I'm just wondering if any of you know of, or have experience with, what it's like to live in an apartment with a hyperactive dog. What are the chances of something like this being a good match? In seeking out a forever home for my foster, who happens to be a high-energy girl, I've had a couple of people living in apartments who have contacted me. I think I shouldn't discount these people, on the other hand part of me wants to tell them that they might want to consider a dog who is a little older and more mellow.

It really depends. Helpful, right?
I can tell you about my dog....
I got Ella when she was about a year old, and we lived in a small NYC apt for 2 years, and then in slightly larger suburban apts for another year and a half. To give you an idea of her energy level--she's a spastic terrier--currently at 5 yrs old, she's about the same energy level, but with more stamina, as my 1yr old lab mix foster. We're in a house now, and honestly, it's easier.

In NYC, she required a total of about 1 hour of walks, and 30 minutes off leash running playing time, as the absolute bare minimum that made her tolerable to live with. And we also played indoor fetch 30+ minutes a day. If she didn't get that, she was a PITA--got into all sorts of trouble, constantly, and would wake me up repeatedly in the middle of the night cuz she wanted to PLAY!!!!!

To actually enjoy her company inside (ie she wasn't maniaclly bouncing off of every surface including me), she needed an additional hour a day of off leash running/wrestling with her doggy friends. Alternately (esp in winter) I arranged for her to spend at least 1-2 days a week with her bestest doggie buddies while I was at work, and that also took the edge off.

So basically, it *can* be done, but it is definitely harder than having a yard. If the people are joggers, or can bring her to play with friends dogs (or a dog park, if there is a good one around), and are dedicated owners, then it'll be fine. You just need to be a bit more 'special' of a person to have a hyper dog in an apt than a house. It's definitely harder. On the other hand, she's likely to get more socialization, since just playing frisbee in the yard isn't an option. In an apt, you *have* to bring your dog out into the world, several times a day. So that is a bonus.

In my opinion, if the dog is small enough to comfortably live in the space, it really depends how much work the owner is willing to put into exercising.

A couch potato existence would definitely not be appropriate, and probably result in undesirable behavior, a point you need to make very clear to any prospective adopters.

Maybe you could suggest that the new owners should take agility or rally classes in addition to giving enough exercise.

I started in a Condo with Scarlett, at the time I also worked full time. It wasn't ideal but I walked and played with her at local parks every day morning and night. I think as long as the dog isn't noisy and the people know what they are getting into it would be fine.

Is this for Clover, that absolutely adorable sheltie pup you are fostering?
One thing to keep in mind is that sheltie barking can be very piercing, so neighbours may not appreciate her if she barks while alone.

I do a lot of homechecks for rescues, and never automatically dismiss anyone just because they don't own a house or they don't have a fenced yard or whatever. However, the "fit" between dog and family is really, really important if the adoption is going to work and the dog is going to remain safe.

In Clover's case, given her age, breed and temperment, an activity, dog-savvy, at-home person in an apartment might work out fine; but as others point out, the activity level will be critical and this is especially so if the adopter works aways from home for much of the day. People often promise a dog will get lots of exercise but when the days are short and dark and cold and wet, and ya gotta get to work or you're tired from work or you just don't feel great....well, good intentions don't exercise the dog.

So in this case, I'd consider apartment-dwelling applicants only if they already have a high level of activity in their lives of a type that can accomodate a dog (jogging for example), or if they have a history of being involved with agility/rally or other dog activities with a former hyper dog who has since passed away (keeping in mind that those activities are usually only once or twice a week so they still need daily commitment.

If the person is employed I would also consider whether the dog is already crate trained, and how calm she is in her crate, and if the adopter is willing to continue to use her crate in combination with doggy walkers, doggy daycare, running home at lunch, etc.

Wait, are we talking about hyper Shelties? Gee, I know someone who -- okay, okay, I HAVE a hyper Sheltie.

Here's an ironic note: my Pip was actually more calm and contained when we lived in an apartment (it was the upstairs of a house, but an apartment in the sense that it had no yard, we had to leash up to go out to potty, etc.) than she was/is in our house with huge yard. However, she's also gotten older and settled down quite a bit, so it balances out.

I will say, though, that my hyper Sheltie found it reassuring to have a routine and to NOT have unknowns or variables in her daily life as a rule, and for that an apartment was great. It was probably the same principle as a crate: it shut out a lot of stimulus that would over-stimulate my girl.

As for Shelties barking when home alone: I have never experienced that in my dogs. Seriously, I have not. My dogs have always been well-exercised, which I think is key; and I've always had more than one dog, which I also think is a factor in separation-barking.

If a prospective adoptor who lives in an apartment applied to me for a hyper Sheltie, I would want the person to have had dogs -- I wouldn't make this a first-time dog for the adoptor. If the person has successfully exercised and occupied dogs without a yard -- and I did for ten years and I'm quite defensive on that subject, since a number of shelters turned me down -- then I am fine with such an arrangement. (Here's a touch of my defensiveness on the topic: yeah, well, those of us who have to go out to exercise our dogs will DO that, we won't just toss the dog out in the yard and call that exercise, so there! Gee, can you tell I've had this 'conversation' before? !)

So, to me, the people matter way more than the housing. Now, if these are retired people in an apartment, then I too would probably steer them to a nice, relaxed older dog. But if they're younger, and active, and don't spend 14 hours a day away from home, then it definitely could work.

Thanks for the great replies!!! All are really good points. In the past I've steered away from people in apartments (with Clover), and I think I need to be more open and assess individuals and the full situation. I'm always extremely honest about the good and bad qualities of an animal (that's why I still have Clover!). But now that she's beginning to finally start to settle down somewhat.... no longer pulling out toilet paper from the bathrooms and tearing it up all over the house, or ripping up all the newspapers, no longer pulling down the table cloth while trying to get whatever food might be on the table, fianally potty trained...etc... and she's turning into a really great dog... yaaaaaay!!!! She could probably handle an apartment as long as she has the right owner.

The person who inquired (and even visited today!) is very young. Although she lives in an apartment with two other roommates she grew up with a sheltie and loves them. She works mostly from home (writes for a T.V. series), runs marathons and lives an active lifestyle. Apparently she lives in a dog-friendly apartment building. I really liked her. Her boyfriend came along with her. They seemed very nice, and they also seemed to like Clover and find some of her antics cute and amusing (snorting like a pig when she smells food, playful "pacman" air-biting when she plays, constantly prancing and happy...) I don't know if she is interested in adopting Clover, but I'm glad I didn't just dismiss her because of the apartment. I can tell that she is a caring and thoughtful person who will only decide on adopting Clover if she feels this will work well for Clover as well as everyone involved and be a good "fit."

Thanks again to all of you for sharing your thoughts and experiences.