Tiny Space, Big Love: 12 Best Dogs for Apartment Living
Some dog breeds need a lot of room—a big house, a big yard, and plenty of space to exert energy. Other dogs are perfectly happy living in smaller spaces like apartments, and a good vigorous walk every day is plenty of exercise for their energy needs.
When you consult a dog trainer or canine behavioral expert on the best dog breeds for apartments, they’ll ask you to consider four very basic points:
- How big is the dog? Will it be easy to find an apartment building that allows dogs of that size?
- How much energy does the dog have? Does this dog breed need to run, or are they more of a couch potato?
- How much does this dog breed bark? Is it a quiet breed, or will you need to be concerned about noise complaints from neighbors?
- How trainable is this dog breed? Dogs in apartment buildings need to be well-behaved and under owner control at all times—will this dog breed adapt well to routines and rules?
Of the hundreds of dog breeds in the world, we’ve narrowed it down to a dozen of the best dogs for apartments recommended by dog trainers like Russell Hartstein (in an interview with ApartmentTherapy.com), Stephanie Bennett (in an interview with Click2Houston), Garret Wing (who we’ll cover a little more in just a moment) and many others. You’ll need to read until the end to find out what the #1 best apartment dog is, but you’re also certain to discover breeds you might not have considered for your small space lifestyle.
12. Basset Hound
Often slow-moving and tough to wake up in the morning, the Basset Hound loves a life of leisure and doesn’t demand much space as long as it has a soft bed. The one downside of Basset Hounds as apartment dogs is their love of barking—Bassets are vocal, but you can easily work with your pooch to teach them to use their inside voice.
11. Bedlington Terrier
Bedlington Terriers do very well in small spaces like apartments as long as they also get plenty of exercise. If you are an especially active person and are willing/able to bring your dog to parks to run, on long hikes, or involve them in canine sports, the Bedlington could be for you!
10. Bichon Frise
These sweet, curious little dogs are alert and a little more vocal and a little more high energy than the ideal apartment dog—but they make up for it with their excellent manners! The Bichon Frise is quick to pick up on rules and super eager to please, and with enough mental stimulation they live well in small spaces.
9. Biewer Terrier
Pronounced “Beaver Terrier,” this widely unknown dog is goofy, and fun-loving, but relatively low energy, especially for a terrier. A unique, extremely small breed, the Biewer Terrier enjoys playing, going for walks, and light exercise, but won’t be demanding hours of running or strenuous activity.
8. Greyhound
Yes, big dogs can be apartment-friendly, too! Nicknamed 40-mile-per-hour Couch Potatoes, Greyhounds defy their racing history by preferring to lounge on a soft surface over any other activity. Gentle and reserved, Greyhounds are the perfect large apartment dog.
7. American Eskimo Dog
American Eskimo Dogs, but all of them are under 35 pounds and great apartment dogs! Loyal and intelligent American Eskimo Dogs like light exercise and outdoor activities but don’t need hours of exercise a day. The three sizes of American Eskimo Dog are Toy, Miniature, and Standard. Here’s how big you can expect each variety to be as an adult:
6. Maltese
If small size is the most important factor for your apartment lifestyle, you can’t get much smaller than the Maltese! These teeny tiny friendly dogs are playful and have moderate energy levels, but they’re far more interested in mental stimulation than physical exercise. Cheerful and social but very gentle and non-reactive, Maltese also do well in buildings with lots of people and other dogs.
5. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the best dog breeds for seniors thanks to their gentle nature, bright intellect, and calm personality. These qualities also make them good apartment dogs, and they’re mentioned by most trainers and behavior experts when recommending breeds for small living.
4. French Bulldog
French Bulldogs recently earned their crown as the most popular dog breed in the United States, and this likely has a little something to do with apartment dwellers. Great apartment dogs with relatively low space and exercise needs, French Bulldogs are also one of the few “bully breeds” regularly allowed by rental companies, landlords, and HOAs.
3. Italian Greyhound
The tiny version of the majestic race dogs the Italian Greyhound is one of the best small dogs for apartments! Sometimes described as cat-like, Italian Greyhounds are typically quiet little dogs who love to find the warmest place in your home and nap there all day. The American Kennel Club describes Italian Greyhounds as “decorative couch dogs,” and while they do enjoy playing and might experience occasional bursts of zoomies, the IG loves to lounge.
2. Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu almost placed first on our list of the best apartment dogs because trainers almost always mention this breed. Cheerful, easy to train, good with other dogs, and relatively low energy, Shih Tzus adapt very well to life in small spaces. Because they are so social, Shih Tzus do very well at community potty spots and rooftop dog runs.
Shih Tzus are usually very quick to learn new routines and training, but there is one common complaint about the breed: potty training. Luckily, if you live in an apartment, you can easily teach a Shih Tzu to use a puppy pad or indoor potty spot.
1. Pug
Our number one pick for the all-around best apartment dog is the Pug! Trainers like those mentioned above also recommend pugs, but one viral video really has us convinced. In a TikTok video that now has more than 32K likes, dog trainer Garret Wing shares why Pugs make the best dogs for an apartment: “It’s small, it’s friendly, and it doesn’t bark a lot, and it does not require a lot of exercise which makes it great for living in an apartment.”
Not only do Pugs not need very much exercise, but strenuous exercise can actually be harmful to your Pug. Thanks to their flat faces, many Pugs have difficulty breathing and can have bad reactions to exercise. Life in an apartment usually doesn’t offer much opportunity for long runs or overexertion—and Pugs like the easy life!