Whether you were born and bred in Seattle or you’re a recent transplant, you’ve undoubtedly noticed one thing about the people living in The Emerald City: We. Love. Our. Dogs.
In fact, more dogs call Seattle home than children, according to PBS. Approximately 107,000 children live in the city, while the current dog population is in the neighborhood of 150,000!
But while the city is certainly four-footer friendly, it also presents a few special challenges for the resident pets (and their people). I’ll point out a few of the most noteworthy things that affect dogs and their guardians below and provide some tips for taking them in stride.
Challenges for Dogs in Seattle: 5 Issues You May Face
Every location presents a few training and dog-management challenges to four-footers and their people, but here are a few that are of special interest to pet parents living in the Seattle area.
1. Wet Weather
I know – constantly hearing the cliché about Seattle being a rainy city is annoying (not to mention the fact that Atlanta, Houston, and New York all receive more rain than we do anyway). But the fact remains, we get more than 3 feet of rain per year, which means we do deal with a lot of wet weather. And all of this precipitation and moisture have implications for dogs and their owners.
For starters, it makes going on walks a pain at times. You have to grab an umbrella or raincoat, and you may even need to put a coat on your pupper too. You’ll also have to deal with wet and muddy paws upon returning home and that resulting wet-dog odor permeating your house. It’s also worth mentioning that many dogs dislike rain, and some fear the sound of thunder.
Preparation can help a bit; so, keep a towel by the door to dry your pooch off and do your best to plan around the rain. But if your dog is frightened by the rain or thunder, you may want to contact a certified dog trainer, who can show you some strategies for easing their fear and building confidence.
2. The Urban Environment
Seattle may not be as crowded as New York, Tokyo, or some other big cities, but it certainly is vibrant and busy. There are tons of different sights, sounds, and smells that can distract (or even frighten) your dog. That makes walking your dog through busy parts of the city tough, if not outright dangerous at times.
The best way to meet this challenge is by teaching your dog good leash-walking manners and exposing them to these kinds of stimuli from a young age. Start slowly to avoid overwhelming your pooch and try to help them build a positive association with the city.
If your pup struggles when walking through the city, you may want to consider checking out the walk-and-train programs I offer. They’re fantastic for helping to boost a dog’s confidence while also instilling good walking habits.
3. Limited Outdoor Space
While some people living in the Seattle area are fortunate enough to have spacious yards or convenient access to green spaces, that’s not the case for many local residents living in apartments. And while some dogs can adapt well to living in apartments or urban areas in general, #apartmentlife can still present challenges.
For example, dogs who live in the concrete jungle don’t have many places they can run around and stretch their legs. They may not even have convenient access to comfortable, grassy tinkle spots and instead be forced to squat under urban trees or other makeshift locations.
There aren’t a ton of easy solutions for these challenges, but there are a few things worth trying:
- Buy your dog one of the new grass sod “bathrooms,” if you have a suitable place to put one (such as a porch or balcony). As a bonus, this makes it easier to let your dog take a bathroom break during inclement weather.
- Take more frequent walks around the block, especially during times when the crowds are thinnest. This will make it easier for your dog to sniff and explore without worrying about bumping into as many people or other dogs.
- Play indoor games with your pooch to provide some additional exercise. There are a variety of things you can do in your home to let your dog burn off some extra energy, including stair-recall games and doggie dancing.
It’s also important to keep space limitations in mind when adding a new pupper to your life. If you don’t have a lot of space to offer, consider selecting a breed (or mixed-breed doggo) that will adapt well to apartment life. Bichon frises and cavalier King Charles spaniels are both great choices, and greyhounds also adapt surprisingly well to small homes, if you want a slightly larger four-footer.
4. Crowded Dog Parks
While Seattle does lack a lot of wide-open outdoor space, we are fortunate to have 14 off-leash parks. But that’s hardly enough to accommodate the sheer number of four-footers who call the city home. Crunching the numbers, that means that every dog in the city has to share a park with more than 10,000 other canines!
Clearly it doesn’t work out that way in practice – every pet parent doesn’t decide to visit the park at the same time. But the point remains: Our off-leash dog parks are incredibly crowded. This not only makes them less fun to visit, but it can even make them dangerous.
For that matter, dog parks aren’t always a great idea anyway. Illnesses and parasites are always a worry, and some dogs simply don’t play well with others.
Just be sure that if you do decide to take your furball to a local dog park that you keep safety in mind. Monitor the other dogs, watch their body language, and ensure that your dog’s vaccinations are up to date. Additionally, try to visit during less busy times, to the extent that your schedule allows.
5. Bikes and Blades and Boards, Oh My!
Seattle has a vibrant alternative sports scene, and skateboarders, cyclists, rollerbladers, and other athletes can always be seen scooting around the city on one kind of wheeled apparatus or the other. It’s certainly awesome that the people interested in these activities have the chance to enjoy them and it is one of the things that helps make Seattle culture what it is.
But it can present challenges for dog owners. Not only can high-speed humans bump into your doggo, resulting in injury to one or both parties, but some dogs are frightened or overstimulated by things that roll around.
Once again, walk-and-train sessions may be helpful for addressing these kinds of problems. Helping your dog to learn the proper way to walk and behave on a leash will likely help them avoid collisions, and it can also help boost their confidence, which will allow them to take the sight of bikers, bladers, and boarders in stride.
Just don’t forget that ultimately, you are responsible for your dog. So, make sure you stay aware of your surroundings, and keep an eye out for people who may come zooming by.
Get Personalized Dog Training Services in Seattle and the Surrounding Area!
You can likely overcome many of these challenges on your own with a little hard work, patience, and a satchel full of treats. But don’t feel bad if you run into issues – dog training can be challenging in general, and our wonderful city adds some additional obstacles to the mix.
The important thing is that you confront the problems you’re experiencing head-on to prevent them from worsening. Dogs who repeat undesirable behaviors are essentially “practicing” them, which can make them harder to address in the future.
So, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional help. I’d love to listen to the specific problems you’re having with your pupperino and develop a training approach that will really work for you both. Head on over to our contact page and drop me a line today!
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