The Benefits of Keeping a Dog on a Balcony
Keeping a dog on a balcony can provide some benefits for both the dog and owner. Spending time on the balcony gives dogs more opportunities to be outside, which provides fresh air, sunshine, and sensory stimulation. According to the AKC, dogs enjoy taking in the sights, smells, and sounds of the outdoors from an elevated balcony vantage point (Making Your Balcony Safe and Dog-Friendly, AKC).
Being on the balcony also makes it easier for owners to monitor and interact with their dogs. Owners don’t have to go far to let their dogs out or play, which can encourage more quality time together. Additionally, having the dog on the balcony means there may be less concern about damage to interior furnishings and flooring (The Convenience of Balcony Dog Potties in Extreme Weather, Gottagograss).
Potential Risks and Dangers
The first potential risk of keeping a dog on a balcony is the danger of falls and escaping over the balcony railing. Dogs can jump up on the railing or slip through gaps and fall from high distances, leading to traumatic injury or death (source). Proper safety precautions like high railings, plexiglass barriers, and restraints are essential.
Another danger is exposure to extreme weather conditions outside, especially during heatwaves or storms. Dogs kept on balconies have limited shelter and nowhere to escape from temperature extremes, putting them at risk of heat stroke, dehydration, or hypothermia (source). Adequate climate control, shade, and weather protection are necessary.
The limited space of a balcony also restricts a dog’s ability to exercise and meet bathroom needs. Confined areas increase restlessness and chances of accidents inside (source). Daily walks, playtime, and housetraining are still required despite the balcony residence.
Balcony Size and Safety Requirements
When keeping a dog on a balcony, it’s important to ensure the space is large enough for the dog’s size and needs. According to sridecks.com, balconies should be at least four feet high with tightly spaced rails to prevent dogs from jumping or falling off. The size of the balcony will depend on the dog’s breed and size. Small dogs may only need a few square feet, but larger breeds require more space. As a general rule, a balcony should allow enough room for a dog to comfortably stand, sit, lie down, and turn around. Recommendations for minimum balcony sizes are:
- Small dogs under 25 lbs: 4′ x 4′
- Medium dogs 25-50 lbs: 6′ x 6′
- Large dogs over 50 lbs: 8′ x 8′
If the balcony is not large enough, the dog may experience boredom, frustration, and other behavioral issues from being confined. Providing adequate enrichment items can help make a small balcony more comfortable. But insufficient space poses risks to the dog’s welfare.
In addition to size, balcony railings and barriers should be secure and escape-proof. As recommended by citydogexpert.com, railings should be at least four feet high with narrow spacing between slats to prevent a dog from squeezing through or climbing over. Pet netting or plexiglass can provide additional safety barriers. Proper railing height and material reduce the risk of a dog falling or jumping off the balcony.
Providing Adequate Shelter
When keeping a dog on a balcony, it is crucial to provide adequate shelter to protect them from extreme weather conditions. Access to shade is important, especially in warmer climates where the sun can heat up a balcony quickly. Consider providing a shaded area on the balcony using an awning or sun sail (source). This will allow the dog to get out of direct sunlight and keep cool.
You should also provide the dog with some form of housing, like a properly insulated doghouse (source). The house should be just large enough for the dog to stand up, lie down, and turn around comfortably. It should be raised off the floor and equipped with plenty of bedding material. This will protect the dog from cold temperatures or rain while on the balcony.
If possible, the dog should also have access to an indoor area, like an apartment, to take full refuge from extreme weather. You don’t want to rely solely on the balcony for shelter. Check on the dog frequently if they are spending time outdoors during hot, cold, or rainy weather to ensure their needs are met.
Daily Exercise Needs
Getting adequate daily exercise and outdoor time is extremely important for a dog’s physical and mental wellbeing. According to the AKC, most dogs need 30-60 minutes of activity per day to stay fit and prevent behavior issues https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/making-your-balcony-fun-and-dog-friendly/. Dogs that don’t get enough exercise can become hyperactive, anxious, destructive, bark excessively, and develop other problematic behaviors.
While a balcony provides some extra space, it cannot replace a proper daily walk and active playtime. A walk allows the dog to explore new sights and smells, socialize, and get their energy out. Try to walk your dog for 30-60 minutes once or twice per day. Bring toys to engage in active play and games during the walk. In addition to walks, find ways to incorporate playtime, training, enrichment toys and activities on the balcony itself.
Make sure your dog’s exercise and mental stimulation needs are fully met daily, despite the limitations of an apartment balcony. Don’t rely solely on the balcony for exercise. Preventing behavior issues through adequate physical activity and playtime is crucial for any dog’s wellbeing.
Bathroom Considerations
Providing bathroom facilities is an important consideration when keeping your dog on a balcony. Some options include:
Pee pads or artificial grass patches can allow your dog to relieve themselves on the balcony. Products like the Porch Potty provide a tray filled with artificial turf for easy cleaning and drainage. Be sure to regularly clean and replace pads or turf.
You could also try a small litter box filled with dog litter. Scoop daily to keep clean. Some dogs may need training to learn to use a litter box.
Take your dog for regular bathroom walks and breaks. Puppies will need to go out more frequently. Schedule walks at least 3-4 times per day. This gives your dog a chance to fully relieve themselves and gets their energy out.
Be prepared to let your dog out if they need to go urgently. Know the signs your dog needs to go, like circling, sniffing, or waiting by the door.
With planning and training, you can set up a system to meet your dog’s bathroom needs on a balcony. But they’ll still require those walks for exercise and additional chances to relieve themselves fully.
Preventing Excessive Barking
Dogs left unattended on balconies can often bark excessively at noises and passersby. This can create noise complaints from neighbors in an apartment building. There are some tricks to minimize balcony barking and train your dog to be quieter:
Desensitization training can help a dog learn not to compulsively bark at certain triggers. Start by exposing your dog to the trigger at a low intensity from a distance, rewarding quiet behavior with treats. Slowly move closer as your dog remains calm, continuing to reward the lack of barking. This conditions them not to bark reflexively over time. See this guide for a full explanation of the process: Alert Barking: The Dog Equivalent to Get Off My Lawn!
Use positive reinforcement, not punishment, when training balcony barking behaviors. Yelling at a dog or using shock/vibration collars will not address the root cause and can worsen anxiety. Instead, redirect your dog’s attention with obedience cues and reward quiet moments. Giving them an alternative positive behavior helps minimize excessive vocalizations.
Provide your dog mental stimulation and exercise to prevent boredom-induced barking on the balcony. Rotating toys, hiding treats, and scheduling playtime prevents frustration. Additionally, regular walks and activity burn energy so they are less likely to bark for attention. A tired, enriched dog barks less overall.
Enrichment Ideas
Keeping your dog mentally stimulated is important when living on a balcony. Try providing interactive toys like treat-dispensing puzzle toys or toys that can be stuffed with his favorite treats or kibble. Rotate toys frequently to keep your dog engaged. Chew toys can also provide mental enrichment – choose tough, durable chews made specifically for aggressive chewers. You can also hide kibble around the balcony for your dog to sniff out. Place food puzzles on the balcony at mealtimes to make your dog work for his food. Scatter feeding is another option that provides mental exercise. Hide treats in cardboard boxes, old towel rolls or paper bags for your dog to rip apart and explore. Change up the enrichment frequently to prevent boredom.
Here are some specific enrichment ideas to try on the balcony:
- Snuffle mats filled with hidden treats (Spruce Pets)
- Interactive puzzle toys like Kongs or food maze toys (AKC)
- Chews like bully sticks, Himalayan chews or antlers (PetPlay)
- Cardboard boxes, paper towel rolls stuffed with treats
- Scatter feeding his kibble around the balcony
Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise for dogs. Get creative with enrichment items to prevent boredom and keep your dog engaged on the balcony.
Alternatives to Full-Time Balcony Living
While a balcony can provide some outdoor space for a dog, it is not a complete substitute for walks, runs, and dedicated playtime. Alternatives to keeping your dog exclusively on the balcony include:
Doggy daycare – Many urban areas have doggy daycares where dogs can play and socialize in a safe, monitored environment. Daycare provides dogs with more space to run and exercise. Dogs also benefit from interacting with other pups. Just be sure to find a reputable facility.
Pet sitters – Hiring a pet sitter to come take your dog on walks or to a park gives them time off the balcony for exercise and exploration. Dog walkers and pet sitters who specialize in dogs are experienced handling them safely in urban settings.
Indoor dog parks – More and more apartment complexes offer indoor dog runs or small dog parks. These allow pups some off-leash playtime. Ask your apartment manager if there are any community indoor play spaces available.
While balconies can provide some outdoor enrichment, alternatives like daycare, pet sitters, or indoor dog parks give urban pups room to run and play. This balances out time spent on the balcony.
Conclusions and Summary
Keeping a dog on a balcony can work well for some owners, but it requires consideration of the dog’s needs. The ideal balcony setup will be sufficiently large and enclosed, with areas for the dog to play, relax, and relieve itself. Daily exercise, enrichment, and attention are critical.
The main factors are the dog’s size, activity level, bathroom needs, and tendency to bark excessively. Small and medium dogs often adapt better than large, high-energy breeds. Housetraining and scheduled walks can address potty needs.
Preventing nuisance barking, providing shelter, controlling temperature extremes, and avoiding escapes off the balcony ledge are also vital for safety. Boredom must be avoided through walks, toys, training, and quality time.
If the balcony cannot meet the dog’s needs, alternatives like doggy daycare, dog walkers, or rehoming may be considered. With proper precautions, some dogs can thrive on a balcony. But owners should place top priority on ensuring health, happiness, and humane treatment.