Living in an apartment comes with plenty of restrictions, especially when you want to own a dog. Lease approvals, HOA rules, limited space, no fenced yard, and a long list of other hurdles can make you rethink the whole idea.
But small dog breeds can make your apartment dog dream come true. They don’t need big yards, and they easily clear the weight limits most rental buildings set. They’re smart, lovable, and ask for just one thing in return: affection.
Don’t let their size fool you, either. Small dogs can do almost everything a big dog does (apart from taking on large predators), so you won’t be missing out on much.
In this guide, we’ve picked the seven best dog breeds for apartment living. We’ll also walk you through each breed’s adaptability, exercise needs, grooming requirements, and temperament.
Adorable Dog Breeds Perfect for Limited Living Space
1. Pug
Pugs are famously charming, mischievous, and deeply affectionate. They’re known for their clownish personalities and their need to be right by their human’s side. Pugs usually get along well with children and other pets, and since they were bred purely for companionship, they have no herding or hunting instincts to worry about.
Their compact size and low indoor energy make them great apartment dogs. They don’t need a big yard, just a few short walks around the neighborhood for mental stimulation. That said, pugs are flat-faced dogs, and as PetMD points out, they’re prone to breathing problems if they exercise hard in hot weather.
They’re intelligent and eager to please, though they can be stubborn at times. Treats and other reward-based training work well with them. Their short coat sheds quite a bit year-round, so plan on weekly brushing to keep loose hair under control, along with regular cleaning of their facial folds.
2. French Bulldog
French Bulldogs are playful, smart, and affectionate. They’re easygoing, adaptable, and happiest when they’re close to their humans. Thanks to their compact size and low barking tendencies, they’re arguably some of the best apartment dogs around.
According to PDSA, these small dogs need at least an hour of exercise a day to stay active. Daily walks and a bit of indoor playtime usually do the trick. They’re intelligent and eager to please, but they can have a classic stubborn streak, so stick with positive reinforcement when training.
Frenchies are a great fit for apartment dwellers, first-time owners, and busy professionals. Their short, fine, glossy coat sheds low to moderately and is very low maintenance. A quick weekly brushing and a daily wipe of their facial folds is all they need.
3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are exceptionally affectionate, gentle, and sweet-natured. They’re known for their deeply loving, adaptable personalities, and they rank among the most popular small dog breeds out there.
Their small size and quiet indoor manners make Cavaliers well-suited to apartment living. They have moderate exercise needs, usually around 30 to 45 minutes of activity a day. They’re also highly intelligent and eager to please, which makes training much easier.
Cavaliers are sensitive, though, and don’t respond well to harsh tones or corrections, so stick with reward-based training. Their easygoing nature makes them a perfect match for first-time pet parents, seniors, and retirees. Their silky coat sheds moderately year-round and needs brushing two to three times a week.
4. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus are playful, outgoing, and deeply devoted companions that were originally bred to live in royal palaces. They have a confident, cheerful demeanor, get along well with children and other pets, and form strong bonds, which makes them wonderful family dogs.
They’re also nicknamed the “little lion,” and as Chewy notes, that’s because they were bred to resemble one. But it’s their compact size, calm indoor presence, and low to moderate exercise needs that make them great apartment dogs. Shih Tzus are intelligent, though they also have a stubborn, independent streak.
They respond best to patient, consistent, positive reinforcement training. They’re also a good fit for small apartments, first-time owners, seniors, and retirees. Their long double coat barely sheds, but it needs daily brushing to prevent mats. If that sounds like too much work, a short puppy cut is an easy alternative.
5. Bichon Frise
Bichon Frises are cheerful, gentle, and playful, with outgoing, social personalities. They go by plenty of affectionate nicknames, like “cotton candy,” “marshmallow,” and “walking cloud.” All that love is for their fluffy white coat, which makes them look like a teddy bear when given a round cut.
Their happy-go-lucky attitude and tiny size make them a great fit for smaller spaces. Their low-shedding coat is often described as hypoallergenic, though no dog is truly allergen-free.
Bichons have moderate energy levels and need about 30 minutes of short walks or indoor playtime a day. These white dogs are also highly intelligent and eager to please.
They respond best to positive reinforcement, praise, and treats, and they suit first-time and experienced owners alike. Their soft, curly, powder-puff coat barely sheds, but it needs brushing three to four times a week, or even daily, to prevent painful mats.
6. Havanese
Havanese are affectionate, outgoing, intelligent, and deeply playful. They’re nicknamed “velcro dogs” because they bond so closely with their owners, and they get along famously with children, other dogs, and even cats. They’re also the national dog of Cuba, as Orvis points out.
These tiny dogs are a great fit for apartments and smaller homes thanks to their adaptable nature and moderate exercise needs, usually around 30 minutes a day. They also make decent watchdogs, since they’ll bark now and then to alert you to visitors.
Havanese are highly intelligent and food-motivated, which makes training easier. They’re also among the best small breeds for seniors, retirees, and apartment dwellers. Their long, soft, silky, wavy double coat barely sheds, but it needs daily brushing to prevent mats and clear out loose hair.
7. Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terriers are spirited, confident, and feisty little dogs. They pack a bold, larger-than-life personality into a tiny frame, and they stay fiercely loyal to their humans. Yorkies love to snuggle on your lap, and they’re playful, brave, and endlessly entertaining housemates.
Their small size, moderate exercise needs, and adaptable nature make them a great fit for apartment living. They need around 20 to 30 minutes of activity a day, which indoor play and a few outdoor walks can easily cover. They’re intelligent, but they also have a stubborn streak.
Short, consistent, reward-based training sessions work best. Yorkies have a fine, straight, glossy single coat that closely resembles human hair. It can be clipped short in a low-maintenance puppy cut. They’re low shedders, but a coat kept long needs daily brushing.
Conclusion
The seven small dog breeds above are all great for apartment living, thanks to their compact size and low to moderate exercise needs. These little pups adjust easily as long as you’re right beside them. They do differ in temperament, behavior, training, and grooming routines, though, so use this guide to make a well-informed choice.
