Dog Breeds That Make Good Apartment Dogs

Choosing the right apartment dog can seem like a daunting task. With so many dog breeds to choose from, how do you know which pooch is for you?

The good news is that many dog breeds make good apartment dogs. The key to choosing an apartment dog is to choose a canine with an energy level that suits your lifestyle and a temperament that will allow him to be comfortable in an apartment.
Pick an apartment dog whose activity level matches your own. If you’re an active person and plan on jogging every day with your dog, you can choose a high-energy dog breed. With a lot of exercise, a high-energy dog can be happy in an apartment. But if you’re a couch potato, look for a pup that prefers resting over going for runs.
A dog’s temperament is also critical in determining whether or not he’ll be a good apartment dog. For a dog, an apartment community is a pretty stimulating place — there’s a lot of people coming and going, and there’s a constant hum of interesting noises. A good apartment dog is one who can handle all that stimulation without getting overly anxious. Anxious dogs are barkers, and they could get you evicted.
With both energy level and temperament in mind, here’s a list of five dog breeds — both large and small — who’d make good apartment dogs.

Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkies are among the best apartment dogs because of their small size. With full-grown Yorkshire Terriers weighing in at around seven pounds or less, these tiny dogs are very active indoors but don’t require outdoor exercise. They love cuddling and are the ultimate lap dogs. As an added bonus, these diminutive dogs can be easily trained to use the bathroom on indoor “piddle pads” — squares of diaper-like material that absorb waste — making them very low maintenance.

Mastiff
While they are among the most powerful and heavy dog breeds, Mastiffs actually make good apartment dogs because they are very low energy. Weighing as much as 150 pounds, these gentle giants are very calm and rarely bark making them suitable to busy apartment communities. With short walks every few days and daily indoor playtime, Mastiffs can be happy apartment dogs.

Schipperke
The Schipperke is a highly active small to medium-sized dog breed that does well with active apartment dwellers. Very alert and intelligent, these Belgian dogs need a lot of mental and physical stimulation through regular indoor playtime as well as outdoor walks. Some are prone to barking, but the breed makes a good apartment dog for its manageable size and loving, loyal temperament.

Greyhound
Exceptionally quiet and gentle, Greyhounds are a large breed that make good apartment dogs. Despite being known as athletes, these mellow dogs make great family pets and enjoy nothing more than lying around on the couch all day. They do require regular walks, but they don’t need excessive daily exercise.

Basset Hound
Thanks to their mild temperament and inactive indoor lifestyle, Bassets are a good apartment dog breed. With average adult Basset Hounds topping out at about 40 to 60 pounds, they are also an ideal medium size for many owners. Basset Hounds do love the outdoors though, and while they can be OK without a yard of their own, they need regular outdoor exercise to be happy and healthy.

Don’t see your favorite dog on the list?
The truth is that any dog breed could potentially be a good apartment dog. It all depends on the pup’s personality. And don’t think you have to limit yourself to purebreds when you choose an apartment dog. Adopting a mutt from a rescue shelter is also an option.