15 best apartment dogs breeds for urban living

Adopting a dog is an easy way to bring a little more happiness into your life. These best apartment dogs are loyal, loving, and will help you get back in touch with your playful side.

Of course, not all breeds are created equal when it comes to apartment living.

City life can mean some compromises. Unlike someone who lives on a farm with room to run, urbanites need to consider how much space a dog needs to feel at home.

 

Whether you want to adopt a small dog or a bigger dog, it’s important to do research into which breeds are best adapted for city life.

Here are 15 breeds that make for some of the best apartment dogs. We have even included information about size, barking, and shedding to help you find your perfect canine match.

The Best Small Apartment Dogs

Many of the best apartment dogs are small breeds.

Why is that?

Because they won’t feel pent up in studios or one-bedroom spaces.

Another advantage of adopting a small dog is that you can have a lap buddy. Many smaller breeds make for the best apartment dogs for families with children, too, since they can be playful and high-energy.

Of course, there are also downsides to certain breeds, like excessive shedding or barking.

Here are some of the best small dog breeds for urban living.

1. Affenpinscher

Affable Affies are an ideal breed for people who live in apartments. These adorable furry companions are tiny but mighty.

The breed is prized for courage and loyalty, making them some of the best apartment dogs.

Also, Affenpinschers are similar to terriers, but are less shaggy. They can be a bit more stubborn at times, too.

Size: 7-10 lbs.
Barking: Medium
Shedding: Medium

Find out more about Affenpinschers at the American Kennel Club.

2. Bichon Frise

Fluffy, friendly and too cute for words, Bichon Frises are incredibly popular apartment dogs. Their small size means that they won’t feel claustrophobic in even a small space.

Bichons also have hypoallergenic coats, which is a huge advantage for anyone who suffers from allergies but loves dogs.

Adopting a Bichon Frise can take time, due to their popularity, but the wait will be worth it. They are friendly, loyal, and smart – the perfect combination of traits for your faithful companion.

Size: 12-18 lbs.
Barking: Medium
Shedding: None

Find out more about Bichon Frises at Bichon World.

3. Havanese

Another great small dog breed for apartment living is the Havanese. These sweet little dogs are the only breed native to Cuba.

Havaneses have silky fur and curly tails. They are small enough to feel at home in any apartment, and have an adaptable nature.

Havaneses are also quite social, so they get along well with other dogs and children.

Size: 7-13 lbs.
Barking: Medium to high
Shedding: Moderate

Find out more about Havaneses at the American Kennel Club.

4. Maltese

Malteses are also some of the best apartment dogs, given their small size and affectionate nature.

They may be tiny, but Malteses are capable watchdogs thanks to their alertness.

Although Malteses can be stubborn, they can be trained to be cooperative. They are also social enough to mesh well with other dogs and children.

Size: Less than 7 lbs.
Barking: Medium to high
Shedding: Moderate

Find out more about Malteses at Better Pet.

5. Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terriers are incredibly popular apartment dogs, and for good reason.

These adorable toy dogs are small in size but have big personalities. A little Yorkie can be a surprisingly fierce protector!

Although they are still among the best apartment dogs, Yorkies can be rather vocal.

If you do end up adopting a Yorkie with a barking problem, it’s still possible to address it with some training and positive reinforcement.

Size: 7 lbs.
Barking: Medium to high
Shedding: Low

Find out more about Yorkshire Terriers at the American Kennel Club.

The Best Medium-Sized Dogs for Apartments

Many of the best apartment dogs aren’t small or large, but right in between.

Medium-sized breeds can be the perfect pets for people with medium to large apartments. It’s important to recognize that with medium dogs there is a little more uncertainty about their full adult size.

So be sure to consider how much space you will have before finalizing your adoption of a new pet!

Here are some of the best medium sized dog breeds for apartment living.

1. Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds are having a moment now, and it’s not hard to understand why!

These fiesty ranching dogs with mottled coats are loyal, friendly, and unbelievably cute. Australian Shepherds are also quite intelligent compared to many other dog breeds.

Above all, Australian Shepherds make great pets for families with children. They are used to herding cattle, and toddlers and elementary-age kids will love their playful antics.

Size: 40-65 lbs.
Barking: Medium
Shedding: Medium

Find out more about Australian Shepherds at the American Kennel Club.

2. Shar-Pei

Another one of the best medium sized dog breeds for apartment living is the Shar-Pei.

Originally bred in China, wrinkly Shar-Peis stand out in the crowd at the dog park. In addition to their famously wrinkly coats, these odd-looking dogs have triangular ears and bluish black tongues!

Shar-Peis are excellent and loyal pets, though they may not be the best choice if you already have other dogs at home.

Size: 45-60 lbs.
Barking: Medium
Shedding: Medium

Find out more about Shar-Peis at Petfinder.

3. Whippet

Often mistaken for Greyhounds, Whippets are some of the best apartment dogs around. They are gentle, intelligent, and don’t grow to be so large you might have to upgrade your digs.

Whippets are easy to care for, since they enjoy cuddling up on the couch with humans for long stretches of time. Like with any dog you adopt, it’s important to make sure they get plenty of exercise and sunshine.

Another advantage to adopting a Whippet is that they almost never bark.

If you have neighbors who love to complain, this little fact can be a lifesaver.

Size: 25-40 lbs.
Barking: Low
Shedding: Moderate to medium

Find out more about Whippets at the American Kennel Club.

4. Schnauzer

Whiskery Schnauzers are another one of the best medium-sized dog breeds for apartment living. Standard Schnauzers grow to be around 40 pounds, which is an ideal medium size.

Schnauzers are friendly with dogs, people, and children they know.

However, they can be fierce watchdogs and slower to warm up to strangers.

If you adopt a Schnauzer, you will find this lovable dog is easy to train and very affectionate. They have a lot of energy, so it’s important to walk them several times a day.

Size: 30-50 lbs.
Barking: Medium
Shedding: Low

Find out more about Schnauzers at the American Kennel Club.

5. English Bulldog

Another wonderful medium-sized dog for apartment dwellers is the dapper English Bulldog.

Bulldogs may be fierce looking, but they are some of the cuddliest pets around. That’s part of why they are some of the best apartment dogs.

This distinctive-looking, powerful dog can grow to be up to 50 pounds, so it’s important to be sure that your living space isn’t too small.

Size: 40-50 lbs.
Barking: Medium
Shedding: Medium

Find out more about English Bulldogs at Petfinder.

The Best Large Apartment Dogs

Some of the very best apartment dogs are gentle giants.

As long as you’re not camped out in a tiny studio or a junior one bedroom, adopting a bigger dog is perfectly fine.

Here are just a few of the best big dog breeds for apartment living.

1. Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds around, and for good reason! These sturdy dogs are some of the happiest pets around.

Golden Retrievers are social dogs who are great with children and other dogs.

They are also relatively easy to train compared to some more stubborn breeds, making them some of the best apartment dogs you can possibly adopt.

If you have a studio or a small one-bedroom, you may not want to welcome a Golden Retriever into your home, however. These dogs can grow to weigh up to 70 pounds, so it’s important to have enough space for them to feel at home.

Size: 55-70 lbs.
Barking: Low
Shedding: High

Find out more about Golden Retrievers at the American Kennel Club.

2. Greyhound

Famous for their ability to run, Greyhounds are gentle and affectionate pets.

In fact, this is one of the best big dog breeds for apartment living.

Although a Greyhound is more than happy to stretch out on the couch, they also need plenty of exercise.

If you have a yard, that’s great. But a dog park is an excellent alternative.

Greyhounds are sweet-tempered enough to share a home with children or other dogs and cats.

Size: 60-70 lbs.
Barking: Medium
Shedding: Moderate to medium

Find out more about Greyhounds at the Greyhound Club of America.

3. Great Dane

Although they can grow to be absolutely huge, Great Danes are some of the best apartment dogs. These dogs are gentle and friendly and make wonderful companions.

Great Danes are excellent with children and other dogs, and are just as good as a second pet as an only pet.

That said, they also make wonderful guard dogs thanks to their towering size.

Because Great Danes weigh in well above 100 pounds, it’s imperative to make sure you have enough space before adopting one.

You will also want to do research on the cost of food to make sure that it’s not outside of your budget.

Size: 110-175 lbs.
Barking: Medium
Shedding: Medium

Find out more about Great Danes at the American Kennel Club.

4. English Mastiff

Yet another gentle giant, the English Mastiff is one of the best big dog breeds for apartment living!

These massive mutts are friendly to those they love and fearsome to strangers or anyone who crosses their owner.

In fact, it’s important to socialize English Mastiffs while they are still young if you want to entertain at home.

Like with Great Danes, it’s important to understand what you’re getting into before adopting an English Mastiff.

Be sure that you have enough space in your apartment for a human-sized dog, and that you can easily cover the cost of food – not to mention vet visits, medications, and kennel costs while you travel.

Size: 120-130 lbs.
Barking: Low
Shedding: Medium

Find out more about English Mastiffs at Mastiff Guide.

5. Poodle

Rounding off the list is the Poodle. These adorable, intelligent companions are some of the best apartment dogs around.

Anyone with allergies is likely aware that the curly coat of the Poodle is less allergenic than most dogs’ coats.

Poodles are also some of the smartest dogs you will find. They are rather high energy, so it’s important to commit to a regular schedule of exercise and keep them entertained with games and toys.

A Standard Poodle is quite large, but there are smaller breeds like Toy Poodles that also make great apartment dogs.

Size: 40-70 lbs.
Barking: High
Shedding: None

Find out more about Poodles at the American Kennel Club.

Whether the best apartment dog for you is a little Maltese or a mighty Great Dane, it’s important to confirm that your current home allows pets.

Unfortunately, many apartment buildings and condos do not welcome furry and feathered friends.

At Blueground, we know that pets are part of the family! Many of our move-in ready furnished apartments in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America are pet-friendly.

Even better, when you rent with us you move in and move out on your schedule, not a landlord’s!

Opting for a flexible-term rental over a traditional apartment is also a great way to smooth the transition of moving with a pet.

Blueground’s turnkey apartments have everything you need to live well, from appliances and furnishings to pots and pans.

You and your furry friend can check into one of our pet-friendly apartments for as long as you like, rather than being bound by a traditional year-long lease.