Before you adopt · 5 min read
Can I adopt a dog if I live in an apartment?
Why energy matters more than size, which dogs genuinely love unit life, and what renters and body corporate owners should know.
Yes, and plenty of rescue dogs would love it. The trick is to choose by energy and temperament, not by size.
Energy beats size
A 32kg retired greyhound who sleeps 18 hours a day is a far better apartment dog than a 7kg Jack Russell who needs to run, dig and investigate everything. Small working-breed crosses (kelpies, heelers, terriers) can find unit life genuinely frustrating. Big, calm, older dogs often thrive in it.
When you take the Pawsitive Match quiz, we compare your home with what each dog's foster carer recommends. Dogs rated "apartment or house" have usually been tested in a unit or a home without a yard.
What makes a dog unit-friendly
- Low to moderate energy. Happy with two walks and a sniff around the block
- Quiet. Not a big barker at noises in the hallway
- Settled alone. Comfortable on their own for the hours you're out
- Good on lifts and stairs, or young and confident enough to learn
Renting with a dog
Renting rules are changing across Australia, and mostly in renters' favour.
- In Queensland, since October 2022, tenants can ask to keep a pet, landlords must reply within 14 days, and they can only refuse on specific grounds listed in the law.
- In New South Wales, from May 2025, landlords can't unreasonably refuse a pet request and must respond within 21 days.
- In both states, if the landlord doesn't reply in time, the request is treated as approved.
Rules differ by state and change over time, so check the current rules with the Residential Tenancies Authority (QLD) or NSW Fair Trading before you apply. Rescues will ask for your landlord's approval, so get it in writing early.
Owning in a strata or body corporate
Many older by-laws ban pets outright, but blanket bans have been challenged successfully in several states. In Queensland, by-laws can't unreasonably prohibit an animal. Read your by-laws, then ask your committee in writing.
Making it work day to day
- Plan toilet breaks. Without a yard, you're the yard
- A balcony is not a toilet or a kennel. Keep it secure and supervised
- Use enrichment: snuffle mats, lick mats and frozen Kongs burn mental energy indoors
- Introduce your dog to neighbours early. Friendly faces mean fewer complaints
Ready to see which dogs fit your life?
Take the 2-minute quiz