The Best Dog Breeds for Apartment Living

Many prospective dog owners don’t have the large country estates that many breeds seem to favour. However, the lack of square footage is not necessarily a deterrent to having a pet. There are quite a number of breeds that will get along perfectly fine in an apartment.

In fact, here are some of the best dog varieties for apartments. The breeds listed below tend to be quiet dogs that behave in a friendly fashion towards unfamiliar people, but their other characteristic are as varied as their physical appearances.

Pugs

With their mischievous dispositions and their charmingly wrinkled faces, it is not surprising that these dogs lead the pack in being popular with urban residents. Pugs are devoted family members, they typically get along well with children and other pets.

These dogs are fairly easy to train and only have modest exercise requirements. However, some care is needed in keeping the dogs’ faces clean, because otherwise grime can build up in the folds.

Like many short nosed breeds, Pugs get overheated easily and should probably live in air conditioned buildings. Prospective owners should also be aware that these dogs snore, but they do not have many health problems.

Read More About the Pug

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Members of this loving breed tend to attach themselves to their owners. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels make wonderful pets for retired seniors or stay-at-home parents, but they are a poor choice for a busy household where their human family members will be gone most of the time.

These dogs are incredibly sweet tempered and show no aggression towards unfamiliar people or animals. It goes without saying the breed gets along well with kids and other dogs.

This breed doesn’t need a lot of exercise, but a daily walk never comes amiss. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels will also need to be brushed at least once a week to keep their silky coats looking their best.

Read More About the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

French Bulldogs

These intelligent dogs have a placid demeanor that makes them perfectly adaptable to apartment life. Like their Bulldog ancestors, members of this breed are mostly quiet and perfectly devoted to the human members of their families.

However, French Bulldogs were downsized several hundred years ago in order to make them a better fit as a companion breed.

These dogs will need daily walks to keep them from become obese. French Bulldogs also suffer from the same health problems as most short-nosed breeds.

As a result, these dogs need air conditioned environments in the summers and they should not be exercised at all on warm, humid days. Some can be stubborn and difficult to train.

Read More About the French Bulldog

Greyhounds

These dogs and their smaller Italian counterparts were built for speed, but they are equally happy to laze about on the sofa for much of the day. Greyhounds have low grooming needs and only require the occasional bath.

However, these dogs will need to be taken for a walk every day.!

They also enjoy having a place where they can run around on a regular basis, such as a fenced in yard or a dog park. Prospective owners should note that this breed can be difficult to train and smaller varieties may not be a good choice for households with young children as playtimes may result in accidental injuries.

However, Greyhounds do get along well with kids and usually will do fine with other pets.

Read More About the Greyhound

Bichon Frises

Playful and inquisitive, these charming white powder puff dogs are incredibly energetic despite their small stature.

Daily walks and play sessions are a must, while regular hair brushing is also needed for members of this breed.

Bichon Frises do not shed much, so they are thought to be a good choice for allergy suffers. These dogs are also great with children and other pets.

This people pleasing breed is also highly trainable, but they may never leave their humans alone.

Read More About the Bichon Frise

Boston Terriers

Dogs of this breed are easy to train and are often quite attached to their human family members and they also get along fine with strangers.

In fact, Boston Terriers tend to be quiet and mannerly, making them a good candidate for apartment life.

These small dogs will need a daily walk around the block to take care of their exercise requirements. Regular brushing is also mandatory, because these dogs tend to shed a lot.

As a short-nosed breed, Boston Terriers are only suitable for air conditioned apartments and they should be kept indoors in warm, humid weather.

Read More About the Boston Terrier

Bulldogs

Despite the fact that they are among the largest breed on this list, Bulldogs get along fine in apartments because they have rather lethargic dispositions.

These quiet dogs also require little grooming and have limited exercise needs, regular walks are nonetheless recommended for members of this generally healthy breed by the American Kennel Club.

Bulldogs are likewise known for their calm dispositions and sense of humour, which means that they generally get along great with kids and other pets.

However, owners should be aware that Bulldogs do not do well in warmer climates unless they live in air conditioned housing. Their wrinkled faces will also need to be cleaned regularly to keep grime from accumulating in the folds.

Read More About the Bulldog

Do you agree with these seven breeds? What other breeds could be on the list?