5 Best Dog Breeds for Small Apartment Living

Do you think that dogs aren’t the best pets for apartment dwellers?

Think again.

You see, a lot of people imagine dogs as these big, messy animals who need lots of space, will always run around, and will ruin every couch they can get their paws on. Sure, some of them are like that, but a lot of other breeds are actually quite peaceful and love nothing more than to lounge on a couch indoors with their owner.

If you live in a small apartment, don’t lose hope yet. You, too, can be the pet parent of a beautiful dog; you just need to find the right breed (and maybe a little extra room. Clutter can help!).

Find out which dog breeds are the best for small apartments. Maybe you will find one that suits you and fall utterly in love with it!

1. The Bulldog

It doesn’t matter if it’s a French or English Bulldog, this breed of dogs is perfect for people who live in small apartments. Since they are low in energy and don’t mind just hanging out all day on the couch with you, Bulldogs are a great breed from those who not only own small flats but are also quite introverted. Loving and kind, this breed is one of the easiest to take care of: all they need is a good bed to sleep on, a healthy meal, and your company.

Of course, like every other dog, they need exercise. While they don’t have as much energy as, say, a Golden Retriever, a couple of walks during the day or a game of fetch in the backyard does their wrinkly body good. Just be careful during hot days, as they can overheat pretty quickly!

2. The Chiweenie

Even this dog’s name tells you he’d be a great small apartment dog. A mix between a Chihuahua and a Dachshund, the Chiweenie is able to fit everywhere thanks to his small body, which makes him perfect for people who live in small spaces. Just keep in mind that the Chiweenie is quite hard to train, as he is a very stubborn fella, and might even suffer from the “small dog syndrome” if he’s not trained well.

Playful and low maintenance, the Chiweenie is the perfect breed for people who don’t have enough time or space to take care of a bigger dog. Note, however, that he might have some difficultly with kids, so if you have children, consider a different breed.

3. The Bassett Hound

The Bassett Hound is a “medium” dog that fits well in small apartments. Usually very quiet and calm, they are great if you are living in a building with really thin walls. After all, no one wants to stay awake at night because of one dog barking incessantly. All a Bassett Hound needs to be happy is daily exercise (nothing too excessive though: a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood or a stroll to the dog park is enough) and a loving dose of attention.

The Basset Hound is definitely not a small dog (compared to the Chiweenie at least), but he has nothing against hanging out in a small spot in your apartment the whole afternoon or just cuddling with you when you [both] need it.

4. The Pug

Of course, we can’t write about small apartment dog breeds without mentioning the Pug. This famous small dog is a ball of happiness, and you’ll be more than delighted to have one around at all times. Small and low in energy (just like Bulldogs), they are easy to take care of, even though they can suffer from many health issues due to inbreeding.

So, if you don’t mind caring for a dog who could sleep for hours after chasing his tail around (bonus points if you take a funny video), we’d say the Pug is perfect for you.

5. The Morkie

The Morkie is a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Maltese. As you might imagine, this dog is a bundle of cuteness. Thanks to his small stature, he is perfect for people living in small apartments.

Morkies do require some extra training—especially if you have human kids running around along with your fur baby—to take the time to ensure he’ll show love to every member of the family.

This is guest post by Houda from DiamondPup. She is a full-time writer, traveler, and self-proclaimed dog person. She also makes lame jokes, writes poetry, and loves eating weird food in faraway countries. Did she mention that she was a dog person? Yeah, give her all the puppies, please.