The clear benefit of a house is having a yard and pet door so they can spend some time in the yard when they wish without asking you to open doors for them. Another benefit of a house with yard is somewhat easier potty training, as your yard is closer than passing the apartment building, elevators, and parking lots to reach a suitable place for potty business. But there is one thing about dogs that all dog owners should know. They like to be close to their humans, so it does not matter if you live in richness or poverty, huge house or a small apartment, as long as they can be close to you, they are happy.

Are you ready for the commitment, financial burden, training, and grooming dedication? These are all more important questions than how big your apartment or your house is. Getting a dog, especially larger breed with grooming requirements like Old English Sheepdog is a significant decision which you should discuss with all family members. After all, your Old English Sheepdog will become a part of your family who requires daily attention. 

As mentioned earlier, potty training when living in an apartment will be somewhat more demanding, as you can’t just open your front door and the puppy will be “ready to go”. If you live in a larger building, you will have to walk to the elevator, go to the ground floor, possibly pass hallways and parking spaces until you reach pup’s favorite park. This can be an eternity for a 10-week-old puppy. Also, you will have to do it quite often at the beginning, so you’ll just need to accept the fact that owning an Old English Sheepdog puppy in an apartment will take just a little bit more of your time than it would if you lived in a house with a yard. Training pads, few weeks of training, and better bladder control will ease on your time, and when your puppy reaches 6 months old, you should be already getting close to a normal potty routine for the rest of the life of your bobtail. Even though some of the Old English Sheepdogs are stubborn, you can count on their intelligence and intuition of their drover heritage, so with a proper potty-training routine you will achieve your goal.

If you decide to rescue a grownup Old English Sheepdog, just keep in mind that regardless of their age they are still trainable and will learn how to behave in your home. Puppies are great as you are training them bottom-up, but older sheepies are going to be great companions even if they have few years of running experience. Of course, if their life was full of traumas and tragedies, you will have to deal with unpredictable behavior and will need to provide emotional and psychological support to your sheepie until they learn that your relationship is full of trust. This is, again, equal for apartment or house living. The benefit of an older dog is less accidents, chewing, established personality and lower energy levels. 

            The commitment to puppy training should not be a discouragement. Yes, you will have to be ready to take some of the walkies yourself, but there are trainers, walkers, and daycare centers that can help you ease the burden and help you in socializing so that you have well-behaved and easy-going Old English Sheepdog by your side. This can allow you to have full time job and regular social life. Added benefit of trainers and daycare centers is exhausted dogs that sleep well through the night.

Your building could have rules about type of pets and size of pets allowed. Always check with the building administrator if you are an owner, or with an owner if you are renting if they allow large breed dogs in an apartment. 

            Old English Sheepdogs belong to a herding group (pastoral in the UK), which indicates that they would not do well in an apartment, but our experience was different. Therefore, even though it is logical to look at a breed and make conclusions, it is more about the personality of your pup if more exercise and outdoor activities would be required, then it is about the breed. We have friends that life with Afghan Hound in a tiny apartment and all works well for them. Same as you can’t know for sure how demanding your child will be, it is hard to predict how demanding your pup will be once they come home with you. We tend to define each dog by their breed, but even within the same breed they can have significant variants in behavior and personality. 

            Our Old English Sheepdogs enjoyed one feature of living in a house and that is their own pet doors. They would sometime take their naps outside and they love to interact with the nature. Looking at birds, following neighbors, barking at a postman (who doesn’t?!), and going potty whenever they wish. That is the freedom of the house living. However, during the night, they love to be indoors with their humans. We noticed that most of the dogs actually love to have their spot for sleeping where they feel like there is no reason to keep guard and to relax. If you live in an apartment with terrace or balcony large enough, they would probably spend some time over there napping or looking at the passersby. It is interesting that larger dogs tend to be less vocal than smaller breeds, so you could have less issues in the apartment. But, again, it all depends on the personality of your dog. 

            If large dogs do not belong to apartments, New York would be full of only small breeds. Therefore, it is necessary to set aside the size and focus more on breed and character of your dog. Our experience living in apartment with Old English Sheepdog was positive without any noticeable issues. However, your Old English Sheepdog could have somewhat different character and would not be as happy. It is a gamble, but the fact that a large majority OES owners living in apartments did not experience any difficulties is an indication that you should not worry. If you have an opportunity to choose your puppy from a litter, don’t center on looks only, but try to see how puppies interact and how are they when left alone. Our experience was that puppies chose us, more than we chose them. There is some instant connection that happens momentarily in these kinds of situations.            

You might be worried about the energy levels of your Old English Sheepdog and if needs for expressing those needs are met. What Old English Sheepdogs like to do is explosive runs. You see this with zooms they have. They sometimes do this outside, but sometimes they do it inside and this usually makes everyone laugh. Just be careful not to be in a way, as my mom was literally swept of her feet and had a broken foot after landing back on Earth. Old English Sheepdogs are fast and goofy; lots of fun, but sometimes clumsy. Therefore, few runs during your walks would satisfy their need for running and if you incorporate playtime with catch and pull wars, your sheepie will be snoring most of their day. 

11 tips on living with an Old English Sheepdog in an apartment

1. Check bylaws and rules for your building

Before you decide to go through with adoption or purchase of your new Old English Sheepdog puppy, you should check bylaws and rules of your building. Many buildings have restrictions on pets, so it is a good idea to check with your landlord, building administrator, or residents’ representative if bringing a larger breed dog to your apartment would be allowed. 

Even when having an OES in your building is allowed, special rules could exist that requires you to use different entrance doors, different elevators, etc.

2. Quality of Exercise

Potential Old English Sheepdog owners worry about the quantity of exercise, but it is mora bout the quality then quantity. Sometimes Old English Sheepdogs will run on their own; often they’ll run with other dogs during playtime; but their favorite will be tug-o-war or fetch game with their owner. One 20 minutes session will bring their tongues out for over an hour and will guarantee good night sleep. 

Of course, your pup will love to interact several times per day, but because of our busy lifestyles, it is difficult to engage so often. Therefore, one walkie with some playtime in a park would be great, combined with other potty short walks and some play time inhouse, your bobtail will be happy and relaxed. More on exercise requirements in this article from the AKC.

3. Create a comfy space for your pup

You can arrange your apartment before your new pups comes home. However, sometimes puppies find places they like the most and where they feel safe. Our experience is that every pup found some other place to call “own”. If this place would be convenient enough, you can arrange feeding, bed, crate, etc. according to accommodate your pup’s wishes. Sometimes this is impractical, so you will need to “negotiate” with your Old English Sheepdog. No worries, your negotiation skills are better than you think.

 Ensure they get a cozy space; possibly in a corner of a room where you will place their bed, some toys, crate (if you use it), food and water bowl. If you allow your dog to sleep with you in the bedroom, you can create that space there. Some owners will allow their Old English Sheepdogs on the bed with them, but they will probably move during the night to find a cooler place to sleep. They like to alternate, so it is not uncommon to have a shaking bed during the night when they are getting up or down from your bed. 

4. Be neighborly 

Even though your building might permit larger fluffy breeds, deduce from interactions with your neighbors if they are concerned about anything. Our experience of taking Old English Sheepdogs anywhere is that people generally adore them, and it is a fact that bobtails have that X factor that makes people love them. However, some of your neighbors could be afraid of dogs or larger breed dogs; they could be allergic; they could have kids and they are concerned for their safety, and similar. Check with your neighbors if there are any specifics that concern them and try to adapt to specific situations, as long as your neighbors are reasonable. If you have difficult neighbors, you can always quote bylaws and stick to them. 

Old English Sheepdogs are not known to be sporadic barkers. They usually bark as a response to a strange noise, bell on your door, other dogs barking, sirens, etc. As long as barking is not long and doesn’t happen during the night, you’ll be good with neighbors. Another very important thing is to control areas where your OES will potty so that you don’t upset neighbors with stains and droppings in common areas. Fear of dogs is usually irrational, but you don’t need to try to correct the situation. Try to adjust to various comfort levels. Some neighbors will jump out of joy when they meet you, while others will avoid you. Recognize these situations and all will be good. Elevators are confined spaces, so there is a possibility you will have some further difficulties there, but once the building gets to know your pup, it usually all resolves on its own. 

5. Organize your apartment 

It is not only about finding the perfect spot for your Old English Sheepdog. It is also about organizing your living space so that your routine is affected minimally. In line with large dog beds, crates, blankets and similar, you will have to deal with an increased number of toys as well. When selecting supplies, keep an eye on design and colors, so that larger objects go well with the rest of your apartment’s style. Ensure you have storage space for food and toys, so that you can rotate toys, which will have an added benefit of being a “new toy” every time you do the rotation. 

Another thing you might do is to think about furniture re-arrangement so that you can create more floor space, even though size of your apartment remains the same. It could take some time, but you might be happy with the new arrangement. 

6. Routine is gold

With some patience, your Old English Sheepdog will gladly adjust to your routines. Just keep in mind that puppies have smaller bladders and have weaker control. Therefore, initially you’ll have difficulties, but once you complete potty training phase, you’ll be able to establish routines. 

Once you find schedule that works for you, make sure you stick to the routine as much as possible and your sheepie will ask for walkies and food at the same time daily. 

7. Get necessary supplies

Owning a dog is not cheap. Owning a large breed dog is little bit more expensive. In this article we covered how expensive supplies for Old English Sheepdog are. Nevertheless, once committed to owning an Old English Sheepdog, you will need certain supplies to ensure your sheepie feels safe and comfortable in your apartment. 

Even though every dog will have some specific needs and tastes, here are some of the products that every dog enjoys:

• Food and water bowls
• Dog bed / blankets
• Fence (if required for your space)
• Crate (if you will create train your pup and possibly make sleeping spot in a crate)
• Dog food
• Various toys
• Snacks and treats
• A collar or a harness with a leash
• Grooming supplies (read here about which supplies are necessary if you wish to groom your Old English Sheepdog at home)

Pet insurance (strongly recommended considering the cost of owning a sick Old English Sheepdog. Read hereabout common health issues Old English Sheepdogs have).

8. Play and engage

Dogs are social beings. Some breeds less, some breeds more. Old English Sheepdogs are borderline Velcro dogs, which means that they will be very glad to accompany you when you are in bathroom, doing dishes, paying bills on a computer, cleaning the apartment. They like outdoors but love you much more. 

Because they like to spend time with you so much, you will probably experience a lot of calls for playtime during the day. Sometimes they’ll enjoy play with their toys on their own, but mostly they love to engage and if you see their eyes, they have the brightest and happiest look when playing with you. Therefore, be ready to allocate some of your daily time to play and engage with your pooch. 

As much as they enjoy fetch and tug-o-war, they also enjoy belly rubs, sleeping on a couch next to you (if you allow them on your couch), getting treats and pats on their back confirming they have been a good boy or a good girl. 

9. Hire a dog walker and/or trainer if necessary

With some exceptions, most people are running very busy lives. Squeezing some extra time for walkies and playtime can be difficult. Therefore, hiring a dog walker to take your OES for a walk once a day could be a good idea. There are some daycare centers that could take care of your sheepie while you are at work. Many owners had excellent experience with daycare centers and their sheepies would come home happy and socialized. 

As depicted in this article, dog walking services are not cheap. However, the benefit could warrant the investment, and this is something you’ll need to outweigh when creating a household budget. 

In early stages, you could consider a personal dog trainer to assist you in training and socialization of your pup, especially if you struggle to make any progress. Again, cost-benefit analysis is something you will need to do when budgeting. 

10. Train your pup

Training your pup can come very natural to you, or you could be failing as it is hard to keep a strong hand when required. It is actually very hard to keep your stand while they look at you with so much adoration. Training is a journey, not a sprint. Therefore, the winning combination is when you have a talent and enjoy training. Alternatively, it would be a good idea to hire a trainer that can help you overcome difficulties.

Training, including potty training, can take weeks. This is normal and just keep in mind that it is a marathon. Sometimes you will feel like there is no progress, but results will follow. It is similar with kids; only it is not weeks but sometimes years to teach them manners. 

Regardless of how good of a trainer you are, or how many training hours you invested with trainers, your sheepie will have some accidents and unwanted behavior from time to time. Old English Sheepdogs are generally well-behaved and trainable, but they are also free-spirited and seek mental stimulation. There will be times of increased stress and frustration, but try to be patient, as unwanted behavior is often result of mental challenge absence or a simple tantrum.

11. Dog-proof your apartment

Old English Sheepdogs are amazing and add a lot of joy to our lives. However, they can be destructive if not trained well or if they don’t get necessary attention.

It is important to keep your property clean so that your sheepie cannot get to things such are dangerous chemicals or sharp objects. Keep all furniture and plants away from their reach, so they can’t damage things while you’re not home. Make sure all windows and doors are properly locked when you’re not home, so your OES can’t get out without help.

You can work with your sheepie and influence behavior for the times when you’re not home, so they know what’s expected of them and won’t make any unwanted noise or damage property while you’re away. There are also cameras with voice transmission so that you can communicate with your pooch when you are outside of your apartment.

Similarly as with other dogs, Old English Sheepdogs have instincts to play, chase and run after noises, squirrels (if visible form your apartment), etc. Therefore, it’s important to keep them confined to certain areas of your apartment. One way to do this is by using baby gates.

Having an OES in your apartment can be a great addition, but it’s important to take precautions by putting up posters or signs warning people about your Old English Sheepdog so that they don’t get startled when entering the premises. This will help keep everyone safe and prevent any accidents from happening.

            Clean up after your dog and remove any food or treats if your OES can’t control their food intake. Most of the Old English Sheepdogs are going to eat until they feel fool, but if you have other pets or another OES, they could compete and have fights over food and treats. 

Keep in mind that Old English Sheepdogs are curious creatures, so make sure to teach them good manners so they don’t cause any mischief while you’re gone.