If you are someone who is more into a simple life than a grand display of consumerism, a minimalistic life will reward you with less stress and more joy! However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a pet dog in your small, minimalistic home. Rather, there are a plethora of dog breeds that are low-shedding and low-maintenance in nature. With their calm nature and easy-going personalities, they become a perfect addition to your minimalistic home.
Research conducted by the UCLA Centre on Everyday Lives of Families about Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century reveals that people are rapidly shifting to minimalistic lifestyles and aim to get rid of all the clutter that brings additional stress to their lives. They are happily opting for smaller living spaces, buying fewer consumer products, and don’t want to stuff their homes with unnecessary things.
In this article, we shall talk about the 9 Dog Breeds Ideal For Minimalist Homes that will seamlessly become a part of your home.
Dog Breeds Ideal For Minimalist Homes
1. Bichon Frise
Size: 9–12 inches tall, 7–18 lbs heavy
Temperament: Low-Energy
Maintenance: Minimal grooming
Living in a compact space and want a dog that is easy to accommodate in your confined space?
Well, a Bichon Frise is a great choice to make in this situation. Even Redditors support the idea of having this dog in a minimal space, as it is loaded with the qualities that minimalists love!
This dog is extremely low maintenance as it doesn’t shed a lot!
This is mainly because its body is covered with a curly double coat, and all the loose hair gets trapped in it. This means it is not only a low shedder that saves you from unnecessary allergies, but also keeps your couch clean.
Don’t want to use your vacuum cleaner unnecessarily? Not a problem. This dog won’t leave its traces wherever it goes.
Also, it’s not a yappy breed. Hence, you can easily enjoy your calm mornings without any unnecessary noise.
It is an ideal addition to a small home that believes in minimalism!
2. Boston Terrier
Size: 15–17 inches tall, 12–25 lbs heavy
Temperament: Happy and friendly
Maintenance: Low maintenance
With such a small size and dimensions, you can imagine it would be extremely portable and room-friendly. Even if you live in a studio apartment, this small dog will adjust to your lifestyle easily!
It wears a short, single-layer coat which is completely fuss-free! AKC says it sheds moderately. This is why you won’t have to carry your mops handy at all times to clean your home. There is no way you’ll be spotting massive tumbleweeds of fur in your rooms.
This is an energetic dog, but it doesn’t have unrealistic exercise needs. Hills Pet says give it 20–60 minutes of daily walk and it will be more than happy!
If your minimalistic aesthetics are black and white, this dog’s fur will match the vibe of your home perfectly.
3. Biewer Terrier
Size: 7–11 inches tall, 4–8 lbs heavy
Temperament: Moderate energy levels
Maintenance: Shed-free coat and minimal maintenance
A Biewer Terrier is so compact that it not only adjusts well into your arm but also into your small, minimalistic home!
For homeowners with the ultimate goal of a clean, tidy living space, this is the perfect dog to have. It has minimal loose hair and dander. This means the comfy home will always remain mess-free.
This dog comes with a medium level of energy and is a lively dog, but doesn’t overwhelm its owners. If you are too tired to take it outdoors, it will be content with its indoor play as well.
Such an adjusting dog, I must say!
PetMD says this is a kid-friendly dog as well.
Oh, and they have tiny stomachs. You really won’t have to stuff your pantry up with food for them, and you can keep your grocery shopping minimal!
4. French Bulldog
Size: 11–13 inches tall, 16–28 lbs heavy
Temperament: Easy-going
Maintenance: Minimal maintenance with weekly brushing
For a minimalistic household, there is no dog better than a French Bulldog, and I am just about to prove this fact!
For starters, this is a super-easy-going dog, somewhat lazy!
It won’t run around the home, wreaking havoc.
Purina claims its shedding is very low! It is super-easy to keep your minimal home nice and tidy as this dog won’t make any mess.
Additionally, there is no need to worry about taking your Bulldog to the dog park daily, as it would likely prefer lounging over playing outdoors.s
5. Pug
Size: 10–13 inches tall, 14–18 lbs heavy
Temperament: Lazy
Maintenance: Low
A Pug is quitnessentually a lazy guy!
This dog is always down to lounge on your comfy couch. Going out in the sun is really not its thing.
You’ll be amazed to notice that this dog prefers a minimalistic lifestyle way more than you do!
Oh, and the best part?
This is a content pet. You won’t need to fulfil its demands by stuffing the home up with unnecessary toys. Rather, it won’t act like a toy collector and would be happy with its one favourite toy.
The Royal Canine mentions that Pugs bark only when absolutely necessary. Otherwise, it will remain so quiet you’ll wonder whether it’s in the same house as yours or not!
Check out all the unique traits of a Pug on this Reddit Thread and be amazed!
6. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Size: 12–13 inches tall, 13–18 lbs heavy
Temperament: Medium levels of energy
Maintenance: Not tricky
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the one dog that fits the aesthetics of minimalists easily!
This small dog breed is fuss-free when compared to other dogs! For first-time owners, it is a gem of a breed to have. Also, if you are moving from a big house to a small one, this dog will cooperate and adjust!
It is so easy-going that even Quora says it is a great choice for an apartment life.
And what makes them the best apartment dogs? Well, a plethora of reasons, such as:
Average shedding – This dog sheds very little, and you just need to give it a weekly brush.
Smart and eager to please– It is quick to learn new skills and doesn’t cause any training fuss.
Low-Barker- This polite dog doesn’t bark much
7. Shih Tzu
Size: 9–11 inches tall, 9–16 lbs heavy
Temperament: Perky, happy, friendly
Maintenance: Regular grooming
This is a petite dog, and its small body makes it a perfect fit for small homes.
Surely some of the most adorable lap dogs, the Shih Tzu is a much-loved dog amongst minimalists.
Despite its long coat and silky texture, this dog is easy to maintain.
Cherry on top? This dog has a hypoallergenic coat, making it a good choice for allergy sufferers.
Compared to large dogs that need a lot of space to live comfortably, this toy breed is perfectly content in your small home. For apartment-dwelling pet owners, they are the perfect pick they have been looking for forever!
This canine companion comes with moderate energy levels. It offers you a good blend of play time and a settling period.
8. Italian Greyhound
Size: 13–15 inches tall, 7–14 lbs heavy
Temperament: Chilled-out
Maintenance: Extremely low
If you live in a minimalistic, cosy home and crave unlimited hugs, an Italian Greyhound is what you need in your life!
Are you a lazy person as well who can’t keep up with the maintenance needs of a dog?
Not a problem!
This dog falls in the category of low-maintenance breeds. When compared to most large breeds, it is easy-going and chill. You really don’t need to worry about taking it for long strolls outdoors for enough mental stimulation.
A walk of 20 minutes will be enough for this dog to stay fit and healthy.
They ooze a calm energy. These zen dogs are a good addition to a home where all family members prefer silence over chaos.
9. Chinese Crested
Size: 9–13 inches, 5–12 lbs heavy
Temperament: Peaceful and easy-going
Maintenance: Low to moderate
The Chinese Crested dog comes in two varieties, i.e., Hairless coat and powder puff variety. Though both are phenomenal, the hairless one would make a great fit for your minimalistic home as it doesn’t shed.
This dog requires minimal grooming as there is no shedding. On top of that, for allergy-suffering homeowners, this hypoallergenic pet is a great pick.
For hairless dogs, there is a need for some care as their skin is bare. You’ll have to get your hands on a good sunscreen, some moisturisers, and opt for weekly washes.
Weekly brushing works great for the Powder Puff dogs as it helps in avoiding matting.
Conclusion
For minimalistic homes and small apartments, there is a need for a dog that is easy-going, doesn’t come with a long list of requirements, and exudes a calm energy. They have super compact and cuddle-sized bodies, making them great for homeowners who don’t want their succulents broken by their pets. The Yorkshire terrier, Miniature poodle, and Basset hound are some other pets that you can add to your minimalist home.
