The 30 Best Dog Breeds for Apartments

Moving into your own place is never easy; it takes a lot out of you to finally go out and live your own life away from the comfort of your parents’ home. This might be an exciting step towards independence but.. it also comes with its own set of challenges.

Among those challenges, one of the more unexpected hurdles for many people may be the restrictions on pet ownership. You might want to bring a little furry friend with you, especially a dog, but finding an apartment that allows dogs can be daunting task.

That’s because most landlords and apartment buildings have strict rules on pet ownership, especially when it comes to dogs. But not all hope is lost, because there are some dog breeds out there that are a lot more suitable for apartment living than others.

These dogs often have laid back, aloof temperaments and characteristics that make them ideal companions for those living in more confined spaces. And in this article, we decided to show you which are the 30 best dog breeds for apartments.

We’ve carefully selected these dog breeds for their adaptability to apartment living, taking into consideration factors such as their size, energy level, and grooming needs.

Having said that, let’s start with a few breeds that may already be on your radar.

1. French Bulldog

This is actually the most popular dog breed to own in a small apartment, mostly due to how well behaved they are and how little space they need to be content in.

While the French Bulldog’s body is a bit on the stockier side, do keep in mind that it is small enough to not be a bother in most cases.

The French Bulldog is also known for being quite a hardy breed, being capable of surviving most climates with ease.

2. Pug

The pug may be small but what it lacks in stature it more than makes up for in personality. Pugs are known for being extremely affectionate and loving, always loving a good pat on the back.

They also are not all that against being scrounged up in a corner, although do keep in mind that pugs tend to be quite energetic so they will be running around all day long when you’re not around.

3. Dachshund

Also commonly referred to as the Weiner dog, this is one of the most iconic dog breeds you could own in a small apartment.

Wiener dogs are very friendly and outgoing, absolutely enjoying every bit of attention you give them.

Just keep in mind that they can also get quite vocal every now and then so you will need to let them out every now and then to blow off all of that excess energy they have.

4. American Hairless Terrier

If you want a protective little bugger around your home, there is arguably no better choice out there than the American Hairless Terrier.

This is a watchdog unlike anything you’ve ever seen before, and while they may look like small hairless rodents when they’re young, they have hearts of lions on the inside and are willing to fight off any potential threats that may come your way.

5. Bichon Frise

Bichons are perfect for apartment living. That’s because they are very friendly, they love the attention people give them and best of all, their coats are hypoallergenic at that too.

They are amazing pets to leave with your children, and on top of that they’re nowhere near as vocal as most other dog breeds out there.

They usually live up to be around 14 to 15 years old or so. The only real problem with Bichons is the fact that they are quite expensive to buy, but if you do want a good and cuddly apartment dog, Bichons will always be a top choice in our book.

6. Miniature Schnauzer

The Mini Schnauzer is one of the most loyal pets you could get. They come in three different colors altogether, with by far the most popular being the black and silver variant.

On top of that though, you can also get your hands on a salt and pepper and a pure black variant which is sure to make your apartment seem all the cozier.

They love following you around all day long too and they make for great watchdogs if you ever need one around the apartment.

7. Affenpinscher

The Affenpinscher is a really energetic breed that will never stop chasing its own tail around. They are very small and easy to fall in love with, just keep in mind that they can be quite difficult to housetrain.

They love meeting new people, but just keep in mind that they will most likely try to hump your visitors’ legs every chance they get.

8. American Eskimo Dog

The American Eskimo dog is by far one of the best breeds you could go for if you want to have a hyperactive ball of energy around you at all times.

They absolutely love hanging out with kids and new people, although keep in mind that they do tend to get very vocal when strangers walk into the apartment.

On top of that they may also not be the best choice if you are away most of the day, as Eskimos require a lot of attention otherwise, they will get bored and before long they will get depressed.

9. Australian Terrier

Yet another one of those breeds that is only perfect for one type of family, the Australian Terrier absolutely loves being around his owners, thriving from the attention like no other.

They get attached to humans practically overnight, and as soon as they get your scent, they will never stop waggling their tails when they hear you coming their way.

Do keep in mind though that they are also quite energetic in a bad way, as it isn’t all that unheard of to hear of Aussie Terriers having chewed an apartment to pieces while the owners were away.

10. Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu is one strange and luxurious looking pet, but as you get to know them you will soon find out just how much of a sweetie pie they are.

They love being the distraction that you give to children, although if it were up to them, they’d probably spend all of their time just snoozing away on your lap 25 hours per day.

They are relatively calm and easy to get along with, and they very rarely end up ripping your couches apart as they’re much more likely to spend their time sleeping away their loneliness than anything else.

11. German Spitz

Even though it is one of the rarer breeds you can find, the German Spitz has gained a lot of traction over the past couple of years now simply due to how energetic they really are.

This breed makes for one of the best small watchdogs around, as they will instantly react if they hear any random noises outside your apartment and they’ll make sure that the stranger knows that they are not welcomed in.

12. Miniature Pinscher

Many people believe this breed to basically just be a mini Doberman, but they’re sorely mistaken.

The Miniature Pinscher is its very own breed, but if you are specifically looking for a travel sized Doberman, you may still consider it.

13. Bulldog

By far one of the chilliest and laziest dogs you can get your hands on, Bulldogs are very calm and easy to get along with, although they are also on the larger side so keep that in mind.

Bulldogs are also quite chunky, so if you love wrapping your arms around their love handles, this may very well be the best choice for you.

They may be a bit on the lazier side, but do keep in mind that if anyone dangerous enters your apartment at night, they will be the first to take down the intruder before they can hurt you.

14. Pekingese Dog

This breed was originally created in order to be a sign of royalty in China. They were meant to be kept in palaces, but as the breed became more and more popular, they started to spread out onto the streets and before long everybody owned their very own mini-royalty.

They are very easy to get along with, and they can tolerate children with ease. They are also great watchdogs to have with you as they will not let anyone get close to your apartment without a fight.

15. Scottish Terrier

Commonly referred to as the “Diehard”, this is a very intelligent dog breed that absolutely loves to hunt down small animals such as cats and mice.

They do happen to be quite aloof with strangers, and a lot of the time they are not recommended for people with children due to their predator instincts.

This isn’t all bad though, as this alertness that the breed has makes the Scottish Terrier out to be a fantastic watchdog, so fi you are primarily looking for a good alarm to keep unwanted strangers away from your apartment, you may want to invest in this breed.

16. Biewer Terrier

This is a very small dog breed that is perfect for small places. They are very happy-go-round dogs that are also very cute and cuddly once you get to know them.

Just keep in mind that they do happen to be very athletic too, so when they get the zoomies, they will stop at nothing to break down every piece of furniture you have if they don’t get enough attention.

17. Chinese Crested

This is by far one of the most unique looking dog breeds you’ll find out there. You can also pick out from two different variants out there, specifically the hairless and the powerful one.

Chinese Crested Dogs are quite wild little buggers that always love being around you, regardless of whether you’re outside or in the privacy of your own home.

They usually live up to be 13 to 18 years old, although in some cases they can live longer than that if properly taken care of.

18. Greyhounds

Even though they are one of the largest breeds you could get your hands on, Greyhounds make for exceptional apartment dogs simply because of how gentle and quiet they are.

Commonly referred to as “Gentle Giants”, Greyhounds are especially sweet creatures that love being indoors and because of their large size they very rarely have to worry about.

They are also fairly independent so you can just leave them alone at home all day long and as long as they have plenty of food to go around, they won’t ever bother you with anything.

19. Brussels Griffon

This is one of the most exceptional apartment dog breeds, and we do mean that. They may seem very grumpy at first, but as soon as you make your way into their hearts, they will never stop following you around and asking for pats on the head.

Brussels Griffons also come in all sorts of different shades and colors such as red, black, beige and even a combination of tan and black.

They are very affectionate but at the same time they absolutely hate being lonely or being roughhoused, which makes them one of the worst option for children.

20. Japanese Chin

The Japanese Chin breed is a very small and friendly little breed that only weighs in at around 10lbs each.

They are very cuddly and fluffy to the touch, and on top of that they are very good with children so keep that in mind.

21. Barbet

The Barbet absolutely loves swimming and meeting new people. They are also huge fans of just sleeping all day long, although we do recommend that you go out on multiple walks per day if you want them to be healthy and happy.

They don’t shed much and best of all, they are very calm and easy to handle, although they do also bark a lot during the day.

22. Basset Fauve de Bretagne

The Basset makes for another great apartment dog option. Just make sure to have your family and yourself tested before you invest in one, because they can often times cause allergies if you’re not careful.

They’re very active and they need a lot of attention. They are small and they don’t shed all that much, although you may want to cut their hair every now and then to make sure that none of it gets on your clothes or your couch.

23. Basset Hound

This is by far one of the chilliest looking dog breeds we’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing, and as such we can attest of the fact that that they deserve to be at the very least considered when looking for a good apartment dog.

Basset Hounds are very easy to take care of and they will spend most of their time snoozing their problems away. They will also often times end up drooling all over the place though so try to keep that in mind.

24. Bedlington Terrier

This lamb-like dog breed is known for being exceptionally friendly and easy to take care of. They don’t shed all that much either and they have a lot of energy which makes them great for children.

Do keep in mind however that you will need to groom them on a regular basis and they do tend to bark a lot which may make them a bit of a mismatch for you.

25. Cardigan Welsh Corgi

They may look exceptionally cute and friendly, but at the same time, Cardigan Welsh Corgis are known for being quite spectacular guard dogs.

The moment they hear someone step outside of your apartment they will cause a ruckus, waking up everyone in the vicinity.

They do love to socialize with strangers though once they see that they are not a threat to you, but do try to remember the fact that they do also bark a lot at nothing and they shed everywhere you look.

26. Cesky Terrier

The Cesky Terrier is another great choice to consider. The only real downside to owning one is the fact that they require weekly brushings and clipping every eight or so weeks.

They do make for some great therapy dogs though, and they need plenty of exercise if you want to keep them healthy and happy.

They don’t shed all that much and they don’t bark all that much either. They prefer to sleep most of the day and are very rarely caught causing a ruckus.

27. Chihuahua

Chihuahuas are some of the smallest dogs you could own. They are known for being very active and curious little freaks of nature that will also attack everything that comes their way.

They are wild little buggers that very rarely get along with new people. But once they start to mellow down around you, they will never leave your sight ever again.

28. Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniels are very friendly and easy-going dogs that very rarely cause a scene. They are great with both children and the elderly alike.

They don’t shed all that much despite having very frizzy ears, but they do tend to bark a lot throughout the day.

29. Lhasa Apso

The Lhasa Apso is yet another great choice for you if you are looking for a good family companion to add to your apartment.

They are easy to train, although they can also be quite mischievous at that too. They also require frequent grooming and as such you may want to contact your local professional to help you with that.

30. Manchester Terrier

Last but not least we have the Manchester Terrier. This is an excellent watchdog that is very easy to train and very good at alerting you of any strangers.

They don’t shed at all although they are quite vocal and they have a lot of energy that they’ll expend every time you try to play around with them.

Conclusion

While some of these breeds are on the larger side, do be sure to always check in with your landlord before buying the dog because you never know whether they are even allowed indoors or not in the first place.

Which of these adorable dog breeds is your favorite?