If you’re a dog person but live in limited space, you might be wondering what the best dog breeds for apartments are. A Furry friend to keep you company is a necessity sometimes, but the reality is some breeds are terrible for apartments and just won’t be happy living in a small space with no access to a backyard. On the flip side, there are also so many breeds that are great for apartment living, so we wanted to put together a list of breeds that will be happy living in smaller spaces (as long as the building is pet friendly of course, no one is suggesting breaking any rules). All breeds mentioned below have varying energy levels and different personality types. Since they are all relatively small, they are great breeds for apartments – however, it is up to you to decide which personality/needs will fit best with your lifestyle.
American Eskimo
This breed is the complete package for brains and beauty. They have a quick and clever mind with a beautiful white fluffy coat. They aren’t typically shy or aggressive. With that being said, this does not mean they don’t need a lot of attention. If this breed feels neglected, they can develop problematic behavior, but they are very easy to train. Although this breed is small and good for apartments, they still need a lot of daily exercise. This means going outside multiple times a day and regular visits to off leash parks where they can run around.
- Height: 9-12 inches (toy), 12-15 inches (miniature), 15-19 inches (Standard)
- Weight: 6-10 pounds (toy), 10-20 pounds (miniature), 25-35 pounds (standard)
- Life Expectancy: 13-15 years
Boston Terrier
Boston Terriers are a great family dog! They are affectionate and friendly with lively and bright personalities. They may bark at people or other dogs walking by, but they are not known for being aggressive. Although they do have short hair, they are not a hypoallergenic breed. This breed’s exercise needs really vary depending on the individual dog. Some are okay with a quick walk once/twice a day, and some need more rigorous running to blow off steam.
- Height: 15-17 inches
- Weight: 12-25 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 11-13 years
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
This dog breed is very affectionate, so you will receive lots of cuddles! Cavaliers are the best of two worlds, combining the gentle attentiveness of a toy breed with the verve and athleticism of a sporting spaniel. However, since these dogs have higher energy levels, they will need to be walked more often. This breed would be happy to go to an off leash dog park where they can expend all their energy.
- Height: 12-13 inches
- Weight: 13-18 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
Havanese
This is a very cheerful and happy dog breed. They are also sociable and adaptive by nature, making them perfect for city life. Havanese dogs will however be happy anywhere they are as long as they get the attention of their admirers. They have moderate exercise needs so a brisk walk one to two times a day, coupled with attention and play time inside the home should be enough for them. Another plus for this breed is that they are hypoallergenic, making the havanese one of the best dog breeds for apartments!
- Height: 8.5-11.5 inches
- Weight: 7-13 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 14-16 years
Keeshond
The Keeshond is an amicable dog breed and are medium sized, so they’re still small enough for apartment living. Historically this dog has had homes in a variety of spaces ranging from wide open fields to small areas where they can’t run around too much. They do not need regular exercise, just a daily walk and maybe some off leash dog park time should be good enough, as long as they get constant attention for you!
- Height: 18 inches (male), 17 inches (female)
- Weight: 35-45 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
Yorkshire Terrier
This dog breed is tenacious, fun loving, feisty, brave, and sometimes bossy. They (like the Havanese) have a reputation for being perfect dogs for city living, which makes them one of the best dog breeds for apartments. Since this dog is small, it is not hard to ensure they get their daily dose of exercise in. They will benefit from daily walks and then short bursts of running/playing to expend some extra energy.
- Height: 8.5-11.5 inches
- Weight: 7-13 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 14-16 years
For more in depth information about various dog breeds and for help finding the right place to adopt a dog, make sure to check out Pet Finder.
If you’re looking for a new home for you and your furry friend, enquire about one of our unique apartments today!
