Best Dog Breeds for City Life

Choosing the right breed of puppy for city life takes time and careful consideration. Many breeds given the right amount of mental stimulation and physical exercise can adapt well to life in an apartment. Some people prefer the ease of a short haired breed that shed, while others like to keep their apartment fuzz free and regular grooming sessions will be required.

Zigzag has you covered, we’ll provide you tips and advice that every new puppy parents needs.

How does City Life impact Puppy Training?

City life can prove quite challenging for many dogs, as it’s not an environment they would naturally live in. Dogs have sensitive hearing and the constant roar of traffic, construction and street noises, as well as people, can be hard for them to cope with.

Many puppies can adapt to city life if they are brought there when young and socialised considerately, however

Considerations when getting a puppy in the city

Taking on a puppy is a big commitment, and picking one that will cope with city life and your lifestyle means there’s a lot of thinking to do. 

Choosing the right breed will require careful planning, are you more of a cafe and cocktails dog owner, or do you like long hikes out of the city every weekend? Do you want to do dog sports, or are you only looking for a small companion dog who wants to relax on a sofa?

We’ll help you figure out house training, where they should sleep and how much and how often to walk them.

Best Dog Breeds
for City Life

Choosing the right breed of puppy for city life takes time and careful consideration. Many breeds given the right amount of mental stimulation and physical exercise can adapt well to life in an apartment. Some people prefer the ease of a short haired breed that shed, while others like to keep their apartment fuzz free and regular grooming sessions will be required.

Zigzag has you covered, we’ll provide you tips and advice that every new puppy parents needs.

How does City Life impact Puppy Training?

City life can prove quite challenging for many dogs, as it’s not an environment they would naturally live in. Dogs have sensitive hearing and the constant roar of traffic, construction and street noises, as well as people, can be hard for them to cope with.

Many puppies can adapt to city life if they are brought there when young and socialised considerately.

Considerations when getting a puppy in the city

Taking on a puppy is a big commitment, and picking one that will cope with city life and your lifestyle means there’s a lot of thinking to do. 

Choosing the right breed will require careful planning, are you more of a cafe and cocktails dog owner, or do you like long hikes out of the city every weekend? Do you want to do dog sports, or are you only looking for a small companion dog who wants to relax on a sofa?

We’ll help you figure out house training, where they should sleep and how much and how often to walk them.

Exercise requirements for dogs that live in cities

While many dogs adapt well to living in apartments and in cities, they still have the exercise requirements of a non-urban living dog! 

There are also special considerations you’ll need to consider like putting in more time to train them in the skills they need like loose leash walking, waiting at curbs for traffic, being comfortable around a high volume of people, traffic, and noise.

While many cities have off leash dog parks, it’s also an idea to get your dog into a sport or training class that you can attend a couple of times a week to let them have an outlet for those natural instincts.

Doggy daycare can be a useful addition to your dog’s overall wellbeing as they get to socialise with members of their own species, and it takes the pressure off you when you work long hours.

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Breeds suited to living in a city

Many breeds can adapt to living in a city, provided they get their needs met. Here’s some of our faves, and what can you can expect from owning one

Low to no shedding so easy to keep your apartment clean, Cavapoos are a nice family breed who are not too busy.

Pocket sized but with a lot of personality, this toy breed is easy to atke around the city.

Compact little guys, best suited for apartments and no stairs, they adapt well to urban environments

A firm favorite amongst city dwellers, these soppy guys don’t need huge amounts of physical exercise.

Gentle giant these dogs enjoy off leash walks in a park, but are also happy as apartment dogs.

Wanna play fetch? These guys are happiest bringing you things, like socks.

Pug

The little Yodas with low exercise requirements will enjoy cuddling up to you on a sofa

Energetic in small bursts, they adapt well to family city life, plus they fold up small on a sofa!

The nanny dog. Their compact size and affectionate nature make them good companions in a city.

FAQs on City Life with a Puppy

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Exercise requirements for dogs that live in cities

While many dogs adapt well to living in apartments and in cities, they still have the exercise requirements of a non-urban living dog! 

There are also special considerations you’ll need to consider like putting in more time to train them in the skills they need like loose leash walking, waiting at curbs for traffic, being comfortable around a high volume of people, traffic, and noise.

While many cities have off leash dog parks, it’s also an idea to get your dog into a sport or training class that you can attend a couple of times a week to let them have an outlet for those natural instincts.

Doggy daycare can be a useful addition to your dog’s overall wellbeing as they get t socialize with members of their own species, and it takes the pressure off you when you work long hours. 

FAQs on City Life with a Puppy

Yes! Different breeds will have their own exercise and mental stimulation requirements, but you can often meet them with enrichment training and some good walking areas.

Using the Zigzag app, positive reinforcement, practice and plenty of patience! You’ll also find private dog trainers nationwide so you can attend group classes or one to one training sessions.

Depending on the breed, they all require time outside to be a dog with interesting walks and play sessions. City dogs also need more indoor enrichment than country dwellers, so snuffle mats, treasure hunts and indoor digging pits are a good idea to prevent bored.

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