Six Tips for Raising a Puppy in a Townhome
Adding a puppy to your family is an exciting journey for new owners. They’re incredibly cute, playful, and have even been proven to make you happier. While raising and training a new pup is hard no matter where you live, being in a townhome can present some unique hurdles. Here, we’re sharing our best tips for raising a puppy in a townhome to make the experience that much better for everyone.
How to Raise a Puppy in a Townhome
Walk your puppy often
Exercise is important for all puppies, especially those whose owners have more compact backyards. To help exert all their extra energy, take them for walks, jogs, or runs often. Experts recommend a ratio of five minutes of exercise per month of age, twice a day. For example, if they’re three months old, you would want to be sure they get at least 15 minutes of exercise twice a day. As your pup becomes fully grown, they can play and exercise for much longer, enjoying trails and outdoor adventures in your neighborhood.
Create a puppy potty routine
Potty training can be one of the hardest aspects of raising a puppy — especially if you don’t have a large backyard space. But with persistence, consistency, and a routine, you both will have it down in no time.
Start by introducing your puppy to a routine. Take them out first thing in the morning, at specific times during the day (experts recommend at least every two hours to start), after feedings, and right before bed. You may also need to get up with them in the middle of the night to relieve themselves. As they get older, they’ll be able to hold it longer and longer until they can make it through the night.
Since townhome puppies might not be able to go in and out a doggy door as they please, they’ll need a way to tell you it’s time to go outside. Take them out the same door each time, and consider placing a bell around the door handle or install a special doggy doorbell. Every time you take them outside to potty, ring the bell, and repeat the word ‘potty.’
Each time they go potty outside, reward them with praise and encouragement — with both treats and words. Repeatedly tell them ‘good potty’ so they begin to associate outside with pottying. If you see them starting to go inside, quickly pick them up and place them outside to remind them where they should be pottying and reinforce them with praise.
Socialize them (with other townhome puppies!)
Pups can develop anxiety if they don’t have the chance to become acclimated to things like loud noises, other people, and large crowds. Help them adapt and socialize by doing things like:
- Walking around the neighborhood
- Taking them to restaurants or breweries where dogs are allowed
- Letting neighbors pet and interact with them
- Familiarizing them with their surroundings
- Introducing them to neighbor dogs and taking them to dog parks to learn how to play and engage with other dogs
Even when you’re out and about, stay consistent with training, praising, and disciplining.
Give your neighbors a heads up
Out of courtesy, let your townhome neighbors know about your new pup so they can be well prepared should they ever hear any barking or crying. Give them your phone number and let them know to get a hold of you if there are ever any issues. It helps set the standard of open communication and ease a lot of potential frustrations down the road. Plus, you never know when you’ll find your new favorite dog sitter or walking buddy.
Raising a puppy in a townhome requires consistency
Consistency is key when it comes to raising a puppy no matter where you live. Between walking, feeding, pottying, and training, it takes lots of time and practice to get your dog fully adapted to its new home and neighborhood. If you can, adjust your work schedule to ensure you can take them out for walks and to go potty at the same time each day. If you can’t, look into hiring a local dog walker and caretaker so your puppy’s routine can stay as consistent as possible.
Find a townhome community where puppies are welcome
At West Line Village, all puppies and dogs are welcome in our community. Our beautifully designed homes are part of a bustling, friendly neighborhood in Lakewood, Colorado that both you and your pup will love. We also have select floorplans that offer a main floor patio, perfect for potty training and sunbathing.
We also know that you and your furry friend will want to stay active and be able to access all the amazing open space that Colorado has to offer. Our townhouse neighborhood offers tons of sidewalk space and easy access to parks and trails, like the Lakewood Dry Gulch trail.
Finding your ‘fur’ever home starts with us. Book an appointment (in-person or virtual) to tour one of our townhomes today!
