Pets and the City
Dr Katrina and ArchieWith Celebrity vet Dr Katrina Warren
I had pets when I was a kid - we always had at least a dog and one or two cats. But when I first moved out of home I couldn’t keep a pet, the commitment was too great and I didn’t have the time. Eventually I got my dog Toby and my cat Millie – now I have Archie, he’s six months old, a chocolate and white Border Collie… so it’s full on in our house now. Very energetic.
It’s getting harder and harder to keep pets, with increasing urbanisation, the rules and regulations of rental properties, the limited space of apartment life.
Some dogs adjust really well to living in apartments but they still need outdoor interaction twice a day for between 30 mins and an hour. If you are leaving them alone from eight a.m. to seven at night you’ll have problems.
Apartment Dogs
Size is not necessarily an indication of a good apartment pet, for example a Great Dane, believe it or not is quite lazy and likes to lay and sloth around, while some of the smaller dogs - such as a Chihuahuas - tend to bark , and have a high energy level. A Cavalier King Charles is quite a happy apartment dog too, but avoid the terriers – they’re very busy and they like to be noisy. Buy your apartment dog as a puppy – and research the breed so you know how much walking time, space and attention they will need.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppiesDr Katrina’s Apartment dog Recommendations
- Whippets
- Boston Terriers
- French Bulldogs
- Miniature Poodle
- Pug
- Schnoodle
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Your puppy will need some good quality time with you to settle it into a routine – at least a month where you spend three or four hours a day with it. But don’t be over doting, get it used to spending time alone. A lot of people buy puppies at the start of school holidays, so the dog gets a lot of attention, then when the kids go back to school they’re all alone.
Apartment Cats
Cats can adapt to being on their own, but a kitten needs more time early on. Older cats are quite happy to entertain themselves most of the day as long as you give them plenty of attention when they get home. But not all cats are good in apartments – for example, Siamese cats are pretty noisy and vocal.
If a cat has lived the outdoorsy life it's hard to turn it into an indoor cat. If you live in an apartment, adopt an adult cat. That way you know something about its history. Check out www.cat-match.com.au, its an internet service for people who need to let go of an adult pet.
Dr Katrina's cat MillieRecommended Cats include...
- Birman
- Burmese
- Ragdoll
- Abyssinian
- Persian
- Burmilla
Paw Proof
Get your flat ready by pet-safing the furniture. A puppy or kitten will chew everything in sight for the first couple of months. Remove electrical cords, cleaning products, plants. You might have to sacrifice a couch or dining table if you leave your pet unsupervised. Archie gets loads of toys and raw bones to chew on.
Vet Costs
Insure your pets – the vet bills will mount up for getting your pets vaccinated and spade, so don’t overlook these costs. It’s also good to know they’re covered for $7500 worth of unforseen vet bills if they get a sudden illness or an injury. Check out www.petcover.com.au.
Dr Katrina’s Dog Training Tips
1. Dogs running away
Young dogs can’t be trusted; they can be easily distracted by other dogs and run away. If they have never been taught to come when they’re called you’ve got no chance – and this can be dangerous. To train Archie I use a ten meter rope and call him back to me and reel him in, then I give treats for coming back.
The mistake is to chase your dog when it runs then get angry and put it on a lead and bring it home. This confuses the dog – it wonders why it got in trouble.
Tobe and Archie2. Jumping up on Visitors
Tell all your visitors not to acknowledge the puppy when they arrive at your place – so entries and exits become a low excitement event. Ignore the puppy at first and then when everyone is settled reward it with attention. For more tips visit www.drkatrina.com.
Are Dogs Psychic?
Dogs have a sense that we don’t understand – they are very much attuned to our body language – for example they can tell when you’re feeling unwell. Some dogs are trained to detect seizures, smell cancer – they have a greater understanding of things that are going on with us.
Why Get a Pet?
Every day of your life when you come home your pets put a smile on your face - they are always happy to see you. They give you something to look forward to. Pets are also a great way of meeting people. They also keep you healthy - studies in Australia and overseas have shown that dog and cat owners visit the doctor less often, use less medication and spend less time in hospital than non-pet owners.
It’s good to know that Toby, Archie and Milly aren’t just good fun to have around - they’re actually good for me!
READER RESPONSE
I live on my own and can only afford a Unit. It is a small two bedroom and is on the second floor. My dog however is over 40kg and to compensate he gets at least 3 hours every two days full on at the beach with his frisbee and ball. This keeps him very happy and the day after his beach time he just lies around in the aircon recovering. He is a white Mastiff X by the name of Ajax and this year he won a trophy for the best dressed male at the Darwin Ute Run on Australia day. Here is a photo of him.
Warmest regards: Dee and Ajax
