Apartment-Friendly Dog Breeds

By Theresa Miller • August 15, 2024

Theresa is a tenured PuppySpot employee and breed expert. She is currently the manager of our Profile Approval department and interacts with our breeders daily. Theresa has been involved in the pet industry for over 20 years and has hands-on experience with many dog breeds. Theresa is also the proud pet parent of Marta, a German Shepherd Dog who is a trained service dog, a miniature Labradoodle named Eleanor, and her tuxedo cat Bonnie!

So, you live in an apartment and you believe it is impossible to have a dog? Good news, you can! There are many breeds to choose from who make excellent apartment companions. However, there are a few things you need to consider before bringing home your new best friend.

First, make sure to check with your landlord or apartment office. Not every apartment complex will allow pets, so it is important to verify with them beforehand. If they allow dogs they might still have weight or specific breed restrictions that you need to be aware of. Some apartments also require a pet deposit to cover any damage that may occur while living in that unit. (And if you live in a condo with an HOA, be sure to check out those restrictions as well.)

Next, you need to consider if you have enough time and space for a dog. While toy breeds are usually the best choice, there are a few medium to large-size dogs that are also apartment-friendly but might not do well in a studio. Most apartments also don’t have their own yard space where your dog can run and play. So, it is important to take your dog on a walk a few times a day. Walks are a great time to bond with your furry roommate and provide them with both mental and physical stimulation. More importantly, it allows them to take care of their “doggie business” while they’re outside.

While these are important factors to consider before introducing a dog to an apartment, your next step is to do your breed research. Making sure a breed’s characteristics are a perfect match for you is just as relevant.

Here are our top picks for apartment-friendly dogs and you might just be surprised which breeds make the list.

Apartment Breeds

Basset Hound

Life expectancy 12-13 years
Average weight 40-65 pounds
Great with kids and other pets
Charming and easygoing
Does have a loud bark so might not be suitable for small apartments

Browse available Basset Hound puppies for sale

Bichon Frise

Lifespan expectancy 14-15 years
Average weight 12-18 pounds
Allergy-friendly and low-shedding
Requires regular grooming
Great for families with kids and other pets

Browse available Bichon Frise puppies for sale

Biewer Terrier

Lifespan expectancy 16 years
Average weight 4-8 pounds
Allergy-friendly and low-shedding
Requires regular grooming
Smart and loyal

Browse Biewer Terrier puppies available for sale

Boston Terrier

Lifespan expectancy 11-13 years
Average weight 12-25 pounds
Funny and friendly personality
Playful and easy to train

Browse available Boston Terrier puppies for sale

Brussels Griffon

Lifespan expectancy 12-15 years
Average weight 8-10 pounds
Playful, affectionate, and easy to train
Comes rough-coated or smooth-coated

Browse Brussels Griffon puppies available for sale

Bulldog

Lifespan expectancy 8-10 years
Average weight 40-50 pounds
Wrinkle care to prevent skin irritation
Friendly, playful, and medium-energy

Browse available Bulldog puppies for sale

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Lifespan expectancy 12-15 years
Average weight 12-18 pounds
Sweet, gentle, friendly, and affectionate lapdogs
Great choice for seniors or families with children

Browse available Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies for sale

Chihuahua

Lifespan expectancy 14-16 years
Average weight around 6 pounds
Comes long coat or smooth coat
Not suitable in a home with small children
Sassy and affectionate

Browse available Chihuahua puppies for sale

Chinese Crested

Lifespan expectancy 13-18 years
Average weight 8-12 pounds
Allergy-friendly coats come in two varieties: hairless and powderpuff
Hairless varieties require routine skin care and protection from the sun and cold weather
Friendly, adaptable, and easy to train

Browse available Chinese Crested puppies for sale

Coton de Tulear

Lifespan expectancy 15-19 years
Average weight 8-15 pounds
Low shedding and allergy-friendly
Requires regular grooming
Happy-go-lucky personality

Browse available Coton de Tulear puppies for sale

French Bulldog

Lifespan expectancy 10-12 years
Average weight 17-28 pounds
They are talkative and communicate in a language of yips, grumbles, singing, and even yawning
Despite being stubborn they are very smart and easy to train

Browse available French Bulldog puppies for sale

Great Dane

Lifespan expectancy 7-10 years
Average weight 110-175 pounds
Despite their large size, the Great Dane is easygoing, patient, and only requires moderate exercise
Gentle giants that are great with kids and other pets with adult supervision
Better suited for larger apartments

Browse available Great Dane puppies for sale

Havanese

Lifespan expectancy 14-16 years
Average weight 7-13 pounds
Funny, social, and affectionate personality
Prone to separation anxiety
Friendly and does well around children and other pets

Browse available Havanese puppies for sale

Italian Greyhound

Lifespan expectancy 14-15 years
Average weight 7-14 pounds
Is a member of the gazehound family and hunts by sight and speed
Adaptable and friendly with strangers
Playful and affectionate but also sensitive

Browse available Italian Greyhound puppies for sale

Japanese Chin

Lifespan expectancy 10-12 years
Average weight 7-11 pounds
Affectionate, noble, and charming
Known for their cat-like attributes of wanting to sit on high surfaces, believing they are in charge, self-grooming, and following their own interests

Browse available Japanese Chin puppies for sale

Lhasa Apso

Lifespan expectancy 12-15 years
Average weight 12-18 pounds
They were originally developed as sentinels so they will bark when on alert
Comical, confident, and independent
Allergy-friendly and low-shedding
Requires regular grooming and brushing

Browse available Lhasa Apso puppies for sale

Maltese

Lifespan expectancy 12-15 years
Average weight around 7 pounds
Sweet, charming, and affection
Allergy-friendly and low-shedding
Known for their silky white coats that require regular grooming and brushing

Browse available Maltese puppies for sale

Pekingese

Lifespan expectancy 12-14 years
Average weight around 14 pounds
Devoted, loving, and strong-willed
They do shed and require regular grooming
Enjoys cold climates

Browse available Pekingese puppies for sale

Pomeranian

Lifespan expectancy 12-16 years
Average weight 3-7 pounds
Bold, inquisitive, and devoted
They have the widest variety of coat colors
Intelligent and loves learning new tricks but can be stubborn during the training process

Browse available Pomeranian puppies for sale