Best Dog Breeds for Apartments
From snub-nosed couch potatoes to elegant 45-mph sprinters who nap 18 hours a day, these are the breeds apartment dwellers swear by. Vote up the ones that make small-space living work.
What counts: Ranking reflects a blend of low exercise/space needs, low-to-moderate barking, manageable grooming, and general temperament suited to close-quarters, thin-walled living — not overall 'best dog' quality. All weights and 0-10 ratings (energy, barking, shedding, apartment suitability) are approximate a
America's most registered breed for several years running, and it's not hard to see why in a condo: short walks satisfy them, they rarely bark, and their entire personality is 'lap decoration.' The catch is a flat face that struggles with heat and stairs, but for pure apartment e
Adult Weight: 25 lbEnergy Level: 4/10Barking Tendency: 3/10Shedding: 3/10Apartment Suitability: 9/10
added by IJRin 2 rankingsFrench Bulldog
0
Bred literally to sit on royal laps, the Cavalier has never needed a backyard to be happy — just a person to sit next to. Gentle, quiet, and adaptable, it's the breed most likely to nap through your neighbor's leaf blower without a peep.
Adult Weight: 15 lbEnergy Level: 5/10Barking Tendency: 3/10Shedding: 5/10Apartment Suitability: 9/10
added by IJRin 2 rankingsCavalier King Charles Spaniel
0.2.jpg?width=512)
The 'American Gentleman' earns its reputation with a tuxedo coat and an easygoing, low-bark temperament that landlords love. It's sturdy enough for city sidewalks yet content to spend the afternoon curled on the sofa.
Adult Weight: 20 lbEnergy Level: 5/10Barking Tendency: 4/10Shedding: 3/10Apartment Suitability: 9/10
added by IJRBoston Terrier
0
Bred inside Chinese imperial palaces to be a companion and nothing else, the Shih Tzu has zero interest in acreage — it wants a cushion and a view of the room. Centuries of indoor breeding made this arguably the original apartment dog.
Adult Weight: 12 lbEnergy Level: 4/10Barking Tendency: 4/10Shedding: 3/10Apartment Suitability: 9/10
added by IJRin 3 rankingsShih Tzu
0
Cuba's national dog was practically engineered on tiny colonial verandas, and it shows: silky, sturdy, and famously trainable, it thrives on companionship over space. Its comic 'Havanese spring' bounce is a favorite party trick in tight living rooms.
Adult Weight: 12 lbEnergy Level: 5/10Barking Tendency: 5/10Shedding: 3/10Apartment Suitability: 9/10
added by IJRin 2 rankingsHavanese
0English Bulldog
The ultimate low-energy roommate — a 15-minute walk and a nap on the tile floor is basically its whole day. Health issues and heat sensitivity keep it from the very top, but as a quiet, space-efficient couch fixture it has few rivals.
Adult Weight: 50 lbEnergy Level: 2/10Barking Tendency: 3/10Shedding: 4/10Apartment Suitability: 8/10
added by IJR
0Pug
Another palace-bred lapdog, the Pug's motto might as well be 'multum in parvo' — a lot of dog in a small space, literally the breed's own tagline. Snoring roommate energy, minimal barking, and a devotion to naps make it an apartment classic.
Adult Weight: 16 lbEnergy Level: 4/10Barking Tendency: 3/10Shedding: 6/10Apartment Suitability: 8/10
added by IJRin 2 rankings
0Bichon Frise
A fluffy white cloud that was a fixture of French royal courts and street performers alike, the Bichon is cheerful, hypoallergenic-leaning, and built for indoor life. Its biggest apartment liability is a tendency to sound the alarm at every hallway footstep.
Adult Weight: 13 lbEnergy Level: 5/10Barking Tendency: 5/10Shedding: 2/10Apartment Suitability: 8/10
added by IJR
0Maltese
One of the oldest toy breeds, pampered by Roman and Renaissance aristocrats who never intended it to see a farm. Its long silky coat needs upkeep, but its tiny footprint and portability make it a natural for studio living.
Adult Weight: 6 lbEnergy Level: 4/10Barking Tendency: 5/10Shedding: 2/10Apartment Suitability: 8/10
added by IJR
0Chihuahua
The world's smallest breed can live its entire life without needing more than a hallway to patrol — which it will do loudly. Big personality in a tiny body means it's perfect for square footage but not for shared walls if it decides to guard the mail slot.
Adult Weight: 6 lbEnergy Level: 5/10Barking Tendency: 7/10Shedding: 3/10Apartment Suitability: 8/10
added by IJRin 2 rankings
0
A miniaturized sighthound favored by Renaissance nobility, the Italian Greyhound sprints in short bursts then collapses into blankets for hours — ideal apartment math. Its thin skin means it's a fair-weather-only dog, but indoors it's pure elegant stillness.
Adult Weight: 10 lbEnergy Level: 5/10Barking Tendency: 4/10Shedding: 2/10Apartment Suitability: 8/10
added by IJRItalian Greyhound
0
Born to hunt rats in Yorkshire mill towns, the Yorkie kept its terrier boldness but shrank to a size that fits any elevator ride. It's a confident, low-shedding lap dog whose main apartment sin is a surprisingly big bark for its frame.
Adult Weight: 6 lbEnergy Level: 5/10Barking Tendency: 6/10Shedding: 2/10Apartment Suitability: 8/10
added by IJRYorkshire Terrier
0Greyhound
Despite being one of the fastest animals on Earth, the retired racing Greyhound is famous among adopters as a '45-mph couch potato' that sleeps up to 18 hours a day. Give it one good sprint and it's happy to fold its long legs onto your sofa for the rest of the day.
Adult Weight: 65 lbEnergy Level: 3/10Barking Tendency: 2/10Shedding: 3/10Apartment Suitability: 7/10
added by IJR
0Dachshund
Bred to chase badgers into tunnels, the Dachshund brings surprising tenacity and a genuinely loud bark to small spaces, which keeps it from ranking higher. Still, its low exercise needs and portable size have made it a beloved city-dweller for generations.
Adult Weight: 16 lbEnergy Level: 5/10Barking Tendency: 6/10Shedding: 4/10Apartment Suitability: 7/10
added by IJRin 2 rankings
0Pomeranian
Descended from sled-pulling Spitz stock and shrunk down by Queen Victoria's breeding program, the Pomeranian retained a big, vocal personality in a 6-pound frame. Gorgeous and portable, but its alert-barking habit is a real test for shared-wall living.
Adult Weight: 6 lbEnergy Level: 6/10Barking Tendency: 7/10Shedding: 6/10Apartment Suitability: 7/10
added by IJRin 2 rankings
0
Those iconic droopy ears belong to a scent hound built low to the ground and low on energy once past puppyhood, making it surprisingly content indoors. Its trademark deep bay, however, can carry through walls in a way its laid-back attitude doesn't quite make up for.
Adult Weight: 55 lbEnergy Level: 3/10Barking Tendency: 6/10Shedding: 5/10Apartment Suitability: 6/10
added by IJRbasset hound
0
Keep ranking
Comments
Free account · your comment posts right after signup