Do you live in an apartment? Are you also considering bringing home a new dog? If you answered yes to both questions, you likely want to know which dog breeds are best for apartments.
It’s true that apartment living can be challenging for some dog breeds—typically large and active ones—but a surprising number adapt very well. Many factors also play into whether an apartment is suited for a dog, including the size of your unit, the number of residents, and the amount of outdoor green space.
In this detailed guide, certified professional dog trainer Alexandra Bassett of DogSavvy offers advice to prospective and new dog parents about how to select a breed best suited for apartment living. With her insight, we also explore how to ensure your apartment and lifestyle suit your dog’s needs.
Which Dog Breeds Are Suited to Apartment Life?
Unsurprisingly, small-to-medium dogs are usually the easiest to keep in an apartment, typically because they share various apartment-friendly traits—though that doesn’t mean all little dogs are a good fit, or that all big ones are inherently incompatible.
In small dogs’ favor is that they require less space, and space can be at a premium in apartments. They’re also less likely to face building breed restrictions.
Exercise is another factor. Fenced yards offer a significant advantage to breeds that need a lot of exercise—which is why smaller breeds with lower exercise requirements are usually a better fit for apartments than large, high-drive dogs.
Bassett highlights the following small breeds as being popular, successful picks for apartments:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
These toy-sized companion dogs generally weigh between 13 and 18 pounds. They’re often affectionate, friendly, playful, and easy to train. Their moderate energy levels also make them particularly well-suited for apartment life, as they’re usually happy with two or so 30-minute walks per day.
Bassett notes that some larger breeds, by contrast, can require up to three hour-long walks per day to keep them happily exercised.
Shih Tzus
The Shih Tzu is known to be an affectionate, intelligent, and easy-to-train breed. Adults grow to be between 9-16 pounds. Like the Cavalier, they were bred for companionship and to be indoor house pets. They generally don’t need a lot of outdoor exercise but do have a (short distance) sense of adventure if you want a dog who likes to walk.
When inside, they can be the quintessential lap dog. For these reasons, they adapt well to apartment living.
Boston Terriers
These dogs are well-known for their “tuxedo” markings and their status as companion dogs. Bassett also notes that their compact size and friendly nature make them great apartment dogs. They can be high-energy as young dogs, so they will do best with training and exercise. However, they are easy to care for and have a sleek coat that only lightly sheds.
It’s important to note that all dogs have their own individual personalities and preferences. While not every dog from these breeds will be suitable for apartments, their typical breed features (size, personality, and energy level) make them good candidates.
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Breeds Typically Unsuited for Apartment Life
According to Bassett, energy levels and exercise needs are a big reason why some dog breeds are not suited for apartment life. Dogs with a high drive, sporting breeds, and herding breeds are usually easily excited and need lots of dedicated exercise and training to meet all of their needs. It can be hard to achieve that in an urban environment without a fenced yard.
Similarly, dogs bred to guard, breeds that intimidate people due to their reputation (no matter how undeserved), or extra-large breeds are typically not good candidates for apartments. Let’s take a look at each in more detail below.
- Sporting and herding breeds. Whether small or large, sporting and herding breeds are usually excitable and require dedicated exercise and training to be happy. Breeds like Vizslas, Pointers, Australian Shepherds (including miniature), Border Collies, Jack Russells, Springer Spaniels, Brittany Spaniels, Retrievers, Labradors, and Standard Poodles may not be suited to apartments.
- Guard dog breeds. These breeds are likelier to see unfamiliar dogs and people as a potential threat, which can mean a lot of barking. For this reason, breeds like Schnauzers, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Akitas, Mastiffs, German Shepherds, Boxers, Chow Chows, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Great Pyrenees, and Belgian Malinois are not particularly well-suited for apartments.
- Intimidating breeds. Bassett acknowledges that some breeds may have unfairly earned a reputation for being aggressive, and a lot of apartments have breed restrictions that prohibit them. These breeds can include Bully breeds, Mastiffs, Dobermans, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds.
- Extra-large breeds. Because of their sheer size, most apartments will have difficulty accommodating extra-large breeds, including Great Danes, Newfoundlands, and Saint Bernards.
That said, there are plenty of individual members of these breeds who are compatible with apartments. Whether or not a specific dog is best for an apartment depends on their unique personality and needs.
How To Make Sure Your Dog Is Apartment Compatible
Besides carefully considering different breed traits, there are a lot of other factors that can help you determine which type of dog can happily live with you in your apartment.
Puppies versus adult dogs
Lots of dogs of all ages and stages can be successfully apartment trained—but getting a puppy in an apartment is a different proposition from adopting a fully grown dog.
Puppies need close supervision and very frequent trips outside, which is worth considering if your apartment makes it hard for you to quickly and easily access the outdoors (though puppy pee pads can help). You also don’t have a lot of control over the amount of noise they make, so if you have thin walls, it might be a tough first few months.
You do, however, get a chance to train your dog from a young age, which gives you a lot of control over what apartment-friendly habits they develop—if you’re able to put in the time and effort.
Adopting an adult dog is different. A lot of rescues won’t be apartment-compatible, either because of their energy needs or their training requirements. But if you’re willing to settle in for a longer search, you can find a great fit with a lot of confidence—especially when working through a rescue organization.
Many rescue organizations put a lot of time and effort into finding a good match, and their recommendation in conjunction with a foster parent’s assessment can be a huge help in setting you up for success.
Training your dog to live in an apartment
Regardless of the type of dog you choose, training will be a key ingredient to a successful apartment dog. Bassett notes that in addition to professional assistance, behavior management tools like walk-thru gates, playpens, and crates can be very helpful in acclimating your dog to their apartment space.
These tools can help keep your dog out of trouble and safely contain any potty messes when you can’t supervise. Preventative measures can also help ensure your furniture and floors stay safe while your dog is learning, and they can stop bad habits from developing.
How to handle barking
It’s also important to know that all dogs bark—it’s healthy and normal. But excessive barking and alert barking at odd hours can get you in trouble.
The best thing you can do is start training on day one. Bassett emphasizes that yelling at your dog when they bark only validates the behavior. (If my human is barking, too, the threat must be real!) Dog parents should learn and understand positive ways to limit barking, which is imperative for apartment life.
Simple techniques, such as rubbing a dog’s back when they bark, can help them relax and signal that the footsteps or voices in the hallway are not a threat. If you need help curbing barking, seek professional guidance early to keep your dog from developing a bad habit and avoid annoying other tenants.
Addressing grooming needs
Lastly, consider the grooming requirements for specific breeds. For example, certain dogs may have a double coat (think “shedding”) or will need frequent hair and nail trims to minimize wear and tear to your space. Thinking about your specific dog’s needs will help you determine if they are right for your renting situation.
How To Choose a Dog-Friendly Apartment
Some apartment features can be very dog-friendly. Others not so much. As you might suspect, pet parents should consider the aspects of their apartment against their prospective dog’s size, personality, and exercise needs. Bassett notes several potentially positive apartment features for dogs.
- Social atmosphere. Apartments often come with a lot of neighbors. This can make it easy to socialize your new pup with other people and dogs and offer a healthy outlet for both you and your dog.
- Dog runs and green space. Outdoor dog-friendly spaces are common in apartments that allow pets. These areas give dogs and their humans an easy-access space to play. They can also help to build a predictable activity schedule for your dog. Plus, these apartment green spaces can provide a designated place to meet new dogs and practice good social skills.
- Nearby public parks. A nearby green space or play area can make all the difference for dogs living in apartments. These parks provide fun adventures for your dog and go a long way toward meeting many different exercise needs.
- Hallways. Bassett notes that hallway spaces can be perfect for “distraction training.” Hallways provide just enough activity for a little challenge but not so much as to overwhelm your dog.
Apartment features that may be difficult for dogs
On the flip side, some aspects of apartment life may not be as dog-friendly. As you consider the features below, consider what might pose a challenge for you and your dog and which of these features may not be that big of a hurdle. It’s important to balance your apartment’s features with your dog’s needs to determine whether a specific dog will be a good fit.
- Foot traffic. If you share a common hallway with other residents, consider the noise of foot traffic and whether or not this will cause your dog to bark (especially if you are not home). Hallway noises can be particularly challenging if you live near exit doors or elevators.
- Sound proofing. Does your apartment have thin walls or lofted ceilings? Can you hear activity in the adjoining unit? Consider whether these types of noises will cause your dog to bark or be nervous or whether the sound of your dog’s barking will be loud for neighbors. Sounds can also increase a dog’s anxiety and lead to unwelcome behaviors like whining or barking.
- Space. Make sure your unit has enough space to accommodate the size of the dog you’re considering. And if you’re getting a puppy, keep in mind that your puppy will grow larger.
With all of these considerations, remember that many dogs can live a happy life in an apartment. Pet parents can also help balance their dog’s needs with the features of their apartment.