if your neighborhood is Pitbull friendly. Next, check the available pet services around the area.
Vets, dog parks, pet stores, pet hotels flourish in areas where there are a lot of pets.
Renting with Pitbulls
If you are planning to rent an apartment with a Pitbull, you will need the landlords to be okay with your pet.
You could make a resume for your Pitbull and yourself as a dog owner, to show that you are responsible enough.
Share proofs of your do’s registration, its vaccines, medications, and so on.
Get a reference letter from your previous neighbors and landlords if you had any, your pet’s vet, groomers, dog sitters to make a good impression of your Pitbull.
Show pictures and videos of your Pitbull that show it is well-behaved and a good pet.
Include information on any classes that your dog has attended, such as obedience training, puppy classes, therapy, etc.
What makes a dog apartment-friendly?
Following are some points that should be taken into consideration if you are wondering if Pitbulls are apartment-friendly.
Matches well with the apartment and owner
This is important. A lot of dogs need space to move and run around. If you have a small living space, it does not make sense to add a dog to the mix.
Similarly, you could have a spacious house, but if it is filled with furniture at every turn, there is not going to be enough space for a dog that is very energetic.
In the same way, the dog should also match with the owner.
If the dog needs constant exercise to burn off its energy, it will be better off with an owner who is just as sporty and will take the dog out for runs often.
Doesn’t bark very loudly
If you are living in an apartment, it means that you will have neighbors who might share walls with your house.
A dog who is a loud barker could cause problems with the neighbors, who could justifiably complain to the authorities.
Friendly
Your dog needs to be okay with having people around. Your dog will be riding the elevator with you often, and will pass other people throughout the day.
It should not get intimidated or aggressive because of that. Therefore, it is important that your dog has good social skills if you are living in an apartment.
Likes to nap
It is not possible to take your dog out all the time. It needs to be okay with living inside for long periods of time, as well as living alone.
This is better if your dog likes to nap often, as it will not grow restless if it is not taken out for a long time.
Easy to train
No matter the pet, they all require training.
However, training for apartment dogs is different than that of dogs you keep in a backyard.
Apartment dogs will need more socializing and more discipline, and it will be easier if your dog complies with commands easily.
Doesn’t drool much
All dogs drool. However, some dogs drool a lot more than others. There is no question that you will have to clean up after your dog all the time.
Yet, a lot of drool can be a bit of trouble in an apartment with wooden furniture and upholsteries.
Moderate appetite
A dog with a big appetite will require a lot of exercises to burn off the calories and stay fit. This will not always be possible in an apartment.
So, the dog could become overweight and lethargic.
This is why it is better to have a moderate eater if you live in an apartment and cannot give it the amount of exercise it requires daily.
Not very chaotic
This relates to the temperament of the dog. Some dogs like a dachshund could wreak havoc in the apartment.
On the other hand, the Great Dane is very calm by comparison.
So, it is important that your dog is okay with living in the house for long periods without doing anything because otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair to the dog to be forced to live like that.
Doesn’t need a lot of exercises
Some dogs like the German Shepherd are agile and need constant physical stimulation.
These types of dogs should be kept in an apartment only if the owners are willing to give it that amount of exercise by going out for long runs, cycling, and swimming.
Potty-trained
If you live in a house with a backyard, potty training isn’t as much of an issue.
In an apartment, it becomes mandatory that your dog is well-trained with regard to peeing and pooping.
Even so, potty training is important no matter what the pet and where it lives.
Doesn’t shed a lot
Dogs with long hair shed more than any other dog. This doesn’t become a problem in houses with backyards, as the hair is not very noticeable.
However, in apartments, hair gets everywhere on the furniture, the floors, and even on your clothes.
You will need to vacuum extra hard to get rid of all the hair, as well as change the air filters regularly.
Doesn’t have a strong odor
Dogs that perspire more tend to be smellier than other dogs. This odor stays in the apartment and is not a very welcome smell.
You cannot completely prevent your dog from getting smelly, but you could use a scented shampoo and pick its diet carefully so as to reduce the smell.
It is fair to say that Pitbulls aren’t the most ideal pets to live in an apartment. They are energetic, large, and perspire a lot. But they are also friendly and loving.
However, Pitbulls can and do live happily in apartments. Though, they do need to be trained properly and socialized.
You will need to provide plenty of space for them to move around and a lot of exercise and mental stimulation.
Conclusion
A Pitbull can make for a good apartment dog, but it will also require some sacrifices on your part.
You will need to take more effort to make your space habitable for your Pitbull. You will need to renovate the space a bit in order for your Pitbull to stay happy there.
As long as you can meet the requirements, your Pitbull can definitely live in an apartment.