City Dog vs Country Dog

By Gillian Ridgeway

There has always been that thought in many peoples mind that you need to have a lot of land in order to properly raise a dog. The scene in their mind is the old farm collie lazing around the porch, catching a few rays.

While this ideal scene may seem ideal, in fact there may be another side of the coin that hasn’t been taken into account. Dogs like our company and we like theirs. Plain and simple. The dogs who live out at the farm and hop into the pick up truck for a ride into town are fabulous companions, but so are the dogs that accompany us to the nearest downtown coffee shop and enjoy the scenery at the outdoor patio.

There are pros and cons to having dogs in the city. Of course, it would be nice to have acres to let the dogs run but in most cities there are off-lead dog parks. These are a great place for a visit because not only does the dog get to enjoy the companionship of his fellow dogs, we get to spend time chatting with other dog owners.

There are many dogs that live in nice homes with fully fenced backyards, that are simply left outside. While they may be taken for walks, they may also be left to spend time looking at the same scene, day after day. The dogs whose main dwelling is a townhouse or apartment get to spend time with their owners… it may just be a necessity. After all, they need to be taken out for toilet breaks and for exercise. Your dog may not know the difference, they just like your company.

When we think of country dogs, we think of dogs that have their freedom. But is this always the case? A good friend of mine bought 22 acres of land up in Huntsville and was delighted by the prospect that her 2 golden retrievers would be able to investigate the property at random. She had neglected to remember that the hunters are out at certain times of the year (so the dogs must be leashed) and as soon as the snow covers the ground the snowmobiles come racing through. Her hopes of freedom for the dogs vanished. City dogs do seem to get an enormous amount of socializing and exposure. They are exposed to the sights and sounds of traffic, people, parades and bicycles. Country dogs are exposed to a lot less stimulation, and that might be a great thing. They can enjoy the peace and quiet. However, if their situation changes and they are re-homed into the city they may feel less comfortable than dogs that are raised there.

So, as much as we all think that our dogs might feel better off in a country home that simply may not be the case. The main ingredient to a home is the family who lives there. If you spend time with your dog, walk your dog, play with your dog and teach him things, the relationship should flourish regardless of the location. City or country, you owe it to your dog to be his best friend.

Gillian Ridgeway, AHT, has worked with dogs for over 33 years. She is director of Who’s Walking Who in Toronto and Ajax. A consultant for TorontoBarks.com, Gillian also writes for Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!, Dogs in Canada. She has appeared on Dogs in Canada TV, Global television, Q107 radio and in Toronto Life, and is co-author of the book, “Citizen Canine.” She travels with the Iams SuperDogs Performance team and teaches learning theory at University of Toronto. Gillian can be contacted at 416-465-3626; www.whoswalkingwho.net

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