Dog Breeds Best Suitable for Apartment Living

What are the best apartment dog breeds? Well, we are glad you asked.

It’s important to be a considerate pet owner in your apartment community. You have to remember that apartment life isn’t suitable for all pets and that certain breeds of dogs are more adaptable to apartment conditions than others.

In this post, we take a look at the ten best dog breeds suitable for your apartment. Plus, with the help of ForRent.com and their extensive dog breed research, you’ll find a helpful infographic for narrowing down your doggy adoption options at the end of this article.

Top 10 Dog Breeds Suitable for Apartment Communities

Note all the following dog breeds were chosen based on their size and ability to do well in small spaces. Understand some pet-friendly apartment communities will restrict breeds based on size and other traits.  Below are our picks for the best and most commonly accepted apartment dogs.

1. Pug

These adorable and silly, little guys are one of best breeds for apartment dwellers. You don’t have to worry about too much shedding or taking your pug out for vigorous exercise. These dogs are often friendly towards strangers and great with kids. Just keep in mind that you will need to watch their health as they are prone to eye and breathing issues.

2. Shih Tzu

Shih Tzus make great lap dogs and tend to be calm-natured and affectionate. They’re don’t require much exercise and typically fine left alone. However, keep in mind they do have a high rate of barking. Also, Shih Tzus are among the few breeds whose coat is made up of hair instead of fur, so they will lightly shed their hair daily, similar to people.

3. Chihuahua

Chihuahuas have a low rate of shedding and are easy to groom. Though they like to run around, their tiny size allows them to achieve most of their exercise indoors. However, they do develop a high attachment to their owners and don’t like being left alone too long. They also have moderate to high barking and aren’t too fond of strangers.

4. Bichon Frise

Believe it or not, these fluff-balls have a low rate of shedding. However, they can get tricky to keep well groomed. They do have a friendly disposition though and bark rather infrequently.

5. French Bulldog

French Bulldogs have a friendly disposition and low energy needs. While easy to groom, they tend to be a more frequent shedder. They have an average to high rate of barking but make great apartment watchdogs.

6. Corgi

Corgis are friendly-natured dogs that generally don’t do much barking. However, they have a higher rate of shedding and their adorably stubby legs need plenty of exercise.

7. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

This super loyal and affection breed has a friendly disposition and moderate to low barking. They’re small, but not too small, making them an excellent size for apartments. However, note they can be difficult to house train, shed, and do require daily walking.

8. Maltese 

These little, cutie pies are affectionate with little shedding. However, they are known for separation anxiety and require their owner to remain home as much as possible.

9. Dachshund

Dachshunds make great cuddle buddies but beware of their vocal tendencies. Their little legs only require a small amount of walking and can exercise mostly indoors. While moderate shedders, they are easy to groom. 

10. Yorkshire Terrier

Though they have an average to a high rate of barking, they’re petite, affectionate, and require minimum exercise.

Ready to adopt a furry roommate? Check out the infographic below for more information. 

Best Dog Breeds for Your Apartment Created By ForRent.com