For a lot of people, the dog is the deciding vote. You can fall for a floorplan, the light and the kitchen, but if the building doesn’t suit the dog, it doesn’t suit you. And while more Melburnians are choosing apartments as a long-term home, plenty still assume a dog means a backyard.
It doesn’t have to. The right dog friendly apartments in Melbourne can give you and your dog a better day to day life than a house in the wrong spot. This guide, part of our Apartment Living series, covers the rules, what to look for in a building and a neighbourhood, and what dog life looks like at East Brunswick Village.
What makes an apartment dog friendly
A building that allows dogs isn’t automatically a good place to have one. Allowed is the starting point. Dog friendly is about how easy the everyday is.
Think about a normal day. The first walk of the morning, the evening walk and the last trip out before bed. A dog friendly apartment makes each of those simple. A building that only tolerates dogs makes each of them a small negotiation.
The difference usually comes down to three things: the rules, the building itself and what’s within walking distance. Get all three right and the backyard stops being something you miss.
Pet friendly apartments in Melbourne: the rules
Victoria is one of the more pet friendly places in Australia to live in an apartment, but it’s worth knowing how the rules work before you buy or rent.
If you own, the owners corporation runs the shared parts of the building, like the lobby, lifts, gardens and car park. In Victoria, an owners corporation can’t stop you from keeping a pet in your own apartment. It can make reasonable rules about pets in common areas, such as keeping dogs on a lead, and it can act if a pet becomes a genuine nuisance or danger. Ask for a copy of the owners corporation rules before you sign, so you know exactly how dogs are managed around the building.
If you rent, you’ll need your rental provider’s consent to keep a pet, and they can’t unreasonably refuse it. They also can’t charge a separate pet bond. You’ll still need to follow the owners corporation rules for common areas, so it’s worth reading them too.
Assistance dogs are treated differently and aren’t counted as pets. Consumer Affairs Victoria has the details on all of this, and it’s the best place to check before you commit.
What to look for in the building
Once the rules are clear, look at the building through your dog’s eyes.
Start with getting in and out. A ground floor apartment or a short trip in the lift makes the last walk of the night much easier. Ask how close the nearest exit is to grass, and whether you can get outside without going through a busy lobby.
Next, think about cleaning up. Melbourne weather means wet, muddy paws for half the year. A dog wash in the building or nearby saves your floors and your bathroom. Inside the apartment, hard floors and good storage make the dog’s gear easy to live with.
Then look at space and light. A dog that can see outside and lie in a patch of sun is a calmer dog. A balcony or a larger layout gives everyone room, which matters more on the days you work from home together.
Finally, notice who else has a dog. Other dog owners in the building are a good sign the place works for dogs, and they’re usually the quickest way to find out which parks and cafes are worth your time.
What to look for in the neighbourhood
The neighbourhood does as much work as the apartment. Most dogs need at least one good walk a day, and the best areas make that walk something you both look forward to.
Green space is the obvious one. A park within a few minutes’ walk, and ideally a longer trail for weekends, makes daily exercise easy. Creek trails and larger parks give you variety, so the walk doesn’t feel like the same loop every day.
Then look for the small things that make life with a dog easier: cafes that welcome dogs, a vet and a pet supplies store nearby, and quiet streets where a slow walk is pleasant rather than stressful. A neighbourhood where people stop to say hello to your dog is one where you’ll get to know people quickly too.
Choosing a dog for apartment living
Apartment living with a dog works best when the dog suits the life you have. Size matters less than most people expect. Energy level, how much a dog barks and how well it copes with time alone usually matter more.
Some large breeds are calm indoors and happy with a long daily walk, while some small breeds are busy and vocal. If you’re still choosing, we’ve put together a guide to 15 of the best apartment friendly dogs, with breeds that tend to settle well in apartments.
Whatever the breed, routine helps. Regular walks, a set place to sleep and some time spent getting used to lifts, stairs and neighbours make the move easier for any dog.
Dog friendly Brunswick: life with a dog at East Brunswick Village
At East Brunswick Village, dogs are part of everyday life. The village was designed as a neighbourhood rather than a single building, and that makes a big difference when you have a dog. You can step out of your building into laneways and gardens rather than straight onto a main road.
The village has its own self-serve dog wash, so muddy paws get dealt with before they reach the front door. It’s one of those small things that makes a big difference through a Melbourne winter.
For the morning walk, Fleming Park is a short stroll away, and Merri Creek and its trail are close by for longer weekend walks. Brunswick East has a long tradition of dogs being part of local life, and it shows on any weekend morning.
The village’s retailers welcome dogs too. Bellboy makes puppuccinos, which makes the morning coffee run a joint outing. Bellboy features in our guide to the best cafes in Brunswick.
That community side is what we think makes apartment living work best, with or without a dog. We’ve written more about it in our guide to apartment living in Melbourne.
Dog friendly apartments in Melbourne, at Elm Grove
The best dog friendly apartments in Melbourne combine a home with room to live, a building that makes the everyday easy, and a neighbourhood built for walking. At Elm Grove, the newest address at East Brunswick Village, all three come together.
Elm Grove sits on the quiet northern edge of the village, on its own street address, a short walk from Fleming Park. It’s entirely residential, with large one, two and three bedroom apartments, generous storage and room to live and entertain. Every home is all electric, with an average 8 star NatHERS energy rating, and the building has achieved Operational Carbon Neutral status.
Elm Grove is now complete, and residents are already moving in, dogs included.
