Living in a compact home doesn’t mean you have to give up on the idea of having a pet. Many people overthink space limitations and miss out on the joy of sharing life with a loving companion.
The key is choosing a dog that values affection over square footage, and that’s where small dog breeds shine. Many dog breeds are perfectly content in smaller spaces, don’t require intense exercise, and are happy with short daily walks or indoor playtime. While they enjoy going outside, they’re not overly demanding, making them ideal for an apartment setting.
That said, not every small dog is a perfect apartment match. To make things easier, we’ve rounded up the seven best dog breeds that thrive in apartments and fit well with different lifestyles. Let’s get to know them.
Great Dog Breeds Suited to Small Space Living
1. Pug
Pug is a playful, friendly, and affectionate dog breeds that love to stay with their favourite humans. They are a perfect match for apartment dwellers due to their small size and calm demeanor.
These little pups are often described as “a lot in a little” because of their mischievous yet loving nature. Pugs are one of the most popular dog breeds in the U.S. thanks to their easygoing adaptability and affectionate personalities, as AKC reports.
Yes, they are energetic but also have low exercise requirements, and that’s what attracts the compact home owners.
Apparently, pug looks good, but their narrow nostrils lead to breathing and snorting issues. These tiny dogs also tend to overheat on a warm day, so leaving them alone at home is risky.
They have a short coat that moderatly shed and also wrinkled skin above the nose that requires regular cleaning. So only pet them if you have time and are not allergic.
2. Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed with a playful and sassy nature. They are only 10 inches tall, so you can tell why they are called “purse dogs”.
Chis is a lively puppy and doesn’t mind living in apartments because their low exercise requirements are met easily. They love their people and jump into their lap for cuddles, which makes them excellent family pets.
The deer and apple head is the trademark of the Chihuahua, and they also have erect ears. Honestly, Chis is one of the loyal dogs, so they become aggressive toward strangers to protect you.
They are low-maintenance dogs because their short coat does not shed much, and that’s a bonus if you stay busy most of the time.
These tiny dogs bark when left alone or feel anxious, but that’s not a red flag, as you can handle this with proper training and early socialization.
3. Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier is a bold and bossy breed with floor length coat. These pups are gentle with kids and families but aloof toward strangers.
Yorkie is best suited for an apartment lifestyle due to their compact size and moderate exercise requirements. So a ten-minute walk in the living space is enough to keep them happy all day.
They are always curious, so expect them to chew furniture, break cups, and create a mess when they get bored. Honestly, they bark a lot, so teach them if you don’t want to get noise complaints from neighbours. And don’t worry, because they are easy to train with positive reinforcement.
Yorkshire Terriers have a long coat that requires regular grooming and brushing (or maybe you can style them with clips).
4. Maltese
Maltese is the first choice of many people when they plan to adopt a dog because of their gentle nature and charming looks.
Their small size and hypoallergenic coat make them great apartment dogs. These white pups love attention and easily get jealous when ignored.
These big personality dogs like to go for short walks, and they can also sit for hours at couch while doing nothing. But engage them in indoor fetching for mental stimulation.
Maltese dogs don’t like to live alone and also have their favourites in the family (spoiler: it’s you). These cute pups have a double coat that needs grooming every 6 months, so don’t make excuses later that you didn’t know.
5. Papillon
Papillon dog spreads smiles wherever they go with their mischievous but cute tricks. This happy dog breed is also called the butterfly dog, and you can tell by looking at them that they really are.
Papillons have erect ears, and their long hairs grow downward (butterfly wings). They can live in apartments, though they have a moderate exercise requirement, which can be fulfilled with short walks in the neighbourhood or tug of war at home.
These tiny dogs are sociable and make new friends in first meeting. Papillon’s friendliness and love for humans make them the best service dogs, PetMD explains.
Honestly, they live longer when you take care of their long fur and maintain a healthy weight. But this little dog inherits many diseases, so make sure to do a complete vertenary check up before adopting them.
6. Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is also known as the lion dog because they were bred to look like lions, and to be honest, they only resemble a bit.
Though they are CUTE.
Shih Tzu is friendly and gentle, but sometimes barks excessively, so they have the potential to wake up your neighbors.
Shih Tzu dogs’ quiet nature and affectionate personality are suited for apartment living. They are the best friends of introverts because they are homebodies themself. So yeah, they lay down for hours beside you and act to take a nap while you watch your favourite series.
These dogs require 30 minutes of playtime, and they prefer to spend that with their owners and other pets. This small dog breed is not for someone who is too busy and doesn’t even have a few minutes to brush them.
7. Pomeranian
Pomeranian is one of the smallest dog breeds, with 6-7 inches. These tiny dogs are full of life, spunky, and brave enough to protect their territory (including you).
Poms are the right dog breed for small and cozy spaces due to their lower exercise needs. These dogs have an iconic thick double coat, a fox-like face, and a square bod,y so they look like teacups.
Poms are not just another dog but also have a royal history. Queen Victoria had 6 Pomeranian puppies and even participated in Crufts show where one of them won the first position, AKC shared.
They are the best friend to kids due to their high energy levels and love attention so you better not ignore them. They are furry so regular brushing is a MUST, and keep the fur short for easy brushing.
Conclusion
Small dog breeds are best suited to small space living due to their low exercise needs and compact size. The Pug, Chihuahua, Yorkie, Maltese and Poms are all perfect match but they all have different grooming requirements and personalities.
An apartment-friendly dog does not mean locking them at home forever so take them for casual walks in a park for mental stimulation. They all require socialization, affection and daily walks to even live in an apartment.
