For example, if your dog barks at pedestrians, keep your blinds closed. If your dog tends to bark when you play music, avoid playing music in your apartment. Many dogs bark at the door if the doorbell rings or someone knocks. Try discouraging your guests from knocking or ringing the doorbell. Explain the situation to them so they understand why this is necessary. Neutering/spaying your dog will make him/her calmer.
If your dog starts barking, do not even look at the dog. Turn your back to it and ignore the behavior until the dog quiets down. As soon as your dog gets quiet, reward it immediately. You can give your dog a treat and praise. Once your dog learns it is being rewarded for keeping quiet, lengthen the amount of time the dog needs to stay quiet before receiving a reward. Again, this method is best used outside your apartment. Try to ignore your dog’s barking when out on walks or visiting a friend.
First, identify what makes your dog bark. For example, maybe your dog barks in response to UPS trucks. Many dogs perceive the UPS driver as an intruder. Start exposing your dog to the stimuli at a distance. For example, take your dog to a post office where trucks are parked. Have your dog look at the trucks from across the street. Feed it treats so it associates the truck with happy moments. Repeat this multiple times. Learn when you can expect the UPS truck to drive by your home. Feed your dog treats each time the UPS truck drives by, and stop as soon as the truck is gone. With time, your dog should stop barking in response to a UPS truck. This may take time, however. You will have to give it a few weeks or months.
Bring your dog somewhere away from your apartment to teach this command. Say “Speak” and allow your dog to bark. When your dog starts barking, say “Quiet. " When it stops barking, reward it. Repeat until your dog knows it should stop barking when it hears “Quiet. " You can use the quiet command when your dog gets noisy in your apartment. If a car goes by and your dog barks, say “Quiet. " If your dog barks in response to the doorbell ringing, say “quiet. "
With a smaller dog, you may be able to adequately exercise it through playing games in your home. Be careful, however, if you live on an upper floor, especially if you live without carpeting. You may want to lay a rug down to muffle the noise of your dog’s paws. Walk your dog frequently, but be careful where you walk your dog. You will have to take the dog out an exit where you’re unlikely to run into neighbors or your landlord. For example, sneak your dog out back. You may want to only walk your dog late at night, and use something like a newspaper or a training pad for your dog to its business during the day.
Know when the landlord will show up. For example, the landlord may be coming over to check on a leak in your sink. Have a plan that day to hide the dog. You may want to keep your dog in a separate room when you are not at your apartment. If you have a roommate, one of you can walk the dog when the landlord visits. You can also see if a friend can watch the dog for a day if your landlord is coming over. You can have a friend pick up the dog in the morning and bring it back at night.
Do not just focus on vacuuming the floor. You should also concentrate on vacuuming any furniture. This is especially important if you have carpet. Carpet can make a dog’s presence obvious.
The landlord may be a bit more vigilant after finding a dog in your apartment. You may have to be extra careful about hiding the dog if you get caught.
Moving is expensive. In addition to paying for things like moving trucks and gas, you will have to pay to transfer your utilities. You will also have to put down a deposit on a new apartment, and may have to pay first month’s rent upfront. Make sure you have a nest egg to front these expenses in the event you have to move fast. The potential financial fallout is one of the reasons it’s risky to sneak a dog in an apartment.
Be polite to your neighbors at all times. Keep your dog from jumping on them, barking, or generally disturbing anyone. If you’re respectful of your neighbors, they’re more likely to like you. This will decrease the likelihood they’ll report you to the landlord if they catch you with a dog.
You can explain to a potential landlord that you have a dog. If there are any reasons you cannot give the dog up, let him or her know. For example, maybe your dog has special needs and would not do well with another owner. Offer to write up a contract. You could provide a legal document promising to take care of any damages done by your dog. You and your landlord could both agree on the terms of the document. If the landlord sees you’re willing to take responsibility and pay potential damages, he or she may be more willing to allow you to have a dog.
