Mabye I was too tetchy. sorry.

Thinking that probably applies to every single loved up pet owner.

I remember there was an episode on C4 it's me or the dog with that trainer woman (Victoria something), where she dealt with a dog that did that. Can't remember exactly but there is a training method to it based on conditioning the behaviour. If it's a problem you can look up dog training classes in your area

Don't get me wrong I do like dogs as long as they are well behaved with people like you that do their best to be responsible owners

When I first read about that law, my first thought was 'what if you have two cats, and one dies (etc.) - it can be impossible to get an adult cat to accept new animals.
So, when I fist got Delilah (tortoiseshell cat) I went out and got Samson (black cat) but that still left the quandary of 'what if something happens'.
I decided that they should have one litter as we had a female dog that lived to 16 and never had pups, so I wanted Dee to have at least one litter.
I decided to keep one of the kittens from that litter (May - tortoiseshell female) so I now have three cats. And now Delilah has had her second litter, but I have now had Sammy done so no more.
Point is that I have three 'permanent' adult cats so if something does happen to one I will still have two.
Plus of course I love all of em to death

Great though your story is, the bit I bolded is the ONLY BIT THAT REALLY MATTERS.

Mind you, I'm more of a dog person than a cat person, so it may be different, but as far as I can tell, the most important thing (after food, shelter etc) for any sentient being is to be loved. This has been true of all the cats I've lived with, too. I LIKE cats, I respect 'em, but I don't TRUST the buggers. But at the risk of anthropomorphising them (well, not so much "at the risk of", more like ACTUALLY DOING IT), they're not so different from us. Food, shelter, companionship. They're the three things we all need.

(in b4 hermit crabs and various other animals that are solitary and just live to eat and eat to live).

Slaps hand flat on the table. You got in in one. (or 3). I agree.

Aww - that's such a shame. If we do ever have that drink stoatie, remind me to introduce you to Him Fur Master Indoors.

Friendliest cat on the planet.

I remember the last time I put him in the cat carrier to go to the vets - he was panicking like mad, but as always he refused to scratch, bite or attack me in any way or form.

I used to not trust dogs (got bitten twice when I was a kid) but I have recently been introduced to some brilliant dogs, and changed my mind altogether!

No, don't get me wrong- there are cats who I absolutely adore. It's just always a battle of wits, and the cat usually wins.

Italian Greyhounds make good flat dogs as do Great Danes !!!!

On further reflection - our collie cross is getting older (not old just older) and we had a conversation yesterday about when she won't manage the stairs which due to her size will be a problem,all our others could be carried whereas she can't. So it is probably best to limit (if you have stairs) to a dog you could in an emergency carry down or up them ?

Yes good point I don't think I could manage a great dane up the stairs lol

My thoughts exactly lol

TBH I think goldfish make the best pets in flats.

They don't bark either

But you'd have to leave them behind in an emergency

In fairness though - goldfish should only be kept in ponds .

I'm not against people having dogs in flats, but where I live there are three people who have dogs and shove them out on the balcony when they get fed up with them, or for whatever reason. They whine, bark non-stop and get obviously distressed.

About an hour ago, I heard a terrific clang, which sounded as if it was coming from my own balcony. Looking out, I expected to see the pup from upstairs dead there. He wasn't, thank goodness and I don't know what the noise was, but she (her upstairs) had stuck the poor pup out on her balcony in the freezing cold, and he was whining and upset.

That is obviously cruel - but most flats (well here anyway) don't have balconies so it wouldn't apply.

Mine are. Though one of them has suddenly become a terror and goes about attacking all the other fish, ramming them and what looks almost like 'biting' them. It's not like I can tell it off or reprimand it in any way.

Even reading things like that actually 'turn my stomach'.

My SIL kept her Red Setter in a flat, not by choice, she had a house when she got him, but her circumstances changed. He probably had more excerise than most dogs did, as there wasn't the option to just let him in the garden for a wee, he had at least five or six long walks a day, plus a couple of short ones. He was a really happy layed back dog though, and I think he would have been contented anywhere that my SIL was

Mollie, when my Border Collie couldn't manage the stairs in our house anymore, I carried him up and down....I'm 4ft 10 and he was nearly as big as me Looking back I don't know how I did it, and I am still suffering from the damage I did to my back, but I'm glad I did it for him, as he was used to sleeping in bed with me, and I could never have left him downstairs on his own

Radiomaniac, your story is very sad, its dreadful when you have neighbours who don't treat their animals right, I know when we did I lived on my nerves waiting for the next awful thing to happen. and its very difficult to get the RSPCA to come out if the animal is be fed etc

I know, every time it happens I wonder whether to report her or not. I know she doesn't hit him or anything and I can hear him playing with toys when he's inside so I think he's OK (I can hear every sound from above). But then again it seems to be 'normal' behaviour as at least two other people near me do the same with their dogs. It makes me sick hearing them whine in misery.

I agree. I know someone that was at home all day but shut the dog in the outhouse all day - whats the point!!

My pup was crated up until he was 6 months and was quite happy. However, I felt guilty and got rid of it. Since then he's ruined my carpets and chewed my sofa to bits, not worried about the things but it could have been an expensive trip to the vets or worse

Getting another pup next week and she will be crated for her own safety - nothing else.

What sort are you getting?

Shih Tzu X - my dogs new sibling

I live in a two bed flat and have a chihuahua but we have a massive roof terrace so she goes out for wees and poos whenever she wants to. Shes also pad trained too.

Apologies for bumping my own thread but we still haven't managed to decide on what breed to get.

I've been in touch with the local rescues and none will let us take a dog without having a garden. We thought about greyhounds but that's not looking likely either so we are back to buying a dog and will probably be getting a pup.

The breeds we are thinking od at the moment are lakeland terrier, cocker spaniel or perhaps a labrador, would that be ridiculous?

Any thoughts?