Dogs That Shed Little & Can Live in an Apartment

When choosing the right dog for an apartment, size is one of the first considerations. Smaller breeds that don't require a yard and do not take up too much space are preferred. A secondary consideration might be the amount of hair produced by the breed. A dog that does not shed a great deal means less cleaning of hair and is crucial for allergy sufferers.

  1. Yorkshire Terrier

    • The Yorkshire terrier originated in the north of England and is a toy dog breed. It grows to 7 inches at the shoulder and up to 7 pounds in weight, so it does not require much space. It does well without a back yard, but does have a lot of energy and needs regular walks. It has loose, long hair that requires plenty of grooming but rarely sheds.

    West Highland Terrier

    • The West Highland terrier originated from Scotland around the 19th century. It is a small terrier that grows to around 11 inches at the shoulder and up to 22 pounds. It is an energetic breed, so it does need regular walks, but it can do without a yard. It has a thick, double-layer white coat that requires regular grooming to avoid mats. If well groomed the dog sheds little, if at all.

    Miniature Schnauzer

    • The miniature schnauzer is the smallest of the three schnauzer types that originate from Germany. It grows to 14 inches at the shoulder and weighs up to 15 pounds. The dog requires little space and is fine without a yard as long as it gets regular walks. It has a tight, wiry coat that, if groomed well, is easy to care for and rarely sheds.

    Lhasa Apso

    • The Lhasa apso originates from Tibet and is a small herding dog breed. It grows to 11 inches at the shoulder and up to 15 pounds in weight, so it needs little space. It is a lively breed that needs exercise, but does not need a yard as long as it gets daily walks. It has a long and straight, thick coat that parts at the spine. With daily grooming the coat avoids mats and barely sheds.

    Havanese

    • The Havanese breed originates from Cuba and is in the toy dog class. It grows to 11 inches at the shoulder and up to 13 pounds. The breed is suitable for apartment living and does not need a yard. It does need regular walks and plenty of play to burn off energy. It has a thick, double-layer coat that does not shed much, if at all. The short-haired version, known as the Shavanese, does shed so the long-haired version is best.

    Bichon Frise

    • The Bichon frise is a small European breed. It grows to 12 inches at the shoulder and weighs up to 12 pounds. It has a tight, double-layer curly coat that requires regular grooming to avoid matting. The coat's tightness means it hardly sheds. It does need regular walks, but can cope without a yard and is a good apartment dog.