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Where is that fantasy farm? You know the one. The farm that has dogs frolicking in the meadows after their disastrous life in the city turns out to be not suitable. We often hear that when a dog’s behavior becomes too much for some pet owners to bear, they often say that he needs to live on a farm, that he needs to run free and chase butterflies. When you stop and think about it, is farm life really that ideal for a dog?

There are, of course, many pros to living the country life for a dog. They would have more opportunity to run to their hearts content. This is providing that you have the type of dog who comes back. There are many dogs that would run off in hot pursuit of action, or even the smell of action. They might find themselves running right into danger. Foxes and Coyotes can be part of country life and no dog will want to try to stand their ground against them.

There can be other dangers such as hidden fallen fence wires. A good friend of mine had a much beloved family pet that got a severe leg injury that way. Running like the wind and got his leg entangled in the wire. He never knew what hit him.

You must also be well aware of hunting season when you live outside the city limits. This is the time to keep you dog supervised and it might even be worthwhile to invest in a bright orange canine vest to alert hunters that this moving creature is a dog. Of course, on the plus side, there are many hunting dogs that love the start of the season, and the opportunity to work.

Speaking of the opportunity to work, it is not just hunting dogs that love to work. If you live with a working dog on your farm, then life is good. If you have a dog who lives on a farm without any work, that is where their life can become mundane. Even if they have the space to meander to their hearts content, they still like to interact with people, so setting aside time for the country dog is a must. Teach him some tricks, such as closing the gate as you go through, anything to let him use his mind as well as his body.

So, how does city life compare? The cons for many people are that our dogs cant run free, that they feel cooped up. There are many people who feel that dogs should not be kept in apartments or condos. Sorry, but I am not one of those people. Most do very well in environments they share with people.

Of course, I am not suggesting that you keep a dog in an apartment and never take him outside. I am suggesting that the dogs that live in cities can live a full, happy life with a committed owner. In fact, if you share your condo with a dog, you have to get out and about.

These owners are out with the dogs, strolling to the park a few times a day. They share their lives with these dogs. They sit on the outdoor patio’s sipping latte’s while the dog takes in the scenery. Again, it might not seem ideal to some dog lovers, but the plus side of this is that the dog gets to share a stimulating environment. Even the dog parks are abundant, and there is always a canine buddy to have a romp with. And lets not forget about the dog day cares, dog walkers and dog camps that many city owners rely on. Like recreation centers for dogs, these services provide a fun environment for our pets, and a great way for some dog social interaction.

Many say that the city is not natural for dogs, but realistically, it is not natural for people and there are many people who would not give you a thank you to live in the country. They love the hustle and bustle of life downtown. And the dog? The dogs seem to be quite adaptable. One of the main problems is dogs who come to live in the city, or even a busy town, who have been raised in the country. Not all dogs have difficulty, but most seem to have a hard time adjusting to city life if raised in the country.

The city can be difficult for everyone, and the stresses of everyday city life can affect people and therefore can also affect their pets. It might seem cliché but city folks seem to want things done at a faster pace, or at least seem used to faster paced living. This can transfer to the expectations they place on their dogs. They want the training to be done quickly, and if not can express frustration. They also may bring home some of that work stress and not be as inclined to get that dog out and about, to meet their excersise requirements. No doubt about it, if you live where your dog can’t run like the wind, and you have to visit a park to give your dog the opportunity to let off some steam, then that is your responsibility as a dog owner, each and every day without fail.

Health issues are similar, but different. You might have dogs who get a tick or two from country life, but the risk of dogs getting anything contagious from being near a lot of other dogs is reduced. Of course, in the city there is access to many Veterinary offices, plus Veterinary emergency clinics and specialty practices, so treatment is often more convenient. The medical issues most likely balance out, but the social issues are again quite different.

Dogs who are not social with other dogs do very well in a country setting. The live life to the fullest there, sitting on the porch and running to meet the occasional visitor who pulls up to the house. They don’t have to have the ability to be social with other dogs. In saying that, it is an important area of concern. If you live in a rural environment and want a dog that is dog to dog social, or if you have aspirations to do dog related activities in the future, where you will meet other dogs, you have to be conscious of socializing them.

You have to drive into town, where they can become acclimatized to a bit more hubbub and to other dogs. And not only once or twice during puppyhood, but once or twice a week for the first year. They should be exposed to a variety of sights and sounds early on. This really helps when there is an unexpected move into the city. Dogs that have been exposed to a bit more of the world have a better time adjusting than those that have only seen the parameters of their property. No one expects their dog to make that move, but life changes and it is best to have him prepared for anything that might come up later in his life.

Realistically, dogs in a city setting should be able to get along with most dogs, or at least tolerate them. They need to be able to walk past the others without lunging at them. Why? So they can be well exercised. I don’t feel that all dogs need to run with other dogs, some of them are not that social, but it is necessary to be able to control any outbursts on the street in order to walk them for any distance. Of course, this being said, it is far easier to get your puppy well socialized to this environment as a youngster. As soon as you walk down city streets you are met with stimulation overload. People, dogs, traffic await you at every turn and this is why cities can overwhelm anyone, people or dogs, when first encountered. Getting your dog into a training class, and working with a professional to get the basics down pat is important no matter where you live.

So…city life or country life? Which one is best for our dogs? Perhaps the best life we can give to our dogs is one that is shared by us, one where we take time out of our day to stroll down the street to the park, or where we stroll through the fields of our own property. Either way, our dogs thank us for their education, for our dedication to their health and well being and most of all for our company in any situation.