Living in a small home doesn’t mean you’ll have to deprive yourself of the joy of having a pet dog, just because there is no backyard. Not all dogs are demanding and ask for a massive backyard to play. Rather, some are easy and simple, content in a small house. These dogs are small, hence they don’t require expansive spaces to thrive. To keep them happy, you don’t need a massive living room; you just need to stay close to them.
These small dogs have the capacity to bring life to your studio apartment and transform it into a palace filled with laughter. In this article, we shall talk about the nine best dogs for small homes that you can choose from, no matter whether you live in a cozy condo, an urban apartment, or a tiny house in the countryside.
Best Dog Breeds for Small Homes
1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Those who have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in their homes know this is a great dog for a compact lifestyle!
Living in a condo? Not a problem.
No backyard attached to the home? No worries.
This dog is not bothered by your living space. Rather, it just needs love and affection to thrive. This small dog breed will play inside the house and will nestle in your lap once tired.
Oh, and one more plus point. These dogs are super easy to travel with. They won’t make a fuss in your vehicle and would happily move around the city with you.
With a height of merely 13 inches, they make some of the best apartment living dogs, as per PetMD.
2. Shih Tzu
If you have kids in the home and want them to be entertained and loved by a dog, there is no better choice than the Shih Tzu.
These dogs are clever, affectionate, and intelligent.
At the same time, they are known to be quite adjustable. They would easily adopt a new lifestyle even if they moved from a big house to a small apartment.
Weighing around 9-16 pounds, these dogs remain small throughout their lives. When compared to other dogs, they are easy to manage and maintain.
What really sets this dog apart from others is the luxurious coat it wears. Though it needs some upkeep, it is surely worth the effort!
3. Pug
Pug is the ultimate dog that would adjust easily in your home, no matter how small it may be!
What makes them great apartment dogs is their small size and moderate exercise needs.
This dog also has the ability to adapt to a new lifestyle easily. AKC says it’s a charming companion!
A Pug is a low-energy dog. It will always prefer staying indoors rather than wandering outside. This is why it doesn’t care whether you have an expansive backyard attached to your home or not! Relaxing indoors and taking long naps on the rug is their idea of a perfect life! If you can provide them with that, they’ll be joyous in your home.
For a small apartment, it is necessary to have a dog that doesn’t bark a lot and disturb the neighbors. As a Pug is not yappy, it is a perfect choice for an apartment building.
4. Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise is not only gorgeous, but it is also super adjustable to a new living space.
This small, white, fluffy dog is charming and cheerful. They are not bothered by the space you have in the house; rather, all they care about is the amount of love and affection they will get from the family members.
One of the best dog breeds for apartments, they thrive in smaller spaces where they can nap peacefully.
Two more qualities that make them the ultimate small apartment dogs are their low-shedding coats and hypoallergenic bodies. They won’t make anyone suffer from never-ending sneezing as they don’t shed.
Also, as they don’t shed, your house will mostly remain clean!
5. Basset Hound
The easy-going temperament of a Basset hound makes it a great choice for small homes. If you live in an apartment and want to have a pet dog, there is no better choice than a Basset Hound.
Typically, this hound weighs between 40 and 75 pounds, making it a reasonable pet to stay comfortably in an apartment.
Also, it has moderate levels of energy. Hence, you won’t see this dog running around the house, hitting your favorite pieces of furniture. As a matter of fact, you just need to take it out for a small walk on a daily basis, and it will be enough for its physical and mental stimulation.
The only thing you need to take care of is their cleanliness. These hound dogs require regular grooming and scrubbing off dirt from their bodies once they are done with their gaming sessions is a MUST!
6. Affenpinscher
Affenpinscher is a moderately active dog that doesn’t need a lot of space to thrive.
This toy breed with its shabby beard and small-sized body will surely make you fall in love with it. Hills Pet says this dog comes with a distinct facial structure!
It is not only adorable in its looks, but its antics are also extremely amusing. Kids love being around them. If you have children in the house, get ready to see your pet and kids become best friends.
They live a comfortable apartment life. One moment you will see them checking out the contents of a dustbin, and the next minute they’ll be dozing off on their favorite couch.
These great family dogs with a height of 9 and 11.5 inches and a weight of around 7 to 10 pounds are apartment-proportioned.
For apartment dwellers, an Affenpinscher is definitely an excellent choice to make.
7. French Bulldog
A French Bulldog just doesn’t have the motivation to run around a massive backyard and would happily settle in your small apartment.
These low-energy dogs are phenomenal lap dogs. There is absolutely no need for you to spend countless hours taking them out for an exercise or daily walks. Rather, they have pretty low exercise needs, and a short walk around the street corner works well for their physical and mental stimulation.
Another quality that makes them the best possible apartment dogs is their adaptability. They don’t care about a small living space. Rather, they thrive on companionship and enjoy spending time with their folks.
Healthy Bulldogs stay around for a long time and come with a life span of 10-12 years. With the right leash training, you can even keep them off-leash around you.
These dogs have an easygoing temperament, and this is probably their best breed characteristic as apartment dogs.
8. Havanese
With a weight of merely 7 and 13 pounds and a height ranging from 8.5 to 11.5 inches, a Havanese is surely one of the best dogs you can get your hands on if you live in a small home.
PetMD mentions these dogs are lively, energetic, and don’t ask for too much space!.
Compared to many dogs of larger dimensions that really want a home with a backyard to run around and drain their excessive energy, this small breed is completely content with an active lifestyle inside your small home.
Originally bred in Cuba, these household companion dogs wearing a fluffy double coat thrive on love and attention.
Training Havanese is quite easy; you just need to use a lot of treats and positive reinforcement, and it will do the magic!
As a matter of fact, they prefer being the center of attention at a family gathering rather than wandering aimlessly in the backyard.
9. Brussels Griffon
Though these dogs have a sturdy build, their compact size makes them the best apartment dogs out there.
The Brussels Griffon with small legs is super people-oriented and not demanding at all.
These dogs are exceptionally adaptable. This is why moving them from a big space to a small home won’t be a problem. This dog wouldn’t throw tantrums that you would expect it to come up with!
Griffons are not only intelligent but also eager to please their parents. This makes their training super easy when compared to that of other pets.
Just a bit of regular exercise and walking would be enough for their physical and mental stimulation.
However, if you have a rough-coated dog, you need to ensure regular grooming owing to their unique coat.
Conclusion
Living in a small home that is filled with love and joy is heavenly. What’s even better? You get a dog pet that is an amazing friend and adjusts well in your small home. Dog breeds like the Yorkshire terrier, Biewer terrier, Boston terrier, the Cocker spaniel, and the Basset hound have a tiny size and are suitable for an apartment lifestyle that fits well with them.
