Why I've spent years saying no to owning a dog — and why I'm quietly starting to regret that now
You’ve wanted a dog for years. You’ve scrolled the shelter listings, watched the adoption videos, imagined the walks. But something keeps stopping you — and it probably sounds like one of these:
I don’t have a backyard.
My apartment is too small.
I need to own a home first.
I know, because I said all of those things to myself for over a decade. I’m 32, single, working from home in a Las Vegas apartment, and I’ve spent my entire adult life setting conditions for dog ownership that I never quite meet.
First it was homeownership. Then a backyard with dog-friendly features. Then the “right time.” The goalposts moved every time I got close, and for a long time, I let them.
But lately I’ve started questioning those conditions — not just emotionally, but factually. And it turns out most of the barriers I built for myself don’t hold up under scrutiny.
Myth: You need a backyard to give a dog a good life
This is the big one, and it’s the one that kept me stuck the longest. The image is powerful — a dog sprinting across green grass, the quintessential picture of canine happiness. I’ve seen the TikTok videos. They got to me.
But a backyard isn’t exercise. It’s just space. A dog left alone in a yard isn’t getting stimulation, socialization or structured activity. What dogs actually need is time with their person — walks, play, mental engagement.
A 2019 study published in Scientific Reports found that dog owners are nearly four times more likely to meet daily physical activity guidelines than non-dog owners. That activity happens on leashes, on trails and in parks — not just in backyards.
For someone like me, who lives in Las Vegas, dog parks are everywhere. Hiking trails sit 20 minutes outside the city. The infrastructure for an active, fulfilling dog life exists — with or without a yard. Not having a backyard was nothing more than an excuse.
Myth: You should wait until you own a home
I told myself this at 20 when I moved into my first apartment, and I believed it for years. Dogs need stability, I reasoned. They need permanence.
Then I got a cat. 11 years later, he’s been through apartments, a house, roommates and a solo downsize — every chapter of my adult life. He’s proof that stability isn’t about the space you live in. It’s about the consistency of care you provide.
The American Pet Products Association reports that 65.1 million U.S. households own a dog. Not 65.1 million homeowners — households. That includes renters, apartment dwellers and people whose living situations look a lot like mine.
Myth: You need a partner or a bigger life first
There’s a subtle version of the waiting game that isn’t about square footage at all — it’s about feeling like your life should be more “complete” before you add a dog to it. More settled. More social. More full.
But the American Humane Association found that the person most likely to consider getting a dog is someone who’s single, younger and living in the Western United States. That profile isn’t a warning sign — it’s the demographic most drawn to the companionship a dog provides.
The research backs it up. The American Kennel Club cites studies showing that dog ownership can reduce loneliness, lower stress and improve cardiovascular health. A Washington State University study found that just 10 minutes of petting a dog can significantly lower cortisol levels. And one national survey found that 85% of respondents believe interacting with pets reduces feelings of loneliness.
For someone living alone and working from home, those aren’t abstract benefits. They’re the answer to a very specific, very real gap.
The real barrier isn’t practical — it’s psychological
Looking back at my own list of conditions, I can see them for what they were: not practical requirements, but emotional guardrails. Each new condition protected me from the vulnerability of committing — of saying yes to something imperfect and trusting myself to make it work.
A Forbes Advisor survey found that 78% of pet owners they surveyed acquired their pets during the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of people were stuck at home, lonely, craving connection — and they jumped.
I had the same window. I had a house, a remote job and more free time than I knew what to do with. I didn’t jump. Not because the conditions weren’t right, but because I found a new reason to wait: no backyard.
At some point, the question shifts. It stops being “Am I ready?” and becomes “What am I actually afraid of?”
So what does readiness actually look like?
If you’re waiting for the stars to align, here’s what I’ve learned from 11 years of waiting: they won’t. There will always be a reason to hold off. The apartment is too small. The schedule is too unpredictable. The timing isn’t right.
But readiness isn’t a checklist. It’s a handful of honest questions: Do you have the time? The financial stability? The willingness to restructure parts of your day around another living thing? If the answer is yes, the rest — the yard, the house, the picture-perfect setup — is just noise.
I haven’t gotten my dog yet. But I’ve stopped pretending the reason is my apartment. The reason was always me. And once you see that clearly, the decision gets a lot simpler.
If you’re luckier than me and already have a yard, here’s how to make it their personal paradise (click here for a how-to guide).
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
