Good Non-Shedding Dogs for the Apartment Life

With a small apartment, finding the right dog breed is important. A Great Dane is obviously a bad choice because they need a lot of room. A smaller, less active dog is far better. Many of the smaller breeds are also hypoallergenic, which means that they shed little to no hair. This is beneficial for avoiding unsightly dog hair on clothes and furniture, as well as for allergy sufferers.

  1. Miniature Schnauzer

    • The miniature schnauzer is a small 10 lb. to 15 lb. dog that grows to 14 inches at the shoulder. Its size and calm personality means it is suited for an apartment as long as it is given regular walks. The coat is thick and does require regular grooming and seasonal clipping, but otherwise sheds very little.

    American Hairless Terrier

    • The American hairless terrier grows up to 16 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 5 lbs. and 16 lbs. They like to have a small yard, but with a 30-minute daily walk will do well in an apartment. The lack of hair means that the dog does not shed, but it does mean it is sensitive to the cold and extreme sun.

    Bedlington Terrier

    • The Bedlington terrier has a tightly curled coat that requires clipping every six weeks or so, but rarely sheds between clips. It is a medium-sized dog that grows to 17 inches at the shoulder and up to 23 lbs., but is slender. Given regular exercise, the breed does fine without a yard and is good for slightly larger apartments.

    Bichon Frise

    • The bichon frise is a small breed growing to 12 inches at the shoulder and 12 lbs. in weight. It takes up little space and is inactive indoors if well exercised with daily walks. The dog has a thickly curled coat, which can be clipped decoratively. It rarely sheds, if at all, as long as it is groomed often.

    Border Terrier

    • The border terrier is a 13 lb. to 16 lb. dog that grows to just over 1 foot in height at the shoulder. Daily walks will keep the dog relaxed and inactive indoors, so it is small enough to make a good apartment dog. It has a wiry tight coat, which will remain shed-free with weekly brushing.

    Miniature Poodle

    • Like all poodle types, the miniature has a tight curly coat, which is often clipped decoratively, and rarely sheds. They grow up to 15 inches at the shoulder, and just 17 pounds in weight, so are small enough for apartment living. They are also calm when indoors as long as they receive daily exercise. The smaller toy poodle is likewise suitable for apartment living and requires even less exercise.