In a world that is constantly rushing, many people are now preferring a slower, cozier way of living. And they are also choosing a dog which goes along with their cozy lifestyle and apartment living. Not everyone needs a giant, high energy companion that requires a lot of space to live.
For those who live in apartments or modest homes, dogs under 22 pounds are well suited for them. These cute small dogs are affectionate and playful companions. They adapt well to the indoor environment. They like to be close to their owners and sitting on their lap.
Moreover, small breed dogs form good companionship with their owners. Many of them require less space, require manageable exercise and are easier to care for. All such traits make them ideal for cozy lifestyles.
Best Dog Breeds Under 22 Pounds for a Cozy Lifestyle
There are several dog breeds that are under 22 pounds and resonate perfectly with the cozy lifestyle. Let’s have a look at them one by one in detail:
1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
It is one of the best small dog breeds with an affectionate nature and gentle temperament. It proves itself to be a true companion with its personality. Cavalier is generally known for its sweet and intuitive nature. It can easily thrive in apartment living.
It loves snuggling on its owner’s lap and playing with the children. It enjoys short, daily walks but do not demand intense and regular outdoor exercise. They are generally happy and enjoy indoor activities due to their playful nature. It truly embodies the essence of a cozy lifestyle.
However, it may develop separation anxiety if left alone for a longer period of time. It also demands routine health monitoring because it is prone to some medical conditions.
2. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu is a charming lap dog with silky coat. It is an affectionate, friendly and emotionally warm without being overly demanding. Its cheerful and gentle temperament makes it well-suited for indoor, cozy lifestyle. Interestingly, it loves being the centre of attention.
Shih Tzu has a people-oriented nature. However, it demands attention being a part of a family but not being clingy. It is a well-mannered indoor pet which becomes friendly with all family members including seniors. It does not demand regular exercise, but short indoor walks are beneficial to keep it healthy.
Its luxurious, flowing coat and silky hair demand regular grooming in order to prevent tangles and hair matting. It can become stubborn at times which makes training a bit challenging for the first time dog owners.
3. Havanese
Havanese is also known as Velcro dog. Being a delightful toy breed, it loves to be the centre of attention. Interestingly, according to PetMd, it is named after King Charles I & II. It is one of the charming dogs which can be accommodated easily in small spaces and is well-suited for apartment life.
It is a cheerful, gentle and highly social dog. It forms emotional bond with its owners and also known for its friendly attitude with kids, seniors, visitors and other pets. Havanese has eager-to-please nature, so its training is not an uphill task.
Since it likes attention, so it does not tolerate being alone for a longer period and develop separation anxiety. Regular grooming is also needed to let its coat remain healthy.
4. Pug
Pug is a small, muscular and one of the most popular apartment dogs. It is famous for its charming expressions, compact build, affectionate and loyal nature. It has a calm demeanor and is extremely playful with the owners. It is a well-mannered dog and known for its easy-going nature.
It adapts exceptionally well to apartment living and smaller homes. It is well-suited for a family that has seniors and kids. It is also known for its humorous, clown-like personality that brings lightness to everyday living. It rarely barks excessively. Pug keeps those happy who sometimes get bored in city living.
Important things to keep in mind as a first-time pet parent is that due to its flat face, it is prone to overheating. To keep it in a healthy weight range, it should not be overfed and under exercise.
5. Toy Poodle
Toy Poodle is a small dog breed, yet it has an affectionate personality. It is compact, graceful and highly adaptable in apartment living. It is deeply people-oriented and thrive well in close companionship with owners. Interestingly it is hypoallergenic dog breed which is a plus point for owners who are allergy sufferers.
It is also intelligent and alert dog breed with strong instincts. It likes being involved in daily indoor activities. Its calm and loving nature uplifts the mood of the owner in no time. It goes well with apartment dwellers as it only requires moderate kind of exercise. According to Royal Canin, poodles were originally bred as water retriever.
Since it is intelligent, so mental stimulation is imperative through puzzle toys and dog sports. If ignored, then due to boredom they develop an excessive barking problem which then needs to be corrected by proper training.
6. Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise is a snowball like dog breed which is a lap dog of its own kind. Being one of the fluffy dogs, it is being adored by all. It can live well in comfortable small spaces where it remains close to its owners. It is stated by American Kennel Club that Bichon is an excellent companion for city dwellers.
It is friendly, gentle and emotionally uplifting small dog breed. It is one of the naturally happy little dogs often referred as happy clowns. It also loves short walks and indoor games but not excessive exercise. It is intelligent and moderately easy to train.
If grooming is not done timely then regular vet visits are needed due to skin and hair coat problems. Moreover, it is also prone to separation anxiety if left alone.
7. Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkie is the only dog that is also known as the tiniest compared to other small dog breeds. It was originally bred for hunting. It is a mighty breed despite its size. It has a big personality and sometimes acts like a big dog. It bonds closely with the pet parents and loves affection.
It is actually curious, intelligent, and remains aware of its surroundings. Due to their loveable nature, they become a lot clingy with their owners to make them happy. It loves attention and indoor activities to keep itself stimulated.
It has high barking tendencies if become anxious and or overprotective. And sometimes can become stubborn so proper training is required to keep it indoor.
Conclusion
To sum it all, finding the best partner for a cozy lifestyle is not better than a dog. And if it is amongst the small dog breeds, then it is the cherry on top. Small dogs under 22 pounds are adorable and thrive well in apartment living. They do not require as much management as large dogs need.
These little dogs are great companion due to their affectionate personality. Some of them are great mood uplifters while others have playful energy. They roam around in modest homes from room to room in search of their owners.
Moreover, some of them can become unreasonable at times so proper training is needed. Undoubtedly. they are so full of love that one cannot resist keeping them. Several breeds are discussed in this article so one can choose according to its lifestyle and need.
