Sunnyglade9' Patio Umbrella Outdoor Table Umbrella with 8 Sturdy Ribs

Q: Would this be too big for a townhouse patio?

Not sure expends on the area you have

Q: I am using it in a dog area. How tall is the pole? Tall enuf to walk under? Is pole sturdy enough to insert in the ground?

It's about 8' tall, but the umbrella edges come down to about 6 1/2' (untilted, obviously lower on the tilted side if you go that far), so unless you play basketball, you're probably fine. The pole is hollow, strong but thin. It's meant to be held in a weighted base on the ground which is not included. Some are concrete (best acquired locally) but some are water-filled for easy portability. Both add some inches to the overall height, and usually have a bolt to lock the pole in place. We just went through days of wind storms, and I never worried about it coming out (though I also put a zippered cover on the umbrella, which may streamline it a bit)