Living in an apartment brings many challenges for dog lovers. Apartments do not provide ample space for many dog breeds to roam freely, stretch their legs, and exercise. But just because you do not have enough space does not mean you cannot have a dog.
Many dogs are well-suited for apartment living due to their small size. Small dog breeds thrive in small spaces as they do not need much room to roam. Toy dogs make the best apartment dogs due to their mini size, energy levels, and low maintenance needs.
Several toy dog breeds are known for being kind and gentle to their families. They get along well with children and can spend hours sitting in their owner’s lap and lounging. If you are looking for a paw-some little fur ball for your apartment, this article is for you.
Here are the 7 best small dog breeds for your little heaven.
Best Small Toy Dog Breeds for City Apartment Living
1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Breed Profile
Height: 12 to 13 inches
Weight: 13 to 18 pounds
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
One of the most popular toy dog breeds, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is a sweet-natured canine that was originally bred as a companion. These outgoing and playful pups can spend hours sitting in your lap. According to PDSA, they crave companionship and love.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are good with their family members as well as strangers. They also rank high in terms of intelligence.
They are eager to please, but training them might require persistent efforts. They are well-suited for apartment living in terms of exercise and space.
Do you know? Many royals including Charles I, Charles II, and Queen Victoria owned Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
This spaniel breed is relatively larger than other small dogs, but still does not need much space. They are portable— you can easily put them in a specially designed travel bag and accompany them anywhere.
2. Italian Greyhound
Breed Profile
Height: 13 to 15 inches
Weight: 7 to 14 pounds
Life Expectancy: 14 to 15 years
Italian Greyhound, affectionately known as Iggy or IG, is another small dog breed, originating from Italy. Like Cavalier King Charles spaniels, they were also bred to serve as companions. They love spending most of their time in a warm lap.
Italian Greyhounds crave constant human attention. Their short coats hardly shed due to which they are ideal pets for individuals vulnerable to allergies. They love to roam around and happily stick by your side wherever you go.
These playful dogs are full of energy and require around 60 minutes of daily exercise for physical and mental stimulation. Their coat requires minimal grooming. Italian Greyhounds are hard to catch once they start chasing their prey.
Therefore, it is better to keep them in a confined space. These traits make Italian Greyhounds one of the best dog breeds for apartments.
3. Toy Poodle
Breed Profile
Height: Less than 10 inches
Weight: 4 to 6 pounds
Life Expectancy: 10 to 18 years
Toy Poodle is the smallest variant of Poodles and is quite popular due to their charming personality, elegance, and hypoallergenic coat.
Do you know? Teacup poodles are even smaller than toy poodles. However, they are not officially recognized by the AKC. They can suffer from various health issues as the breeders’ mainly focus on creating the smallest dogs.
Toy Poodles are extremely intelligent dogs that can be trained easily. They are people-oriented and form strong bonds with their owners. These little packets of energy require regular exercise to stay healthy. They are eager to learn and can easily pick up new commands.
Due to their small size, toy Poodles make excellent pets for apartment dwellers. But you still need to take them for a walk or exercise. As long as your Poodle receives enough physical and mental stimulation, they behave well indoors.
4. French Bulldog
Breed Profile
Height: 11 to 13 inches
Weight: Less than 28 pounds
Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years
French Bulldogs, or Frenchies, are tiny dogs that were originally bred as companions. They are well-known for their large “bat-like” ears and wrinkly faces. Despite their small size, they have muscular bodies and stocky legs.
They are capable of adapting well to different environments. These playful canines are for families with or without kids. French bulldogs are low-energy dogs that do not require too much exercise. They are not too vocal. These traits make them ideal for city apartment living, having shared walls and thin floors.
Regardless of your Bulldog’s inherent ability to live in an apartment, you need to invest in additional training to help them do their best. Establish clear rules within your apartment and start with basic obedience commands such as “come,” “sit,” and “leave.”
5. Pug
Breed Profile
Height: 10 to 13 inches
Weight: 14 to 18 pounds
Life Expectancy: 13 to 15 years
The small dog breed hailing from China has a big personality. These are the goofy and child-like dogs with a great sense of humor. Pugs are intelligent and willful pups, originally bred as lapdogs. These not-so-yappy dogs are well-suited for small spaces.
Pugs have a calm demeanor. They don’t bark excessively and welcome the visitors with their signature grunts. These canines are not as high-energy as some other breeds in the dog kingdom. Short walks and indoor play sessions are enough to meet their exercise needs.
Pugs are the ideal choice for novice pet owners if they are willing to spend a lot of time with them. They form strong bonds with their owners. Pugs do not have a high prey drive, but they are feisty by nature. They can’t help chasing the cat next door.
6. Beagle
Breed Profile
Height: Less than 12 inches
Weight: Less than 30 pounds
Life Expectancy: 10 to 15 years
Beagle is a small hound dog breed that look like the little version of an American foxhound. Britannica explains that Beagles have a solid build and are a bit heavy for their height. Toy beagles are smaller in size than the larger variants. They stand no more than 13 inches tall and weigh less than 20 lbs.
These highly energetic pups require a long leash walk or vigorous game time. We would recommend keeping your Beagle in a fenced yard. These escape artists are not good candidates for off-leash walks. Beagles require minimum grooming— in fact, some pet parents hardly brush their Beagles.
Beagles are relatively low-maintenance dogs. Their compact size and minimal caring needs make them a paw-fect fit for apartment living. However, beagles are the vocal dogs known for howling and baying. Proper training and early socialization can help Beagles thrive in an apartment complex.
7. Havanese
Breed Profile
Height: 8.5 to 11.5 inches
Weight: 7 to 13 pounds
Life Expectancy: 14 to 16 years
Intelligent, highly trainable, and happy, Havanese dogs are known for their sociable and outgoing nature. They become content with frequent walks and games of fetch. Havanese are active dogs who enjoy learning new tricks and playing games with their owners.
Havanese form strong bonds with their humans and do not like being left alone. They are prone to developing separation anxiety. If trained not to bark excessively, these pooches make excellent apartment dogs.
Havanese have moderate exercise requirements. Romping inside the house can provide sufficient activity. If you take out your Havanese for physical activity, make sure you do not over-exercise them. They do well in houses as well as apartments.
Conclusion
Are you looking for the right dog breed for your city apartment? Consider adopting a toy dog with low maintenance needs for your home. The small dog breeds mentioned in this article will steal your heart with their adorable and playful gestures. You only need to shower them with love and attention!
