Thank you for reading my MONSTER of a post. Here is my situation.

I plan on buying a house with a yard in 2-3 years, but for the time being I live alone in a great apartment on the beach. I have an 8 month old female Mal pet who seems to be doing great here with me so far. She is crated while I am at work 10 hours a day, 4 days a week, from 10 pm to 8 am. While I am gone, I keep the TV on for her, and give her a bone or a snack filled Kong. I have arrangements with my neighbor to let her out if I get stuck at work.

Six or seven days a week I take her to a nearby field or park to do some training and then burn her out (Usually with the Chuck-it or the Frisbees, which she loves by the way). During my days off and during my free time you can usually find her with me (Whether it is working around the apartment, running errands, or just going for a walk Downtown). She is surprisingly well behaved, and seems to be a very healthy, happy and well adjusted pup. I am very happy with her as well.

But… (You saw that coming).

Am I a couple clowns short of a circus here? Am I being realistic? Am I being selfish and unfair to my dog? I have been waiting since I was about 10 years old (I’m 29 now) to have a Malinois, and only recently have I felt settled down enough to be a good Mal owner. The breeder told me when I got her that exercise and attention are more important than space, but was he just trying to sell a dog? Was I just hearing what I wanted to hear? I feel a knot in my stomach when people say things like, “You have THAT dog in an apartment with NO yard?”

I care about Mina very much, would never giver her up, and am willing to go to great lengths to make her home a good one…even if it means finding a way to move. If anyone knowledgeable would like to make some constructive comments I would really appreciate it. Also, does Ed have any articles which may relate? Thank you in advance for your replies.

P.S. Below are some photos of Mina at 6 months old.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c81/semiok45/Beach01.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c81/semiok45/Beach02.jpg

I think you're being silly. It's not about where a dog lives but about whether or not the dog is happy and healthy. If you give her that much exercise I woudn't worry WHAT "people" say about it. I've had large dogs in a apartments before and it can be done. Remi is mostly a house dog, hardly ever goes outside except for training/exercise and I have 3 acres. So...again. If your dog is happy and healthy, don't stress.

For a Mal that is a good looking puppy> LOL from a GSD owner

If your dog is happy and healthy who cares about the yard! Heck, you've got a whole beach!
PS: Good lookin' dog!

Yes, you are being an awful owner! I tell you what, I will sacrifice my life in snowy Montana to come and live in your beachfront residence to ensure that poor puppy is entertained during the day <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

All kidding aside (well except for the part about me moving in the beachfront residence <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> ) my guys are crated for 9 -10 hours per day 5 days a week with no problems. The breeder was correct - exercise and attention are more important than space. When I was in law school, I lived in a 600 sq ft duplex with no yard and two ACDs. They survived just fine and garnered several titles during that time to boot. The trick was that they were my priority, when I got done with school, I would train/exercise/spend time with them. Going out with friends came after spending time with my dogs. When it was bad weather we did mental exercise like trick training etc.

I have one male that is loose in the house during the day and all he does is sleep on the couch. I literally hear him jump on the couch when I close the door in the morning and half the time in the evening he is just lifting his head off the pillow when I walk in <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Don't stress out about, it sounds like you are going to give that girl a great home! She is really pretty BTW. I like those darker Mals.

I have those same exact shorts! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

If your dogs aren't happy or don't feel exercised enough, believe me, they WILL let you know and it'll drive you insane, especially a mal. Don't worry about it, as long as you play and walk and run and all that other fun stuff, your dog's fine. I try to avoid leaving my dog in a crate over 5 hours, but that's just me.

Hi Nate, sounds like your dog is gonna have a good life , my pup is also 8mo. old, and i wouldn't chance burning him out 6-7 days a week with exercise, the pup is still developing, maybe it's different with malinoids <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />? ( from a proud gsd owner), AL

Thanks for the responses so far everyone. And thanks for the compliments... I don't know whether her dark color came from the velociraptor in her or the wolverine. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I totally agree with everyone else here. I am 21, live in a college style apartment (aka small) with my 7 month old czech gsd boy. When I was thinking about getting him I went through the same thoughts you're having but I kinda looked at it like this: If a child grew up in a loving home that provided for it's needs and kept it happy and healthy but it didn't live in a big house in the perfect neighborhood...would you look at that kid and say he had a crappy life? Of course not. Thousands of people live that everyday.

So don't sweat it. I agree though. The dog is the priority especially if they can't be out as much as we might like. Just make sure to spend time with her and make sure her needs are met and just keep on keepin on (as Joe Dirt would say).

I think you’re awesome for being concerned and that shows how much you love your dog and I am sure he feels the same for you. There’s a country song, "love grows best in little houses" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Don't feel guilty, Just keep doing what your doing... and someday you'll have a happy dog with a big back yard.