Best Dog Breeds for Apartments

What dogs do well in smaller spaces? First off, don't go believing only small dogs do. Here is a list of some breeds that--with proper exercise and attention--can thrive in apartments or condos.

Having a dog while growing up is a fond memory many of us have. I had Bear—the Newfoundland/Lab mix who was basically my nanny and make believe horse until I was in the third grade.

While we may have grown up in sprawling suburbia-land with big backyards to play in, a lot of people now live in apartments or townhomes and have limited space in which to have a dog.

So what dog breeds would make the best for apartments?

My husband and I are both “big dog” people, and did extensive research before headed down to the animal shelter and finding Roy, our two-year-old Chespeake Bay Retriever (we at first thought was a lab, oh well he's still a great dog). What we found, too, was that a lot of “best apartment breeds” websites tend to just say small dogs are best for apartments because…well…they’re small. We know from experience this isn’t always true.

Let’s take a look at some breeds, and what they would be like in an apartment. It may not include every single breed that would work, so I recommend you do your own research as well. Remember, every dog is different and you may have the only silent terrier or the loudest greyhound in history.

There are a few things to consider that you’d like in a dog.

1) Size—do you want a dog to sit in your lap or one you can ride?

2) Energy level—are you someone who spends most of your time indoors and on the couch or are you a triathalon athlete?

3) Maintenance--do you mind combing your dog every day and filling the vacuum bag every week with hair, or do you prefer a more easy to handle coat?

4) Age--a brand spankin' new puppy, a young dog or an adult? Each has benefits and drawbacks--you usually don't have to housetrain a young or adult dog, but you may have to untrain a few things as well.

5) Where to get your new dog--from a reputable breeder, a neighbor with an unexpected litter, or a rescue? Keep in mind over 7 million dogs and cats are euthanized every year because of overpopulation. We found our dog on Pet Finder, and Adopt-a-Pet is a great site, too.

6) Do you have children--not all dogs do well with a toddler pulling on their ears and trying to ride them like horses, but some breeds seem to love it.

7) Ease of training--do you want a dog that you have to work with constantly to bring out the sit and shake in them, or is an easily trainable dog more to your liking? i.e. "Rover, go turn the lights off, please."

8) Breed restrictions—many apartments complexes have restrictions on breeds allowed. Check with your landlord before getting a dog, and if you plan to move in the future to another apartment keep the major restrictions in mind.

The most popular restrictions include: Akita Inu, American Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American White Shepherd, Anatolian Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Borzoi, Bullmastiff, Bull Terrier, Ca De Bou, Cane Corso, Chow Chow, Doberman Pincher, Dogo Argentino, Dogue De Bordeaux, English Mastiff, Estrella Mountain Dog, Fila Brasileiro, German Shepherd Dog, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Irish Wolf Hound, Kangal, Komondor, Leonberger, Neapolitan Mastiff, New Foundland, Otterhound, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Scottish Deer Hound, Shar Pei, Shiba Inu, Siberian Husky, South African Boerboel, Spanish Mastiff, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tosa Inu

Let's start with small breeds that can make good apartment dogs:

Chihuahua, Dachshund, Boston terrier, Cairn terrier, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu, Maltese, Pug, Bichon Frise, Poodle, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Pekingese, Schnauzer, Scottish terrier, Yorkshire terrier, Cocker spaniel, Welsh corgi, West Highland white terrier, and the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen.

I'm not including a description of each breed because frankly it would take too much time and you might find I'm partial to one breed and prejudice against another. I adore pugs and bulldogs for their funny antics and can't stand Welsh corgis for their persistent barking. But that's because of my own personal encounters.

In my own experience, I've found that a lot of smaller dogs like terriers, dachshunds, and chihuahuas tend to be "yappy" dogs, so keep that in mind if you have thin walls. And just because these dogs are small doesn't mean they can't do a load of damage if left untrained and unexercised. They still need a daily walk and good mental stimulation--just maybe not as much as a border collie.

Medium sized dogs that do well in apartments:

American Eskimo, Basenji, Beagle, Basset Hound, Boxer, Cocker spaniel, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Shetland Sheepdog, Welsh corgi, Whippet, and the Italian greyhound.

A few of these dogs may be a bit louder than others--a basset hound may howl and basenjis actually don't bark but yodel. And some-like beagles-only make good apartment dogs if given plenty of exercise and things to do. Like any dogs, though, even if they seem perfectly content to lounge on the couch they too need their exercise and discipline.

Large to Giant sized dogs for apartments:

First, let me say I've seen a lot of lists that completely disregard any larger dog living in an apartment or in the city. Some go so far as to say it's cruel. But let me say that I know a Great Dane--Daisy--who was perfectly content with her owner's one bedroom apartment. And you can ask my 90-pound Chessy, Roy, if he's happy. That is, when he wakes up from his nap after having exhausted himself on a long walk and a romp at the dog park and a big bowl of food. I don't think he's complaining.

Malamute, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, Mastiff, Bullmastiff, Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Old English Sheepdog, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, and German Shepherd.

Now this list isn't comprehensive but it may give you a good place to start. Do your homework before you decide on a certain breed, and be honest with yourself if you really want a beautiful Golden Retriever who needs at least a good hour walk and a brushing every day.

Sidenote: We originally thought our Roy was a chocolate lab, but after a year we're pretty sure he's a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. They may look like labs but they are VERY different. He's smarter, much more of a guard dog, can be a bit more aggressive, and has more energy than a typical lab. Knowing that helps us make sure we keep on top of his exercise and socialization, and a year and a half in he's still a great dog to have around! Just a heads up if you see a "chocolate lab" in the pound and you really want a LAB, thoroughly inspect him and know the difference between labs and Chessies.

What may help you decide on a breed is making a list of things you want and don't want from a dog. The main point is that you find the best dog for your personality and lifestyle. And like I said, each dog is different and you can have a totally mellow terrier or a hyperactive Great Dane.

I'm a big fan of rescuing dogs--not only do you save their life but there's a good chance that the shelter or foster parent will be able to fill you in on the dog's energy level, personality and habits.

A few dogs that may not be the best apartment dogs are (and again, every dog is different, this is just based on breed generalities): Dalmations, Weimaraners, Doberman Pinschers, herding breeds like Border Collies or Corgis, Siberian Huskies, Airedale Terriers, and some sporting breeds like setters or even retrievers depending on their energy levels.

If you've ever watched the Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan, you know his motto is that dogs need exercise, discipline and affection in that order. Any dog not given a chance to work his body or brain can develop destructive or even aggressive behaviors. If you have a higher energy dog, it may be fun to try agility classes or tracking training. And a good romp in the dog park never hurts, either. At home, you can teach your dog to play games like finding a hidden toy or treat (or you), picking up toys to put away, or fun tricks like dancing, acting shy, or playing dead.

When you adopt a dog, you need to be willing to adopt it for life--not until you move to a smaller place, it gets injured or you think you don't have the time for it. A dog will give you unyielding affection, and deserves the same from you.

And if you're thinking about having kids in the future, read Why Dogs Are Good Preparation for Kids!