Best dog breeds for apartment living

Many people believe that living in an apartment means they can never have a dog. So, you might have given up on your dream of owning a dog. The good news is that there are many breeds that make the perfect apartment dog. Not all dogs require a huge yard to be happy. In fact, there are quite a few that find running around to be a pain and love nothing more than snoozing on the couch all day. So, let’s take a look at a few breeds that make the best apartment dogs.

Check with your landlord first

Before we look at all the wonderful breeds that make great apartment dogs, we first have to mention a very important factor. You need to check with your landlord if pets are allowed in your apartment. There’s nothing worse than getting your hopes up, finding a great dog, and falling in love with him or her, only to then be told that you can’t have a dog in your apartment and will have to move.

Blueground offers a wide range of high-quality, beautifully furnished, and fully equipped apartments in great locations in a number of major cities, many of which are pet-friendly. You can easily find the perfect apartment for you and your future pooch on the website by simply applying the pet-friendly filter.

Size doesn’t matter

Another point that needs to be made is that size doesn’t always matter. You might think that larger dogs need more space, which is why a small dog would be a better choice for an apartment. That isn’t always the case, though. There are plenty of large breeds that want to do nothing more than lie around all day. For example, people think that Greyhounds require a lot of room because they love to run. However, if you opt to rescue a Greyhound, you’re likely to find that he’s a retired racer and will be happiest lying around and snoozing all day long. A little puppy-proofing work around the apartment goes a long way, however.

Conversely, a lot of small dog breeds have lots of energy and tend to be loud, which makes them a poor choice for apartment living. Chihuahuas, for example, don’t always make the best apartment dogs because they are very energetic and nervous, and also tend to bark a lot. Thus, if you don’t want your neighbors to hate you, then you probably should stay away from Chihuahuas. Going back to point one, be sure to check the fine print on your building’s pet policy to be sure that there are no weight or breed limitations.

Great apartment dog breeds

So, let’s take a look at six dog breeds that are perfect for apartment living.

1. Bichon Frise

This ball of fur is a great option for an apartment because the Bichon Frise doesn’t grow taller than about a foot. However, they are quite energetic. While this means they’re always willing to play, it will also require you to ensure they get exercise every day or you will have trouble getting them to settle down. Another advantage to the Bichon Frise is that they shed far less than many other breeds, which makes them a great option for people who are allergic.

2. English Bulldog

Though English Bulldogs aren’t exactly small dogs, they are perfect apartment dogs because they are incredibly lazy. A bulldog loves nothing more than sleeping all day, so don’t be surprised if all they do all day is change their sleeping position. Taking them out for a quick, short walk – a very short walk – will keep a bulldog more than happy. They also tend to be very friendly and love children, which makes them an even better option for apartment living. Just be prepared to have a few sleepless nights at first, until you get used to the snoring. However, they’re more than worth it because they are loving, adorable pooches that will always make you smile – even when they’re snoring so loudly that the floor vibrates.

3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

These spaniels are cuddlers. They get attached to their owners very quickly, so small spaces for them are actually preferred so they can be around their owners at all times. However, they can be difficult to train, but if you make sure they get plenty of time outside and use lots of positive reinforcement, they’ll soon turn into the best apartment dog.

4. Maltese

The Maltese are the perfect dog if you work from home. They are highly affectionate but tend to experience separation anxiety so it’s usually not a good idea to leave them alone for too long. These dogs also don’t shed all that much because they have no undercoats, which makes them an excellent option for apartment living. You won’t have to worry about everything being covered in dog hair, including your clothes.

5. Pug

Besides being absolutely adorable with its cute, squished face, the Pug is also very loyal and playful. Plus, they aren’t all that vocally expressive, which means you won’t have to worry about training them not to yap to avoid irritating your neighbors. They also don’t like a lot of activity. They’ll play for a little while, but they’ll quickly tire and curl up for a good snooze. When it comes to a top small-sized apartment dog, this is an all-time favorite. The one drawback is that they don’t do well on their own, so you might consider a Pug only if you spend a lot of time at home.

6. Greyhound

We already mentioned Greyhounds because they really do make for great apartment dogs if you don’t mind the long legs and size. Greyhounds really love lounging about all day long, making them the perfect large-sized apartment dog breed. As long as you take them for a decent exercise session at a dog park every day, your Greyhound will be more than content with lazing about for the rest of the day. In fact, the only issue you’ll probably have is that he’ll take up half the couch, but other than that, he’ll be the perfect sweetheart.

As you can see, size really does not matter when it comes to which breeds make great apartment dogs. The key is to pick the type of dog that is also suited to your lifestyle. For example, if you love the outdoors, then a Greyhound, Terrier, or a Bichon Frise make good options since you won’t mind exercising them daily. On the other hand, if you don’t think you’ll have much time to ensure your pooch gets plenty of exercise – or you simply aren’t the exercise type – then an English bulldog or a pug would be great options since they really don’t like moving a lot.