I have owned dogs in the city, in an apartment, but they were very suited to low exercise and a very quiet breed (Chow Chows). Many of my friends had dogs, certain breeds did better in the city – Irish Wolfhounds, Greyhounds, Danes, and of course the toy breeds.

Now we are all in Philadelphia, where there were quite a few dog parks and just great in-city parks, and lived along the Parkway, so it was always easy to walk the dog (not that Chows need a lot of walking).

So I guess I’d say it depends on the dog and the breed. I would not ever get a Springer or Border Collie puppy, if that makes sense? The Chow is great for low-exercise, cleanliness and being very quiet, but they’re like cats, and not very . . . well they won’t lick you. They’re great city dogs tho. Your daughter would be probably not as happy with an occasional “eskimo kiss” which is the most affection a Chow will show . . .

That story about Rocco is heartbreaking. He must have really felt pressured. What a shame. He should have moved down here, Philly is a very dog-friendly city.

Owning a dog isn’t a function of locale, but a function of lifestyle. If you don’t love dogs or don’t have the time for them, obviously you shouldn’t get it. I have 2 dogs on the upper west side and I work from home. My brother has a house on LI in a house with an acre of fenced yard and his dogs are miserable because they are always home or in the yard with no interaction with other dogs. My dogs spend half their days in Central Park interacting with other dogs, or going on long walks or playing in the dog parks. Manhattan dogs are much happier than suburban dogs if the owner has time.

Some dogs are obviously more well-suited, and it depends on your own energy level, too. While far from ideal, if you had a golden retriever and had to move into a big city for your job, the dog would probably still be fine if you had the time for a long walk (45 minutes) every day, and the means to hire a dog walker for another walk while you were at work (or if someone was at home all day). Some dogs just aren’t high-energy and would be perfectly happy in an apartment without getting a lot of exercise.

Have you thought about fostering a dog? That would give you a really good idea of whether or not it can work with your lifestyle without a long-term commitment. And no matter how small your space is the dog would probably be happier with you than in a shelter.

Anyone can have a dog in the city if he is willing to commit to taking care of that dog for 10-15 years (lifespans vary depending on breed). When you have a dog, you must make hard choices. If you “ignore the dog when kids come along” you are not a responsible dog owner and should not have one. I love my pug Wilson and I have had to make choices to care for him that have jeopardized relationships and caused me to live a different lifestyle than I would have lived without him (frequent travel is out, unless he can come along in the passenger compartment WITH ME). Dogs are not possessions, despite society’s history of treating them as such. Anyone who lives with a dog knows that they FEEL and they LOVE. They really do become part of the family. Nick’s death is tragic. The problem with pets in the city is draconian anti-dog policies that do not reflect the reality of dogs as family members. Oh, I also have two cats. They have destroyed almost everything I own. They are far more of a nuisance and far less personable and friendly than my dog. But most buildings welcome cats with open arms. Doesn’t seem right.