What Breeds of Dogs Make Good Apartment Dwellers?

Dogs make great companions but many people are hesitant to get a dog when they live in an apartment. Although some breeds of dogs aren't suited for apartment life, many breeds do well in a small living space. Breeds that do well tend to be small, obedient and mellow, although some larger dogs and active dogs can also live in apartments. As long as these breeds are given time each day to play outdoors, they are fine with living in an apartment.

  1. Terriers

    • Terriers are a small breed that are happy living in an apartment as long as they get a chance to run and play outside each day. The Boston terrier and Jack Russell terrier are two dogs well-suited for apartment life. The Boston terrier typically weighs about 25 lbs and is an affectionate, well-mannered and low-energy dog. The Jack Russell terrier typically weighs between 14 to 18 lbs. The Jack Russell terrier is an active and intelligent dog that requires a lot of play time outdoors each day so it can work off its extra energy.

    Bulldogs

    • Bulldogs are short, stocky and muscular dogs that are docile and mellow. The French bulldog and English bulldog are two breeds that can live in an apartment. The English bulldog typically weighs between 49 and 55 lbs. This dog does not exhibit a lot of energy, but it is highly affectionate and does not require a lot of exercise. The French bulldog is also a stocky, muscular dog, but it is smaller than the English bulldog. The French bulldog typically weighs about 25 lbs. The French bulldog is also low-energy dog and does not require a lot of exercise. Both of these dogs enjoy laying down and resting when indoors and are not very active.

    Toy Breeds

    • Toy breeds make good dogs for apartments because they are small, usually weighing less than 20 lbs, and are easy to handle. The Shih-Tzu and Chihuahua are two dog breeds that are well-suited for apartment life. The Shih-Tzu is a gentle dog that typically weighs between 10 and 18 lbs. The Shih-Tzu is affectionate and does not have a lot of energy so it does not require a lot of exercise. The Chihuahua is smaller than the Shih-Tzu and weighs about 2 to 6 lbs. Chihuahuas are also affectionate but they are energetic dogs that require a lot of exercise and play time.

    Large Dogs

    • Although large dogs take up a lot of space, some breeds of large dogs can still live in an apartment. Greyhounds and Great Danes are two examples of large dog breeds that can live in apartments. Greyhounds are tall, slender dogs that do not bark much. Greyhounds are about 28 inches in height and weigh between 60 and 80 lbs. Although greyhounds do need plenty of outdoor exercise, once indoors they tend to be low-energy and lazy dogs, according to the Animal Network website. Great Danes are also tall, averaging about 30 inches in height, but they are more muscular and weigh between 100 and 200 lbs. Although these dogs do require plenty of outdoor play time each day, they are relatively inactive when indoors and spend a lot of time lounging and resting.