Dog Community

Condo dog that is good hiking & camping?

Posted : 8/7/2006 11:25:51 AM

My step daughter wants to get a dog. [

] She is living in a condo in Colorado and she works. She would be able to take the dog to work occasionally. She wants a dog that can hike and camp with her. Because I've always had a large yard and have always been involved in activities (agility, obedience and flyball) with my dogs, I honestly don't know what advice to give her about breed.[8|] She needs something that will be OK in a condo and that can be dependable off-lead. Any suggestions?

stardog85

Posted : 8/7/2006 11:45:57 AM

How willing/able is your daughter to exercise a dog during the week? With proper exercise and something to do while she's gone during the week, she could have almost any breed. Without it...her options become much more limited.

I have a Border Collie mix (now 7 yo) in a townhouse w/o a yard and she's quite happy, but I also spend about 1.5 to 2 hours a day exercising her (4 to 6 miles of walking generally, interspersed w/ the dog park). When I leave her alone she gets a treatball, kong, and various other toys to play with. Without the exercise and mental stimulation though, she'd destroy my house quickly and drive me crazy.

Xebby

Posted : 8/7/2006 11:47:12 AM

humm...that is kinda hard to find. I was thinking of some small hound type dog like a begal but maybe slightly larger. Or even a JRT can do alright in an apartment if given exercise out of the place. The only problem is barking but I guess with any type of dog that might be a problem. Really with proper training any dog will do well hiking off leash but you really don't want her to have anything like a pug or low endurance dog.

mudpuppy

Posted : 8/7/2006 11:59:48 AM

a sheltie or a spaniel? herding dogs and bird dogs are generally easier to train to be reliable off-leash than say, hounds.

stardog85

Posted : 8/7/2006 12:29:48 PM

Of course herding and sporting breeds generally require more exercise and mental work than others...Why not get a medium sized mix from a shelter or rescue that fosters so she knows exactly what the dog is like in the house and out?

k.m.a

Posted : 8/7/2006 12:42:04 PM

A working dog will typically be good off leash, and can pull their own weight by carrying up their stuff. But before she does any of that she needs to train it to be nice off leash. Lol And any dog will be fine in a condo as long as it gets enough exercise.

Susan Chandler

Posted : 8/7/2006 12:48:21 PM

I agree! IF she commits herself to consistent exercise with the dog, a JRT is going to be a wonderful mate for her. We have 2 and we give them about 2 hours of exercise EVERY DAY. The key is to give them this EVERY DAY. If you don't, you will have a terrier that is almost uncontrollable. Both of our Jack Russells are not barkers and we have parson's Jack Russells, which may or may not make any difference at all. At one time, we were foster caring another Jack Russell who had a lot of fox terrier in her. She WAS a barker but with minimal training, we minimized it. Consistency and EXERCISE is the key to making any Jack Russells happy. They are eerily smart/clever too. It's important to remember they are a hunting breed and that is what they do best! Good Luck. Research into this is the key.

corvus

Posted : 8/7/2006 1:28:19 PM

Perhaps a small herding breed would be the way to go. My corgi and my mother's Swedish Vallhund are both hardy little dogs that are very flexible with the amount of exercise they need. Both breeds are small enough to live comfortably in a condo. I think the vallhund is a little more independent and unreliable off lead, but vallhunds are beautiful and more sound in the body than corgis and I expect he's just a particularly willful fellow. Both would easily keep up on a long hike. Shelties would be a good bet, too, as long as you were happy to keep their coat in good nick.

diane303

Posted : 8/7/2006 2:30:13 PM

She's pretty active and willing to spend time with this dog. She is also willing to go to a shelter or rescue. There are tons of pits and pit mixes available by her and I know they can be wonderful. She's afraid that an off-leash pit mix might scare people, though, even if it is well behaved (shame). I was thinking, too, that a small herding breed mix might be the way to go. Especially if she can find one that is a bit on the laid back side and isn't a big barker.

ewin0210

Posted : 8/7/2006 2:45:22 PM

I'm not sure I would encourage her to get a pit in Colorado. Its really sad, but Denver has a Pitbull Ban. And even though she probably doesn't live in Denver it could spread to outlying communities. I think the last thing I would want to happen would be to have to move because some town passed a stupid law.

What about a Brittany. They're close working bird dogs. Definitely of medium type build. And everyone I've met has had a great personality.

diane303

Posted : 8/7/2006 3:07:53 PM

I actually was thinking Brittany, too. I'm partial to bird dogs. They can be really well mannered in the house, too and I think they are bred to stay closer than my setter and pointer. I going to poke around and see if there is any brittany rescues near her.

Julitza

Posted : 8/7/2006 3:43:49 PM

Is it a REALLY small condo? Retired Greyhounds are total couch potatoes yet Im positive that the would make great hiking companions. And she would be rescuing an exracer from death. Ex Racers are usually very young and have years ahead of them to dedicate to their owners!

ashland

Posted : 8/7/2006 4:01:42 PM

I think most dogs would be fine as long as they got enough exercise. I live in a apartment (705 sq ft ) with my Australian Cattle Dog. Everyone thought I was nuts to try and have a herding dog in an apartment, but she does great in it. She's the best hiking and jogging companion around. In fact, she's the best exercise partner all around.

glenmar

Posted : 8/7/2006 4:04:30 PM

I don't *think* that greyhounds are ok off lead and I'm thinking that was one of the requirements?

Luvntzus

Posted : 8/7/2006 4:08:12 PM

I'm thinking either a Spaniel (American or English Cocker or Cavalier King Charles). I would say a Sheltie, but they're known for being barkers, so probably not for a condo....