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The #1 Worst Dog Breed For Apartments, According To Property Managers & Renters
Rocky Kanaka
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There are many reasons landlords, property management companies, and rental managers ban certain dog breeds—and not all of them are fair. Some breed restrictions are based on unfair and biased breed stereotypes that mislabel certain dogs—like notoriously gentle Great Danes—as aggressive. Other breed restrictions are a little more reasonable and are put in place for the peace, quiet, and comfort of the residents of the building.
The worst dogs for apartments are high-energy dogs that need a lot of exercise and can get loud when they aren’t getting adequate stimulation. Other breeds are built to be single-family dogs and may feel insecure and territorial in buildings with many people coming and going. Some of the worst apartment dogs simply don’t fit in smaller spaces, either physically or psychologically.
Here, we’re counting down the worst dog breeds for apartments based on comments, advice, and the experiences of property managers and apartment renters. Our 10 worst apartment dogs aren’t necessarily dogs who would make a breed-ban list. Instead, these are breeds that property managers often see reported for sound complaints, territorial or reactive behavior, making messes, and other signs of under-stimulation.
Of course, the worst apartment dogs are ultimately going to be the dogs whose owners aren’t prepared to care for them. With the right owner, almost any dog can happily live in an apartment.
10. Dachshunds
Quick Facts:
- Height: 8–9 inches (standard), 5–6 inches (miniature)
- Weight: 16–32 pounds (standard), 11 pounds or less (miniature)
- Energy Level: 3/5
- Barking: 5/5
- Trainability: 4/5
With a score of 5/5 for barking, Dachshunds are considered extremely vocal—not an ideal trait for apartment life! Dachshunds are also notorious mischief makers and can quickly become destructive and frustrated without the right amount of attention. Potty training can sometimes also be an issue for this breed which demonstrates a certain amount of stubbornness. Some people have incredible success with Dachshunds in apartments, but you’ll need to invest a lot of effort.
“Potty training dachshunds is usually universally hard, regardless of if you live in a house or apartment, because they’re stubborn about potty training,” says a comment from a Reddit user who has lived in apartments with their Dachshunds. “For barking… man oh man I wish I had good advice. But socialize your pup as often as you can! Give them lots of treats every time a guest comes over and they don’t bark. Have your guests give them treats too when they come over. The idea is to have them be rewarded for being a welcoming presence when someone comes by or walks by, instead of territorial.”
9. Yorkshire Terriers
Quick Facts:
- Height: 7–8 inches
- Weight: 7 pounds or less
- Energy Level: 4/5
- Barking: 4/5
- Trainability: 4/5
You might think this adorable little dog breed would be perfect for apartment living, but don’t let the size fool you! Yorkies are very vocal little dogs and can be extremely territorial and protective of their humans and homes. This makes Yorkshire Terriers a bit of a liability in apartment buildings where they might bother neighbors with their barking or get you reported for not tolerating other dogs.
8. Beagles
Quick Facts:
- Height: 15 inches or less
- Weight: 30 pounds or less
- Energy Level: 4/5
- Barking: 4/5
- Trainability: 3/5
If you’ve ever met a Beagle, you’ll know instantly why they shouldn’t be apartment dogs. Extremely vocal dogs with high prey drive and a quick alert reflex, Beagles don’t care if quiet hours start at 10 pm in your building. Though some might say the Beagle’s gentle spirit and sweet nature make it a good dog for urban living, this breed needs more space to run and play than an apartment can usually provide.
7. Border Collies
Quick Facts:
- Height: 18–22 inches
- Weight: 30–55 pounds
- Energy Level: 5/5
- Barking: 4/5
- Trainability: 5/5
Herding breeds like Border Collies often do badly in apartments due to lack of space. Without the mental and physical stimulation of outdoor space to run and explore, hyper-intelligent and high-energy breeds can become bored, and their mental health can suffer. If, however, you lead an active lifestyle and can spend lots of time with your Border Collie, this isn’t the worst apartment dog breed. On the other hand, Border Collies can be a little skittish of new people, busy environments, and odd sounds, so city life in general may not be right for this breed.
“There are a lot of border collies that would find the city environment stressful. Anyone who wants a border collie in an area with a lot of noise and bustle should be quite selective about where they get their dog from, and be prepared to learn a lot about socialization and desensitization,” says a Reddit comment from an experienced Border Collie owner. “I have two working line BC’s – one would do fine in an apartment, and the other would be miserable. Both are quite temperamentally appropriate for the breed, but a breed-appropriate temperament does not necessarily correspond with traits that lead to successful city living.”
6. Siberian Huskies
Quick Facts:
- Height: 20–23.5 inches
- Weight: 35–60 pounds
- Energy Level: 5/5
- Barking: 5/5
- Trainability: 3/5
Have you ever heard a Husky howl or throw a tantrum? If you have, you know exactly why this breed isn’t apartment-friendly and why so many building managers restrict them. Siberian Huskies also aren’t huge fans of being inside. Most Huskies would prefer to be outdoors at all times if possible, and many apartments don’t have any accessible outdoor space. Huskies also shed a lot, which can be a huge pain in a small space.
5. Jack Russell Terriers
Quick Facts:
- Height: 10–12 inches
- Weight: 9–15 pounds
- Energy Level: 5/5
- Barking: 4/5
- Trainability: 3/5
Sometimes nicknamed “Jack Russell Terrors,” the Jack Russell Terrier is a breed designed for the fast life. High-energy, extremely vocal, and not particularly friendly with strangers or other dogs, the Jack Russell Terrier does not thrive in large apartment buildings or urban settings without space to run and play.
4. Australian Cattle Dogs
Quick Facts:
- Height: 17–20 inches
- Weight: 35–50 pounds
- Energy Level: 5/5
- Barking: 1/5
- Trainability: 4/5
A high-maintenance, high-energy breed, the Australian Cattle Dog is more like an Energizer Bunny than a family pet. Working dogs bred to herd and manage cattle and sheep, the Australian Cattle Dog is a fearless and physically impressive breed. For the average dog owner, keeping this kind of breed active enough in an apartment is an enormous task.
“I have an Australian Cattle Dog and live in a two-bedroom apartment. My boyfriend and I basically rearranged our lifestyle to fit our ACD,” says a comment on a Reddit thread about keeping Australian Cattle Dogs in apartments. “We make sure we run her once if not twice every day. She either plays with another dog, plays fetch, or we take her on a 2-mile hike. I try mentally stimulating her while we’re at work with things like frozen stuffed Kongs or treat puzzles. This breed has a lot of energy and requires a specific amount of exercise. That’s how she ended up in a shelter, I don’t think the people before us realized just how much energy they have.”
3. Bluetick Coonhounds
Quick Facts:
- Height: 21–27 inches
- Weight: 45–80 pounds
- Energy Level: 4/5
- Barking: 4/5
- Trainability: 4/5
Originally bred for hunting and incredible physical stamina, Bluetick Coonhounds are virtually impossible to tire out and quick to become destructive when loud. Like most hounds, Bluetick Coonhounds bay—a type of barking that sort of sounds like a deep, super-loud howl. The bay of a Bluetick is enough to earn you at least a few noise complaints, and the destruction a bored Coonhound could cause to your rental can quickly become expensive.
2. German Shepherds
Quick Facts:
- Height: 22–26 inches
- Weight: 50–90 pounds
- Energy Level: 5/5
- Barking: 3/5
- Trainability: 5/5
German Shepherds need a lot of physical and mental stimulation—literally hours a day of exercise, training, puzzles, and enrichment. Without the right amount of daily exercise, German Shepherds can become extremely reactive, destructive, and territorial—they’ll basically try to find stimulation wherever they can.
Their need for stimulation can make German Shepherds a real nuisance to your apartment building neighbors. For example, this Reddit user’s post describing a GSD with a serious barking problem: “[My neighbor is] never home, he leaves around 6 am and doesn’t get home 6-days-of-the-week until 11 pm. [His German Shepherd] sits by the window and barks if a flipping bird flies by, sounding like it’s ready to murder the thing, let alone if a person tries to walk by…I never used to hate dogs but after 3 years of this I kind of do now…”
1. Belgian Malinois
Quick Facts:
- Height: 22–26 inches
- Weight: 40–80 pounds
- Energy Level: 4/5
- Barking: 3/5
- Trainability: 5/5
The Belgian Malinois is one of the few dog breeds we advise most dog owners to avoid. A magnificent dog with incredible intelligence, strength, and working intensity, the Belgian Malinois is quite frankly too much dog for the average person. If you’re someone who lives in an apartment in the city with a busy lifestyle and needs to leave your dog alone for long periods of time, you especially shouldn’t choose a Belgian Malinois.
“I [had a Malinois in] an 1,110 sq foot apartment. I do not recommend it. Not at all. Not even for a couple of months,” says a Reddit user’s comment describing their experience owning a Malinois while living in small spaces. “Neighbors hated me. The Malinois disliked me. People at the complex’s dog park hated me and disliked the Malinois. Daily walks weren’t what was needed; long ball sessions were and it was not easy getting those in routinely. Needless to say, there was no deposit returned.”
If this list has you fearing that you’ll never own a dog as an apartment dweller, don’t worry! There are many apartment-friendly dog breeds like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and even large breeds like the Greyhound.
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