Living in tight quarters doesn't have to be a pain. Here's how you can make the best of it.

Here are some topics that apartment dwellers, landlords, and cooperative/condominium boards should take up and discuss proactively in buildings where dogs reside:

Noise (barking/whining)
Dog owners should be courteous and respond promptly to complaints. They should also try to figure out why their dog is barking, perhaps with the help of a qualified professional positive reinforcement-based trainer.

Noise (separation distress or anxiety)
If your dog is whining and/or barking for hours, it’s likely being caused by some amount of separation distress, especially if there is evidence of destruction such as biting the door or walls. If so, you may need to address this with a professional positive reinforcement-based behavior consultant or possibly a veterinary behaviorist.

Bored dogs
Leave him with something to do! Fill Kongs with his food, mixed with a spoonful of yogurt or peanut butter and freeze them; leave them around the apartment so he has to hunt for them and work to get the food out, rather than eating it in a few seconds out of a bowl. If he’s a good, safe chewer, provide him with some raw bones to work on, or use interactive toys such as Kong Wobblers.

Dogs can thrive in a small apartment in a big-city environment, as long as their owners proactively manage and train them, and work with their neighbors to resolve any problems that might arise.
Aggression

Fear is the main cause of aggression. So what to do? First, don’t put your dog in a position where he may feel the need to snap or, worse, bite.

Try to continually make positive associations with everything going on by rewarding your dog for calm behaviors in the presence of things he may be uncertain about.

Greetings
Be very careful about introductions, especially with children. If you have any doubts about your dog’s ability to handle an introduction with grace, say, “ Sorry, my dog is too shy to meet you. Maybe another time.” If it’s deemed safe, let the dog sniff the back of the person’s hand.

If you know that your dog doesn’t care to meet people or if he may jump on someone, until you can train better behavior, just manage with a smile and a good hold on a short leash. Then use treats to maintain your dog’s attention long enough to get past the person without interaction.

Elimination
Be courteous. You wouldn’t dump your trash in the hallway or right outside the entrance. Try get your dog to the curb to eliminate and always pick up.

Must Not Love Dogs?
Dog owners need to remember that everyone doesn’t love dogs as much as you want them to. Some people don’t have the experience of being around dogs and may be afraid or maybe they just don’t like them.

Also keep in mind that non-dog owners may not understand the bond that so many of us form with our furry family members. If they have a complaint about your dog, try to understand and address their concerns, just as you would about any other grievance stemming from living in close quarters.

These tips should help make living in the city with your pooch a lot easier. Don't let it become a problem. Before that point it's important to talk to your neighbors so you can work it out before everyone gets annoyed! LOL!

For more information on city dwelling, visit The Whole Dog Journal.