There’s something special about having a dog waiting for you at home. No matter what mood they may have been in before, they’re always excited to see you when you return.
Yet those who live in apartments often feel as though they’re barred from owning a bigger dog due to the smaller square footage in which they reside.
This article will explain whether a bigger breed like Goldendoodles makes for a good choice of an apartment dog.
Are Goldendoodles good apartment dogs? Yes. Like all larger dog breeds, Goldendoodles can be excellent apartment dogs provided that they are given plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. It’s less about how much room is available in the apartment for them, and more about how well you take care of their active and mental needs.
While Goldendoodles can be excellent choices for an apartment dog despite their size, there are a few things that you can do to encourage their acclimation to apartment living.
Prevent Apartment Armageddon! Save your shoes from becoming a chew toy with some simple steps to keep the apartment a great environment for you both.
If you’re considering welcoming an adorable Goldendoodle into your life, you’ll want to do everything possible to ensure that you get off to a great start, help your dog reach his full potential, and raise a loving, devoted companion.
Our comprehensive book, The Owner’s Guide to the Perfect Goldendoodle is packed with information about breeders, puppy proofing your home, training, coat types, grooming requirements, health issues, and more.
Learn about the breed and the breeds used to create it, understand their temperament, know what to expect and what to watch out for, and find the answers to all your questions – all in one easy-to-read book.
Pick up your copy today to start your journey with your Goldendoodle on the right track.
Goldendoodle Apartment-Living Success
Because the Goldendoodle is a mixture of the Golden Retriever and the Poodle, you have two main traits of your dog to consider – friendliness and intelligence.
Their friendliness makes them extremely social dogs. Because they’re social, they don’t always like to be alone for long hours.
Let’s face it…you’re awesome, and they miss you! They also feed off of being social as a means of mental stimulation.
When they don’t have it, they become bored and destructive. However, because they’re also intelligent, they’re easily trained.
Many dog owners worry that the small size of their apartment is going to make their dog unhappy. That isn’t necessarily the case.
While larger spaces do allow a dog to move around a bit more, they can just as easily do that outside. In fact, many prefer to walk around outside rather than inside anyway.
Because square footage doesn’t technically matter all that much, many larger breeds of dog can live a happy life as an apartment dog.
You just need to know how to train them for good behavior. (See our Goldendoodles training tips here.)
Apartment-Living Considerations
We’ve explained that living with a Goldendoodle is indeed very possible.
But now we want to take some time and talk about some specific things you should consider that you might not have thought of.
Commitment to Exercise
Goldendoodles have a lot of energy. Because of that, it’s less about whether your apartment is suitable for them and instead is about if you, as an owner, are suitable.
Do you have the energy level that’s needed to keep a Goldendoodle happy?
You have to get outside, and you have to play with them. Take your dog for a walk around the area to help burn off some of the energy.
You can pause at a park or an open space and try a game of fetch or just some roughhousing.
At the very least, Goldendoodles need 30 minutes of exercise or play a day.
In this Goldendoodle Exercise Guide, you’ll learn how a puppy’s needs will be different and why, how remaining active will benefit your dog, and what types of exercise your dog will enjoy.
They’ll likely shadow you wherever you go, so if you’re outside planting a garden at your apartment, then they’ll likely be right there with you, ready to play.
Potty Time
Understandably, it’s a little more difficult to get your dog ready for potty time at an apartment than it is at a traditional home.
You should think about the layout of your apartment.
Are there a lot of stairs? Do you need to take an elevator to get to the patch of grass available for your dog? Is there a designated area for your dog to go potty?
These are all questions that you need to consider. The stairs and elevator can make the path to the potty area even longer.
Your dog may have a difficult time holding it if they’ve needed to wait for you to come home.
To ensure that your dog’s potty time is successful, you should plot out the course that you need to take.
If the elevator is broken, what will you do? If there are people on the stairs, how will your dog react? At the actual potty area, do you need to bring your own waste bag or are they provided?
Know what’s in your area, so your dog can go to the bathroom as soon as you get home. Be sure to check out our potty train tips for success in this article.
Crate Training
One of the most important aspects of owning a Goldendoodle at an apartment is crate training.
Unless you trust your dog to wander around your living space for hours without you there, you’ll likely need a crate.
This crate with both a front and side door and a removable bottom floor is ideal for Goldendoodles.
It collapses easily for transport or storage, includes a divider for a customized size, and gives the dog plenty of room to move around.
In the case of a Goldendoodle, it’s a good idea to crate them. If they become bored, they will destroy and chew anything that interests them.
Start early with Goldendoodles, so that they’re used to the crate. Since they can suffer from separation anxiety, you need to ensure that the crate becomes a place of safety for them.
Professional trainers can typically assist you with this, but it can be easily accomplished on your own if you’re willing to put forth a bit of effort.
We show you exactly how to crate train successfully here. (Although we wrote this with Labradoodles in mind, the same principles and techniques apply to Goldendoodles too.)
When you leave home, you should turn on the TV to give them something to listen to.
As social creatures, the Goldendoodle will feel just a little less alone if they’re able to hear people talking on the TV.
Training them for the crate is also important in terms of potty time. Dogs are less likely to use the bathroom in enclosed spaces because they don’t like to be by it.
Accidents happen, but by and large, being in a crate can encourage them to hold their bladder.
It also means that if an accident does happen, it’s contained within the crate rather than on your bed or in your carpet.
This 75+ page book is jam-packed with expert knowledge and real experiences from Goldendoodle owners and breeders alike. Consider this the ultimate owner’s guide for the breed with tips, tricks, and answers to the most frequently asked questions – saving you time, money, and loads of frustration along the way.
Lots of Toys
Goldendoodles need a lot of toys. They’re extremely intelligent animals and toys can be a great way to keep them mentally stimulated when you’re not around.
Toys like Kongs that can be stuffed with treats or peanut butter can entertain them for hours.
Other puzzle toys, like this ball-cage puzzle or this hidden treat puzzle encourage them to problem solve in order to earn a reward.
Chew toys are also a great option for the breed since they do like to chew when bored. My dog adores this variety pack.
With ropes, balls, an IQ puzzle, and a squeaky toy at a bargain price, I love it too.
Consider a Camera
If you’re worried that your Goldendoodle may be up to no good, then it might be worth it to invest in a WIFI camera. These cameras will allow you to watch your dog no matter where you are.
Some even come with the option of verbal communication. If your dog starts barking, you can quickly communicate with them through the camera.
This can prevent noise complaints from your neighbor and perhaps save your favorite pillow from being mauled.
You could spend a ton of money on fancy models that come with features you probably won’t ever use…
Or you could go with this incredibly affordable option that does what you need it to and does it well.
It has the best pan, tilt, and zoom features out there for the price, and it allows for two-way communication in case you want to soothe your dog remotely.
Socialize Them Early
Because an apartment complex sees a lot of traffic of other people and other dogs, it’s important that you socialize your Goldendoodle early.
(You’ll find a Complete Socialization Guide here, complete with a downloadable checklist.)
They’re extremely friendly, but that comes with wanting to meet everyone and getting into their business.
They should also be trained not to jump on people, which is their first instinct, and not to bark when they see someone new.
Both of these habits can be pretty annoying, but with the right training methods, they can be easily overcome.
Learn how to break the jumping habit here, and check with this article for tips on putting an end to nuisance barking.
Door manners is also a good aspect to train. Instead of charging to the door whenever someone rings or knocks, they should sit at the door quietly.
Love Goldendoodles and want to learn more? You’ll enjoy our 30+ articles all about Goldendoodles. You can find them all here.
How Long Can A Goldendoodle Be Left Alone?
Goldendoodles don’t like to be left alone. They’d much rather be hanging out with their people. However, it’s not feasible to take your pup everywhere you go, so it’s bound to happen.
Knowing the proper steps to take when preparing to leave your dog will make the transition much easier on you and your Doodle. Head over to this article to see what we recommend.
Here are rough guidelines for how long you can leave them alone based on their age. Keep in mind that duration depends on their age.
- 8-10 weeks: Only an hour left alone
- 10-12 weeks: 2 hours
- 3-6 months: 3-6 hours
- After 6 months: 6-8 hours
In all honesty, no dog should be left alone beyond 8 hours at a time on a regular basis.
Most dogs need to relieve themselves every 4-6 hours, even though they might be able to ‘hold it’ longer.
So if you’re planning to leave them alone for a long period of time, you might want to consider having a friend stop by to let them out or look into a service like Rover.
Related Questions
Do Goldendoodles Bark a Lot?
Because the Goldendoodle can develop separation anxiety, it may be prone to whining and barking. However, when you’re in the home with them, they’re less likely to bark.
You can train them with positive reinforcement to limit the amount of their barking. Also, training them for the crate when you’re not at home can limit barking as well.
How Long Can They Hold Their Bladder?
Your dog’s bladder correlates with their age. Puppies can hold their bladder from around 2 to 4 hours. As they grow, they can hold it for 5 hours.
As an adult, Goldendoodles can usually hold their bladder for 8-10 hours.
If possible, you should try to have them go to the bathroom after eating their breakfast before you leave for work to help their bladder last.
Life with a Goldendoodle is full of rewards, joys, and triumphs, but there are bound to be questions and bumps along the way.
Be sure you’re prepared to handle anything by grabbing your copy of our Ultimate Goldendoodle Guide today.
Last update on 2024-04-25 at 01:43 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
