[3males and me]

We have to large (but lazy) dogs, a greyhound and a husky cross. We currently rent 1/2 acre and so we have plenty of yard for them, which of course they only ever use if we are outside with them. They are very much couch potatoes.

We are looking at buying a house in a few months and ideally we want at least 1/4 acre. The problem with this is that we can afford this land size if we move 15minutes further out of town however there is no public transport there. We would love to buy in the area we currently live but will probably only be able to afford a house on 600-700m2.

Part of me thinks 600-700m2 is too small for 2 big dogs but on the other hand, they rarely ever go outside and play so this block size would probably be ok (providing it is all useable land).

What do you think? Do you think 600m2 is too small for dogs (and the house )

[anikal]

I think that as long as they are getting plenty of exercise and "family" time, most dogs are happy living wherever their people are.

I have 2 largish dogs, and they don't play in the yard much without us out there with them. Mostly they wander from one favourite lying down spot to another. Maybe my dogs are just really lazy too. One does have an excuse I suppose, he's 13 and been irritated with the puppy since I brought her home 5 years ago. Any day he gets one on one attention he absolutely loves it.

[la di dah]

I had a staffy and an Akita in a house with no yard at all so perhaps I'm the wrong one to ask. I just walked them a lot. I don't like to leave dogs unattended in yards so it wouldn't have changed anything if we had a big space. When I was doing stuff outside they'd sit in the driveway and just hang out but they were getting walked 6+ km a day (sometimes twice that) so they didn't suffer for being house dogs.

Mature Akitas are really really really lazy though so there's that.

I would have some greyhounds I've known in an apartment as long as I had time. Lovely lazy lizards they are.

[3males and me]

I should add that they are inside dogs most of the time too. They are only ever locked outside when we are not home. They were being walked every day however DH changed jobs about 2 months ago and so now they only get walked on the weekends and maybe twice during the week. I think the land size should be ok but I guess I feel guilty because they would have come from a large yard.

[FiveAus]

I have an Aussie Shepherd who'd be happy with land size about equal to the couch in our lounge room. Or our bed.

[boatiebabe]

I've never really had a dog that thought "jeez I better do laps around the yard to get some exercise" and then tore around for 1/2 and hour.

In my experience they just lay around moving from sun to shade until the fun time happens - and that fun time is usually heading out for a walk or a swim at the beach or a ball tossing session at the park.

So I don't really think the size of a yard has any bearing. As long as they are getting plenty of exercise and human companionship they'll be right in any size yard.

[kpingitquiet]

We have two 30kg-ish dogs who HATE walks and they're blissful in our modest backyard (whole property is 600ish) with occasional dog park visits. They have a circuit figured out where they chase each other like maniacs, then wrestle around in the grass. Aside from that they prefer to spend their time relaxing under shade trees or lounging in the house hehe. It really is up to the personality of the dog. I knew a giant mastiff who was happy as could be living in a studio apartment because she was a lazy thing and got to spend most of her day sleepily camped out under an outdoor cafe table while her owner worked on software lol. He used to try to take her on hikes but she'd quit halfway up the hill!

[SarahM72]

No idea about the Husky, but I reckon a Greyhound is fine on a suburban block. I had two on an average size block when I was younger. As you well know, they only lie about all day anyway. It's not as if they actually use the yard, running about or anything.

[MrsLexiK]

Part of me thinks 600-700m2 is too small for 2 big dogs but on the other hand, they rarely ever go outside and play so this block size would probably be ok (providing it is all useable land).

What do you think? Do you think 600m2 is too small for dogs (and the house )

I have one (very energetic but at the sametime very lazy) dog on about 750m2 I would happily get a second (DH would not) and we have looked after friends/families furbabies so there has been 2 dogs and there is plenty of yard for them. My boy literally runs from the back garage door down to the back fence for about 5 or 10 minutes a day. (I will admit he is a bit strange) other times of the day he is plonked out and just lifts his head up. (I think it depends on how many people walk past the back fence and how many birds he can smell in the air as to how many laps he does) When I am home I take him for a walk and to the leash free park and let him loose.

Friends have 2 greyhounds on a block much smaller then ours. The beauty with a lot of bigger dogs is that they are happy to be lazy or happy to be walked everyday. I always say a great dane is a great apartment dog.

If they want to run around and play they will, they will just do it in a smaller space.

[countrychic29]

OP we have 2 x German Shepherds ... originally on a 600sqm block, they spent most of time inside and 2 x daily walks ... we thought they were happy enough and didnt have a problem with it, big runs on weekends etc
We then moved to 2.5 acres and they are sooooo happy to spend time outside now - they are different dogs ... charging around and playing using the whole backyard of about 2000sqm.
They are so much calmer and happier, i really didnt think it would make that much difference .. dont worry they still whinge at the back door to come inside occasionally.

So while i dont think it is a problem having dogs on a small block if the owners are responsible i would be a little hesitant of moving from land to smaller block and how the dogs will adjust