Jindo in small spaces #2

This is the second in a series of articles written by some of our adopters and fosters, in response to the idea that Jindos can only be truly happy living in the country/wide open spaces, where they can run free, chasing critters to their hearts content, never mind the fact that they might be annoying farm livestock into the bargain! 😉
If you have your own stories to share, please send them to us at info@twodogfarms.com, as we’d love to share them here and on our website, to help educate people that are new to the breed.
Thank you!
(by adopter/foster/volunteer, Dee)

“I started out as a foster for Dory and I mentioned up front that I live in a converted one car garage (in the city) that has about 250-280 sq. feet. I wasn’t concerned about the space — after all I didn’t expect he’d be here very long — but I wanted to make sure you felt it would be okay for Dory’s sake.
I crate trained Dory right away so he’d be sequestered during the few times I left him alone in the apartment. The training took time and patience since he’d been left outside for about 5 years, 24/7, tied to a long lead but hadn’t lived indoors and hadn’t been given daily walks. To my delight he adjusted to indoor living overnight, as though he’d never lived outdoors.
He has a nice comfy bed (the crate’s gone now) on which he sleeps during the day and two or three other spots where he has views of the outdoors. We take two 30 to 45 minute walks daily (shorter during rainy days), and a 15 to 20 minute play period around midday. When we’re inside he usually goes to his bed and curls up.
He doesn’t whine to go outside; doesn’t dig at the door to get out.
I work from home so we’re together almost 24/7 but when I have to leave him alone, he’s fine. We’ve been a pack for 3 years now and he’s fine with the space. When I move around the apartment in a hurry I use hand signals to show him where to move to so he’ll be out of my path. Before I got Dory, he lived in a big back yard for 5 years. A yard from which he repeatedly escaped, which I suspect is due to not being exercised and being left alone in a big back yard.

Our first Jindo, Mr. BoJindo, lived with my daughter in a 650 sq. ft. apartment then moved with her to a 900 sq. ft. condo. He never needed a big back yard. He needed a human he could trust to exercise him regularly, feed him a healthy diet and give him consistent direction when in the house and during walks/hikes. He never needed a big house or back yard. He was happiest and most content when he was on a walk with his human.

Jindos love to be with their humans if there’s a good relationship. The size of the dwelling or back yard is not the most important criteria.”