Is City Life Stressing Out Your Pup? Breeds Least Suited to Urban Life

We move to cities for the convenience and culture. But is your new dream home also the ideal living situation for your pup?

It may come as no surprise, but for some dogs, the concrete jungle is less of a playground and more of a persistent source of stress. According to veterinary behaviorist Dr. Vanessa Spano, cities are “very unnatural to dogs.” While they have been domesticated for quite a long time, dogs were simply not meant to navigate crowded streets, blaring horns, and constant, quick movements. In fact, for many breeds, the environment actively works against their needs and instincts.

While some dogs will thrive in an urban environment, experts warn that many of the most popular dog breeds today were originally bred for specific jobs. These jobs don’t exist in a high-rise apartment or on a sidewalk full of foot traffic.

Dr. Spano identified several types of dogs that may struggle adapting to city life:

• Herding Dogs: Intelligent, driven, high-energy dogs that were bred to work a large area. They often need a job or purpose to feel fulfilled and avoid behavioral problems. Ex: German Shepherds, Border Collies, Australian Cattle Dogs
• Sporting Dogs: These high-energy breeds have a deep-seated instinct to locate and retrieve. Ex: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Spaniels
• Hounds: The original work of these dogs required them to rely heavily on their sense of smell and sight. In the city, these senses can lead to feeling overwhelmed or frustrated by the lack of natural terrain and scents. Ex: Beagles, Coonhounds
• Terriers: These dogs were originally bred to hunt vermin and dig. Without an outlet for these behaviors, they can become anxious. Ex: Schnauzers, Pitbulls, Dachshunds

Of course, determining whether your dog is suited to an urban life isn’t reliant solely on their breed genetics. Dogs of any breed may struggle with the pace and energy of the city if they have an active personality and a love for natural spaces.

What makes city life so tough for these dogs isn’t just one factor; it’s the constant barrage of challenges. Experts refer to this as “trigger stacking.”

Whenever your dog experiences something that causes stress or anxiety, like a loud truck or a close encounter with another dog, their stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline, spike. It can take hours, even days, for those levels to return to their normal, calm state. If your dog has multiple walks in a single day through the busy city streets, they are exposed to multiple triggers before they have had a chance to recover from the last one. This can lead to dogs reacting more intensely to even seemingly minor situations.

The good news is that living in an urban environment doesn’t have to mean a stressed or anxious life for your dog. The key is understanding their needs and creating safe and fulfilling outlets for them.

For example, if your herding dog can’t herd sheep (which is likely the case in a city home), maybe you can arrange for them to have time “herding” a ball at the local park. If that still isn’t enough, try introducing commands to “herd” the ball through an obstacle course or even just around trees.

By recognizing the challenges and providing your dog with an outlet for what they were bred to do, you can help them navigate the city with less stress and a much better quality of life.

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