Top 5 Dog Breeds For Apartment Owners

Being a dog parent means understanding your pet's needs at all times. Some dogs need as much space as possible as their energy levels might be extremely challenging to manage in an apartment or condo.  

Others, on the other hand, might be calmer and more patient, despite their size. Living in an apartment doesn't automatically equate to you getting a tiny pooch as even some of the smallest breeds can be very energetic and can become unhappy in small spaces.

Without further ado, here are the top five dog breeds for apartment owners! 

Best Dog Breeds for Apartment Living 

Bichon Frise

The Bichon Frise has become one of the most popular breeds of apartment dwellers as it is affectionate, excellent with children, and it also tends to get along great with other pets, especially other dogs.  

This pooch also doesn’t drool a lot, especially compared to other breeds. However, Bichon Frises have fairly demanding grooming necessities since their coats have to be brushed every day. If you do this, your mate will almost never shed.

In terms of size, these dogs stand tall at 23 to 30 cm and can weigh anything between 6 and 11 kg. Depending on their parents, some puppies might grow to be larger.  

Although it is a fairly healthy breed, the Bichon Frise is predisposed to some genetically transmitted conditions such as luxating patella and eye health issues. Regular ear cleaning is necessary to ensure that your pet doesn’t end up developing an infection.  

The cost of a well-bred puppy can range from $300 to $2,500, but the average is around $600 to $700. The price can be higher for puppies whose parents have won competitions. Ask your breeder for detailed health records of the puppy’s parents before making your final decision.  

Pug 

This companion dog breed rarely gets larger than 25 to 33 cm and never weighs more than 6.5 to 8.2 kg. What’s interesting about the Pug is that it has an immense array of facial features, which makes it extremely popular with people who love to know what’s on their dog’s mind at all times.  

The breed is great with children, can be trained with ease, and they can also learn to get along with other pets with consistent training. These dogs are predominantly seen as suited for apartment living, although they do enjoy a lot of time spent outdoors.

Due to the physical features they have (being brachycephalic), Pugs have a harder time managing their body temperature. This means that they should never be placed in situations where they could easily develop heatstroke.  

Other health issues they are prone to range from eye problems (entropion, traumatic injuries, dry eye, and others) to skin fold infections and even demodectic mange.  

In terms of grooming and care, the major areas that pet parents have to pay attention to are their eyes, their ears, and their skin on the whole. Given their folds, they can easily develop irritations, allergies, and infections whose symptoms might not be noticeable for some time.  

The average cost of a Pug puppy is somewhere between $700 and $1,500.  

Bulldog 

Despite its grim history (since the Bulldog was first developed in 13th century England to fight other dogs and entertain the masses), this breed is extremely social, fun, and friendly. Some describe it as made for loving, not fighting.  

While being slightly larger than what you’d expect from a dog that thrives in an apartment, the truth is that Bulldogs are very calm and sometimes even lazy. For this reason, they’re prone to obesity. You actually have to convince your Bulldog to go out and run around. They’re also greedy eaters, so they can gain weight if you give them too many snacks.

These dogs never get heavier than 18 to 22 kg. The standard height for the breed is anything from 31 to 40 cm.  

Bulldogs are curious, easygoing, and affectionate. They can be quite stubborn and are also slow learners, which is why they need consistent training throughout their lives. The amount of socialisation that a Bulldog puppy receives in their first several months of life is essential for making them get along with other animals and humans.  

Well-bred English Bulldog puppies can cost anywhere between $1,700 and $4,000. The average price is $2,500, so these pooches can be a bit expensive.  

Maltese 

Did you know that the Maltese is one of the oldest dog breeds that exist today? Apparently, they were brought to Malta by the Phoenicians before the 1500s BC.  

The size of the breed is what recommends it for apartment living. These dogs rarely get taller than 18 to 23 cm at the shoulder and heavier than 1.5 to 4 kg.  

What makes the difference between this breed and some of the others we’ve mentioned in this post is its personality. This is a very active dog that loves to play and explore, and it’s also known for its curiosity. Maltese puppies are alert at all times, so they love to run around.

In terms of health, Maltese dogs can suffer from luxating patellas and several hereditary eye problems. You can ask your breeder for a certificate attesting the puppy’s parents’ health just to be on the safe side of things.  

The average price of a Maltese puppy is anywhere between $700 to $2,000 and more.  

Boston Terrier 

If you want a great watchdog that’s also highly trainable and can behave, a Boston Terrier should be right up your alley. Granted, this dog is also gassy and a bit of a picky eater, but these are things that you can expect from many other breeds.  

If you become a Boston Terrier parent, you’ll be very entertained. This pet is fun-loving and sweet, and it also tends to get along well with other animals and people. They love to play almost any game, and they need a lot of toys and activities to keep them from getting bored.  

Their small stature makes them perfect for apartments and condos, but they do have to be exercised enough. Taking your mate for a brisk walk every morning and every evening can be enough but do keep in mind that they can get sad if they do not get outside too much.

An important note to make about this breed is that it does not excel at swimming, so you will have to fit your pooch with a life vest for such situations.  

Like the Bulldog and Pug, the Boston Terrier can have a bit of a hard time breathing normally -- which is why they have to be kept cool during the summer. They are fairly healthy on the whole, but they can develop ear and eye infections, allergies, as well as a variety of other skin conditions.  

The standard price of a Boston Terrier puppy ranges from $1,000 to $2,000 and more. Well-bred pups that have an excellent lineage can cost as much as $4,000 and beyond.  

Other dogs that do well in apartments 

Apart from the breeds that we have already described here, there are others that are perfectly content to live in a relatively small space, so long as they get enough opportunities to play and spend time outdoors. Here are several examples: 

• French Bulldog 
• Greyhound 
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 
• Havanese
• Shih Tzu 
• German Spitz 
• Bedlington Terrier