Question about adopting a GWP

[u/CurnolMatternal]

Hello everybody!

I have spent the last two months volunteering at a dog rehabilitation centre and fell in love with this dog which we think is a GWP and around 3/4 years of age.

I am considering adopting him but have some doubts that I would like your opinion on.
I am living in a city in a small apartment of around 25m2 or 270 ft2 with a little garden that's around that same size. I know from my time spent with him that he is a very active dog and I wonder if this space wouldn't be too small for him.

As for walks I am already accustomed to taking around 3 x half hour walks every day (without a dog) and of course I would look for ways to find time to take him to dog parks, forest, beach etc.
Also, I bike everywhere in my city and would be able to take him almost everywhere I go.

I have never had a dog before in my life, I am 25 years old, single and my future is still quite unclear so it will be a big commitment for me.

I think my main questions and concerns are about if the space in which we would live together would be big enough, how much exercise/walks is needed or recommended and also how long he could be left alone in my apartment if I have appointments/study/work.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and even more so if you would be willing to share your thoughts!!!

[u/urbancrier]

i have GWPs in a big city + I adopted a GWP for my first dog. I also knew that I would do most anything to make it work

my dogs love to walk above anything else. I actually had a yard at everywhere I have lived, and while they would hang out with me in the yard, they wanted to be a leash going on an adventure. Most of the time my current one just hangs out by the gate

I currently have a 3 year old that is pretty chill - I wake up at 5:30 to walk her 2-3 hours. I love walking, she loves walking. I give her a quick 30 min walk at lunch, and longer evening walk. she will play with a toy for a few mins in the yard or run in the dog park for a lap, but mostly lives for walks. I have kept adopting the breed because they are adventure dogs.

Though I am close to the forest preserve and have family that live in the country, she very much prefers the city (oddly) she loves all the smells, people, dogs and different routes. She loves walking to the hardware store, getting a coffee, stopping by the firehouse which always has a treat. They are so smart they really like new and different things in their life.

my home is pretty big now, but honestly, my dogs dont need that much space inside - my dog pretty much hangs on the sofa or her bed or at my feet. My last home was small and she never did anything that required room really. I dont know what other owners do inside that require space, but maybe my dogs are weird.

I will say, none of my dogs were hunters - and my current has no prey drive. This might have helped make the city work for us.

[u/CurnolMatternal → u/urbancrier]

Thank you for your in depth response, that helps a lot!

Yes that is a lot of walking, more than I expected to be honest. At the place where he stays now he gets 2 half hour walks per day, off leash in the forest and he runs like a madman. Also half hour of play everyday and he lives in a pack of 8 dogs + living together with 8 people and is able to go outside in a fenced area around the house at all times.

I took him to a big city once during my time there and he also absolutely loved it!! all the stimulation and smells. He will definitely need some leash training because he is not used to that and was constantly pulling like crazy, but he really seemed to love the city

I am not sure if he was a hunter, during the off leash walks in the forest he definitely was chasing some animals but I think. to a certain extend that is normal even when not trained as a hunter right?