Best Apartment Dogs | Pupford

Searching for the best apartment dogs? You're in the right place!

When you live in an apartment complex it’s important that you keep in mind certain variables of your lifestyle when choosing a dog breed. Having enough space available and the general access to outdoors are two factors to consider when choosing your new best friend.

Certain dog breeds with lower energy are generally a better fit for apartments since your pup won’t have regular access to a yard for exercise.

Large dog breeds that require a more active lifestyle and plenty of space are not recommended for apartment owners or renters.

Depending on the size of your apartment, you may want a pup that enjoys lounging around, indoor playtime and shorter, quick walks. No matter which type of dog you choose, you will spend time training him or her to fit within this apartment lifestyle!

Here are some things to consider and some great breeds to choose from if you are looking for the best apartment dog!

Choosing a Dog Breed That Fits Best With Apartment Living

Before you choose a breed for your apartment, it's important to think about some of the following factors. 👇

Space

Where will my dog sleep? Do you have a specific area of the house that you can fit a dog crate (for training), bed, food bowls and toys?

Space in your apartment is a huge factor in choosing the best fit fur baby.

You want them to have the freedom to move around and have space to walk and play indoors for exercise when it's too hot or cold out.

Potty Training

Think about your plan for potty training,

Whether you're adopting a new puppy, an adolescent/teenage dog or an adult dog - they will still need to get used to their new living arrangement and have training on how to let you know when they have to go to the bathroom.

For potty training help, check out 30 Day Perfect Pup.

Time

As always, when making the decision to bring this new addition into your family you should be very aware of how much time you will have to walk, play, train, feed and generally care for your dog.

If you have a full-time job away from home and plan to be out of the house for 5 or more hours per day it’s important that you have a plan in place.

Pee breaks, walks, play time and exercise are all important on a daily basis and must be a priority for you as a pup parent. If you live in an apartment, this is even more critical!

Your dog won’t have regular access to a yard for potty breaks so you will need to arrange a time to stop by your home for walks and feeding or have a dog walker come by a time or two while you are out.

We never recommend leaving your dog alone for extended periods of time!

BONUS: Check out the Separation Anxiety Course for help with training your dog to behave while you’re out of the house!]

Dogs love human connection and if you are not sure that you will be around enough to provide them the love and care they need - it may not be the right time for you to add a pup to your apartment/home!

Best Apartment Dogs: Top Breed To Consider

Now that you know what to consider when looking for an apartment dog, we will give you our recommendations.

Here are some of the most popular apartment dogs!

Bichon Frise

These 15lb fur balls are the perfect playful companion for your apartment lifestyle.

They are hypoallergenic and their size is perfect for smaller living spaces. Bichons are fast learners, so they're great for a busy pet parent that wants a well-behaved trainable pup.

They are lovable and cuddly - the perfect size pup for couch lounging!

French Bulldog

The Frenchie is a very popular dog in metro areas, especially with the millennial generation. They are not huge barkers, easy to keep clean (a simple wipe down and a bath every few months will do!) and they’ll do just fine with a daily brisk walk.

French bulldogs are a great apartment dog!

Greyhound

While Greyhounds are typically a larger breed, they are the perfect apartment dog because they truly love to lounge. A Greyhound can be quite the couch potato and enjoys spending time at home, sleeping throughout most of the day.

This type of dog would be a great breed choice for a pet parent that has time to take them to a dog park or go on a run a few times per week.

Pug

Pugs make easy apartment dogs because they are natural homebodies. Their love of food and treats will keep them happy throughout the day while they lounge in their dog beds or on the couch.

Watch out though - Pugs are prone to obesity and without the proper daily exercise they can experience breathing and health problems.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

You may recognize this breed from it’s screen time on Sex and The City. Charlotte was the happy pup parent of a few King Charles pups in her NYC apartment.

This toy breed loves a quick walk around the block but will mostly want to be on your lap at all times!

The typical size of this breed is between 15-18lbs, making it the perfect addition for a smaller size studio or one-bedroom apartment.

Bulldog

When you look at a Bulldog and see their (sometimes) muscular frame, you may not think of them as a lazy breed. However, Bulldogs have quite a lazy reputation.

When it comes to exercise, a brisk daily walk is appreciated on a cool, spring or summer day.

This breed does not enjoy hotter climates due to their short snouts and faces so if you’re living in a city that experiences hotter temperatures, a Bulldog may not be the best fit for you.

Havanese

This breed loves the Downtown city lifestyle! Havanese are known for their adaptability and they very much enjoy being indoors.

Pup parents can expect an outgoing furry pal that will entertain you for hours. The one thing to consider with this breed is their grooming schedule! There are many different styles for grooming this breed in order to help with maintenance.

Shih Tzu

While the Shih Tzu was originally bred for Chinese royalty, don’t worry - they will settle for your humble palace! Families love this affectionate dog breed because they are known for their love of kids and other dogs. Shih Tzu’s adapt easily to apartment living and are easily entertained by indoor play.

Best Apartment Dogs Recap

These are just some of the many perfect dog breeds for apartment living.

Many other toy or medium-sized breeds are great for this type of lifestyle. Terriers, for example, come in many shapes and sizes and are usually a great breed for smaller spaces.

Living in an apartment doesn’t mean that you have to hold off on adopting a furry friend - it just means that there are additional considerations to keep in mind!

Do you live in an apartment? Tell us your pup's breed in the comments below!