Both the good and the bad sides of pet ownership can be amplified when you and your pet are sharing a tiny space, with little space to separate you  from each other and the surrounding apartments. Territorial issues may develop, your neighbors might not appreciate your pet's rambunctiousness at all hours of the night, and bigger pets may feel a little cramped without room to roam. So how to make life comfortable for all members of your household when you're sharing a tiny space? Here are a few tips.

Give your pet his or her own space. Small or large, a pet needs a space to call his own in your place, just like you do. Give your pet a bed, a basket for toys, or even a small closet that's all his own so that he can feel comfortable in your place. Even if your pet doesn't use this space all the time, he'll appreciate having a designated comfort zone.

Be respectful of other people. You might find your pet's midnight romps amusing, but your downstairs neighbors probably don't. When you're living in close proximity to other people with your pet, you need to be especially mindful not to disturb other tenants or let your pet make messes in common areas.

Pay attention to your pet's personality. Some pets are high energy while others are content to lie next to you while you watch TV. Very often, pets act out when they don't get their needs met, whether that's for play, attention, or health reasons, so it's critical to pay close attention to what your pet is telling you for both of you to live happily in your space.

Get moving! Pets need exercise just like people do in order to stay physically and mentally fit. For dogs, this means daily walks outside, perhaps to a nearby park. For cats, a variety of toys and frequent playtime can help them to stay fit. 

Make your apartment safe. Pets can get into all kinds of mischief when you're not around to watch them (and even when you are) so you want to make sure that your apartment is free from as many dangers as possible. This means getting rid of any potentially toxic plants, keeping sharp or dangerous items put away, or anything that could harm your pets safely stored or out of reach.

Have firm rules. If your dog isn't allowed on your couch or your cat isn't allowed to sleep in your bed, those rules should be enforced all of the time, not some of the time. Otherwise, you could end up in a battle with your pet as he or she is unable to determine what's ok and what's not.

Add decor that's pet friendly. When you have a pet, you have to take them into consideration when choosing items for decorating your house ,as your pet will be using your furniture, too. Choose colors, fabrics, and finishes that can stand up to the wear and tear pets and their people will be putting on them and avoid fragile items that might get broken. 

Cater to natural instincts. Cats have a natural drive to sharpen their claws, and if there's no scratching post on hand, they'll do in on your furniture or even the walls and wood trim of your apartment (goodbye security deposit!). In order to keep you both happy, provide your cat with several approved places to sharpen those claws. The same goes for dogs, who might want to dig in plants or chew up your shoes if they're not given alternatives. 

Watch out for odors. In a small space, even the slightest odor can be overwhelming. Keep pet food cleaned up, clean out cat boxes daily, and give your dog a bath if he or she is starting to stink up the place. It might be more work, but it'll be healthier and happier for the both of you.

By Leonard Baron

Selecting another individual to live with is an important decision. There are many things you should consider related to compatible lifestyles, work schedules, and financial stability. I've put together a list of several of the issues and behaviors you should consider when evaluating your next roommate because sometimes simply living with your best friend isn't the best solution. Cleanliness. Some people don’t mind dirty dishes in the sink, dog hair on the floor, or not regularly cleaning the shared bathroom, whereas some people are very picky about these things and work hard to keep their home clean and free of clutter. Those two types of people do not match, so make sure you match up with your type.

• Bills for utilities. Does your potential roommate pay his or her bills on time? Whoever is responsible for paying for the utilities will want prompt payment from the other party, so have an open discussion with your potential co-tenant on your expectations about bill due dates.
• Transportation arrangements. You don’t want to be responsible for driving around someone else or having to constantly lend your car to them. This is especially true since they probably will not have the proper insurance if they don’t have a car, so make sure you are comfortable with their transportation issues.
• Work and home schedules. If you are a nine-to-five worker and they are a five-to-nine one, that could work out if you're both respectful of one another's rest time. But if your roommate comes home late at night and makes lots of noise, causing you to wake up, that might not be the best living situation.
• Guests or family visits. You should also talk about family and guests who might come to stay with you. What is a reasonable time limit, number of people, and frequency of visits? After all, wouldn't you want to know beforehand if your roommate has seven siblings who like to come stay all the time?
• Significant other issues. If your roommate has a boyfriend or girlfriend, it could be a problem if you essentially get an extra roommate there all the time. Also, will utilities and rent be adjusted due to that extra person?
• Loud noise and disturbances. Bongo drums, electric guitars, motorcycles, and surround sound all can be very annoying to the person who isn’t the offender. Find out beforehand if noise might be an issue and if they'll be responsible and reasonable if the neighbors complain. You don't want to end up having to deal with the issue yourself.
• Drinking or smoking. Does your potential roommate smoke or drink heavily? Make sure you are comfortable with someone who might have excessive use of any of these items. You'll want to make sure the flip side is true, too – if you drink or smoke, make sure your roommate is fine with this.
• Businesses from home. Will a co-tenant be storing inventory at the house, having clients stop by, or conducting any type of business at the property? There might be lease or insurance issues with businesses from home, so think that through.
• Chores and shared duties. Mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, emptying the dishwasher, cleaning out the refrigerator, and regular general cleaning are all chores that will need to be done. Work out a schedule to make it fair for all roommates and make sure all roommates are comfortable sharing that responsibility.
• Pets and pet responsibilities. If your roommate has a dog, cat, snake, ferret, or fish, make sure you're okay with that. A good thing to figure out beforehand too is who will pick up after the pet and handle any nuisance issues, like too much barking.

All of these are great things to discuss with any potential roommate to make sure you're both on the same page before signing a lease together. But remember to check their financial picture, employment, income, credit and references as well, especially if you don't know the person well. This will hopefully help you avoid a co-tenant who can’t pay their fair share of the rent. Do the hard work upfront so that you both will have a good co-habitation experience.

As a pet owner myself, I’ve learned that there are lots of things you can do to make your pet feel at ease in an apartment or house. This knowledge is gained from watching and observing my pets over the years, from the veterinarian’s tips, and from noticing what always seemed to make them happy and comfortable. I get the feeling my brown Lab Buckley would agree with these items — that is, if he could only talk.

First, make sure your co-tenants, whether friends or family, are okay with having a pet in the unit. There is nothing worse than when one of the residents of the apartment does not like the dog or cat of another tenant. All residents should agree that the pet is welcome before you bring a pet into the home. Dogs can bark, cats can claw, and both can whine, cry, or make a mess on the floor – all of that is just part of owning a pet. But even though you may understand and accept this, your roommates may not, so make sure that they are willing to deal with these potential issues.

If all tenants are okay with the idea of having the pet, you want to next make sure the apartment or house has enough room for everyone. Just as you want to make sure that your shoes fit your feet, make sure that your place fits for your pet. Larger dogs are not well-suited for small apartments and you should try your best to avoid putting them in that environment. They need room to move around and stretch their legs, so if you do have a larger dog, a house would be a much better bet, particularly if it has a doggie door to an open yard. This way, your canine companion will be free to run around, fetch a ball, or just nap in the warm sun.

Smaller dogs, like Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, and small poodles, are a better fit for an apartment unit as they're more likely to find apartments sufficiently spacious. In addition, cats fit well into pretty much any situation, especially since many are inside-only cats. Cats are also clean, quiet, and generally low maintenance.

Another important tip to keep your pet happy is to pay adequate attention to them. If you are typically out all day at work, try to get a neighbor, friend, or dog walker to go visit and walk them. This is because animals, just like humans, get lonely when left alone. If you are just now considering getting a pet, make sure you will have the time to take care of it and be a good parent. Also, be sure to consider the costs for food, vet bills, etc. before you commit to a pet. Those expenses can really add up.

Additionally, if your job demands that you are going to be gone for longer periods of time on certain days or on uneven schedules, make sure there is adequate water and food for your pet. Most pets can do fine for those long periods of time, but just like humans, they do not like to be hungry or thirsty. And since nature sometimes calls, consider getting your pet an indoor "potty station." One great product made is a small, green synthetic grass pad on a plastic base that you can train your dog to use inside, just in case nature's call can't wait for you to get home to take them outside.

One more thing to keep in mind is that pets typically like to look out the windows to watch passersby, whether it is people or cars. If you can set up an area where your pet can keep an eye on things going on outside, that will keep them content and entertained. Plus, this front row seat also means that they'll be right there wagging their tails or purring when you get home! A happy pet that's excited to see you can turn a day around.

Finally, don't forget about the needed outside and walk time that is important for dogs. They love to stroll around, get pet by others, and interact with other dogs. As an added bonus, they are great for striking up a conversion with someone you might want to ask out on a date! Therefore, living in a place that's near a dog park or simply living in a pet-friendly community is a big plus for a man’s (or woman’s) best friend. Make sure to get your pups out enough so they can get the exercise they need and become familiar with the area where you live, just in case they get out by mistake. And don’t forget to take a doggie bag with you!

All in all, pets can make great companions for humans and bring lots of cheer and love to their owners. In fact, I highly recommend having one. But make sure that you give your pet as much love as it gives you by being responsible and committed to returning that happiness. Take great care of your pet, giving them a nice, comfortable, and suitable place to live, and they'll be your faithful companion for years to come.