Many factors combine to influence your decision about what dog to adopt or purchase. How much you are willing to spend on a dog will help determine if you can afford a champion pure bred. One of the most critical decisions, and one of your first, will be the rough size of your future best friend.

The size of your home is relative to the size of the dog. A teacup Chihuahua will get adequate exercise in a student’s dorm room (although the school administration might take exception). An Irish Setter would consider the same room to be about the right size for a travel crate and would politely ask you: “And where will you sleep?”. Other large dogs, like an elderly Newfoundland, don’t mind pretending to be a rug for most of the day. This is an exception to the rule.

To judge the size of your space:

1. Find a watch with a second hand and the dog that you are considering (or a representative of the breed at a dog show).

2. Watch the dog move about at a normal walk.

3. Estimate how far the dog travels in ten seconds. We will call that distance “one doggy unit”.

4. If your space’s longest length is one doggy unit or less, it is small to that dog. If your space’s longest length is two or three doggy units, it is medium to that dog. If your space is four or more doggy units, that dog would consider it large.

5. Note that if the dog really hates moving, any space is big. You can recognize these dogs by the dust on their backs. If a dog always moves really fast, no matter what its size, most spaces will be small to that dog.

Now that you have a very rough idea of how the dog that you are considering will perceive your space, you can begin to plan what that dog would need to be happy in your space.

A dog, any dog, that lives in a small space will need at least one walk a day. Every day. Rain, snow, hurricanes or deadlines. Walks to dogs are as important as food. Without exercise of some kind, your dog will die. Some breeds lose up to a third of their lifespan if they are deprived of exercise. Walking gives a dog rhythm to their day. When you walk a dog at the same time every day, it gives them something to look forward to. The size of your space makes it very critical that your future dog gets walks, because she does not have enough room to exercise herself. In a large space, a dog can at least run laps to work off some energy. There is less of an option of that in a small space. If you don’t have time or the will power to give your dog a daily walk, consider a different breed. A different dog might consider your place a palace. Both of you will be happier with your honesty.

The other big consideration for a dog in a small space is a place of their own for a retreat. Just like us, there are days when your friend will be tired and stressed and need to crash. If you don’t provide a place for them to relax, they will make one. Like your pillows, your couch or your new silk suit. This place does not have to be conspicuous or large, but it should be comfortable. An old blanket that smells like you under a table is one of the best retreat spaces. It feels safe under the table, the blanket is soft and your smell is reassuring.

Many people have succeeded in keeping a dog happy and healthy in a small space. So can you, if you plan. If you do not want to go thru the trouble, find a dog that better suits your life.

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Author: National Missing Pets Register

I won't need to worry about that. I'm planning to get a house of my own when I do get married and have kids.

I have never seen a calculation such as that before for working out if your place is big enough for the dog you wish to house, but it's wonderfully explained. Its much better to take the time to consider that than find out too late that you don't have the room that your little dog does/is going to need.

Very interesting and something I did consider when one of my daughters announced getting an Akita, when we were friendly and she was living with me. So Nikita was the first one in my Two bedroom first floor flat and as a puppy was very lively.

Anyway because of major disagreements between us, my daughter moved to my ex brother in laws, who is not too keen on dogs and afraid of big dogs.

Well as I had Nikita with me most of the time, she was the one I missed, hence I went and bought Tsuni, a male Akita pup, whom quite a few people now make the comment. 'Are you sure you didn't buy a bear by mistake'.

Nearly 2 years on and this little pup is an 8 stone giant and getting bigger all the time.

Well during the summer, July 2006, my eldest daughter (one I do get on with), had got Nikita with her for about a week and during that week we met up every day in Forty Hall. Both Tsuni and Nikita got on great together. Well when Nikita was taken back to my 'other' daughter, she started having behavoural problems with Nikita. The reason for this was because, as I said about my ex brother in law, Nikita was locked in a back room of his shop all day every day, with only one window about 7 feet from the floor, yeah I know, poor girl not a good way to keep an Akita.

So my eldest daughter took Nikita back, but owing too where she lives, she is not allowed to keep pets, well except for something really small. Did come up with the idea of trying to get her to tell her housing people that Nikita was an oversize hybrid goldfish that had grown legs !!! Naaa, decided that may not work.

The only option was me, so long as Tsuni accepted her indoors. Well that went with a breeze and from July til December, when Nikita got abducted, I had 2 Akitas in my flat.

2 Akitas in a 2 bed-flat doesn't quite work with the above calculations, I suppose that's a resounding YES from you all - Well YER all wrong. They were both very lazy indoors, Tsuni would always, as he still does, plonk himself on the coldest part of the kitchen floor, only getting up to do his usual, 'is everything alright' flat patrol and Nikita would stay by my side constantly. I get up to make a coffee, she follows. I have a bath, she's next to the bath. I go to the toilet, you get the idea, me and my shadow. I'm lucky where I live, it's a dog walkers paradise, I back on to the New River and Forty Hall is open 24/7.

Since Nikita's abduction, Tsuni's attitude has changed, he was always laid back and unfazed by anything, but now he is very clingy and has a right attitude problem with lots of other dogs, where before he was never bothered. There are a number of times I have heard and caught Tsuni, on his back, legs in the air, snoring his head off and I've made a coffee next to him and he hasn't stirred. That strikes me as a happy contented dog in his surroundings, but of course he does miss Nikita, we both do.

We've never considered space to be a problem, and we live with 3 LARGE dogs. I think the most important thing is to make sure the dogs get exercise outside of the house - that way they are not going crazy in the house, and inevitably destroying things.

This is some very good information. I don't think enough people take these things into consideration when they get pets. They want something for themselves instead of also considering what the dog or any pet will need.

We have 3 large dogs but we also have a fenced in back yard. Ot gives them plenty of room to run and play. I don`t think a big dog would be happy not being able to play. Thats what is also good about dog parks if your dog gets along with other dogs.