Living in an apartment does not mean you cannot have a dog. Millions of people successfully share flats, studios and urban apartments with dogs every day — and many of those dogs are perfectly happy, healthy and well-adjusted. The key is choosing the right breed for your lifestyle and your space.
The biggest misconception about apartment dogs is that size is the most important factor. It is not. A small Jack Russell Terrier with explosive energy and a loud bark can be far more unsuitable for apartment living than a large, calm Greyhound who sleeps 18 hours a day. What actually matters is energy level, barking tendency, independence, trainability and adaptability.
This guide covers the 15 best dog breeds for apartment living — including small, medium and large options — with honest assessments of each breed's apartment suitability, exercise needs and key considerations.
What Makes a Dog Suitable for Apartment Living?
Before diving into the breeds, it helps to understand the criteria. The ideal apartment dog typically has several of the following characteristics:
- Low to moderate energy level — can be satisfied with 1–2 walks per day without needing a garden to run in
- Low tendency to bark — important for neighbours and building management
- Calm and adaptable indoors — settles well in a limited space
- Manageable exercise requirements — can meet their needs through walks rather than requiring large open spaces
- Good with people and other animals — important in buildings with shared spaces and lifts
- Can handle periods of alone time — particularly important for working apartment owners
None of these requirements automatically exclude large breeds — some of the most apartment-friendly dogs are surprisingly big.
Small Dog Breeds for Apartments
1. French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is arguably the perfect apartment dog — and its enormous popularity in urban areas is no coincidence. Frenchies are calm, affectionate, relatively quiet and absolutely content to spend most of the day lounging on the sofa. They require moderate exercise — two short walks a day is sufficient — and they thrive on human companionship.
Key facts:
- Weight: 8–14 kg
- Exercise needs: Low — two 20-minute walks daily
- Barking level: Low to moderate
- Good with strangers: Yes
- Alone time tolerance: Moderate
Important consideration: French Bulldogs are brachycephalic (flat-faced) and should never be exercised in hot weather. They cannot swim and must be supervised near water. Health issues (breathing, spinal problems, skin folds) mean vet bills can be significant — always buy from health-tested breeders or consider adoption.
2. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Gentle, quiet and deeply affectionate, the Cavalier is one of the most adaptable breeds in existence. They are equally happy in a country house or a city flat, as long as they have regular human company. Their exercise needs are modest — though they enjoy walks — and they rarely bark without reason.
Key facts:
- Weight: 5–8 kg
- Exercise needs: Low to moderate — 30–45 minutes daily
- Barking level: Low
- Good with strangers: Very good
- Alone time tolerance: Low — prone to separation anxiety
Important consideration: Cavaliers are prone to serious heart conditions (mitral valve disease) and syringomyelia. Health testing of parents is absolutely essential before buying a puppy.
3. Shih Tzu
Originally bred as palace dogs for Chinese emperors, Shih Tzus were born for indoor life. They are calm, friendly, relatively low-energy and surprisingly quiet for a small breed. They do not need a garden and are perfectly content with short daily walks and indoor play.
Key facts:
- Weight: 4–7 kg
- Exercise needs: Low — 20–30 minutes daily
- Barking level: Low to moderate
- Good with strangers: Yes
- Alone time tolerance: Moderate
Important consideration: The long coat requires daily brushing or regular professional grooming. Many apartment owners opt for a short "puppy cut" to reduce maintenance.
4. Pug
Pugs are charming, sociable and wonderfully low-maintenance in terms of exercise. They want nothing more than to be with their people — on the sofa, in bed, following you from room to room. They are quiet, affectionate and generally good with other animals and strangers.
Key facts:
- Weight: 6–8 kg
- Exercise needs: Low — two short walks daily, avoid heat
- Barking level: Low
- Good with strangers: Very good
- Alone time tolerance: Moderate
Important consideration: Like the French Bulldog, pugs are brachycephalic with significant health concerns. The ethical debate around breeding flat-faced dogs is serious — research thoroughly before buying.
5. Bichon Frisé
The Bichon Frisé is cheerful, gentle, hypoallergenic (low-shedding) and highly adaptable to apartment life. They are playful without being hyperactive, affectionate without being clingy, and they travel well — making them excellent companions for urban lifestyles.
Key facts:
- Weight: 3–5 kg
- Exercise needs: Low to moderate — 30 minutes daily
- Barking level: Low to moderate
- Good with strangers: Very good
- Alone time tolerance: Low — can develop separation anxiety
6. Maltese
One of the oldest companion breeds in history, the Maltese was bred exclusively for human companionship. They are gentle, quiet and perfectly sized for apartment living. Their tiny exercise requirements make them suitable even for owners with limited mobility. The silky white coat requires regular grooming but many owners maintain a short trim.
Key facts:
- Weight: 2–4 kg
- Exercise needs: Very low — 20 minutes daily
- Barking level: Moderate — can be vocal if under-stimulated
- Good with strangers: Yes, with socialisation
- Alone time tolerance: Low
7. Basenji
The Basenji is a fascinating choice for apartment owners who worry about noise: it is the only breed that does not bark. Instead, it produces a unique yodel-like sound called a "baroo" — and does so rarely. Basenjis are clean, odourless, cat-like in temperament and relatively low-shedding. They do, however, require more exercise and mental stimulation than most small breeds.
Key facts:
- Weight: 9–11 kg
- Exercise needs: Moderate to high — 1 hour daily
- Barking level: Almost zero
- Good with strangers: Reserved — independent nature
- Alone time tolerance: Moderate
Medium Dog Breeds for Apartments
8. Whippet
The Whippet surprises almost everyone who learns about them. Despite being a sighthound built for speed, Whippets are extraordinarily calm and quiet indoors. They sleep for most of the day, rarely bark, are gentle with people and other animals, and are perfectly content in a flat as long as they get a good daily run in an enclosed area.
Key facts:
- Weight: 12–18 kg
- Exercise needs: Moderate — one good off-lead run daily
- Barking level: Very low
- Good with strangers: Generally yes — gentle nature
- Alone time tolerance: Moderate
Important consideration: Whippets have very little body fat and feel the cold intensely. A warm coat for winter walks and a soft bed are essential. They have a strong prey drive and must not be trusted off-lead in unsecured areas.
9. Poodle (Miniature)
The Miniature Poodle combines intelligence, trainability, low shedding and excellent adaptability in a compact package. They are active but not hyperactive, quiet, hypoallergenic and among the easiest breeds to train. Their intelligence means they need mental stimulation — puzzle toys, training sessions and interactive play — but their physical exercise needs are very manageable.
Key facts:
- Weight: 5–9 kg
- Exercise needs: Moderate — 45 minutes daily
- Barking level: Low to moderate
- Good with strangers: Yes — sociable and friendly
- Alone time tolerance: Moderate
10. English Bulldog
The English Bulldog is a paradox: a stocky, powerful-looking dog with almost zero exercise requirements. They are gentle, affectionate and famously lazy. They are perfectly happy in a small flat as long as they have company and short daily walks. They rarely bark loudly and generally get on well with everyone.
Key facts:
- Weight: 20–25 kg
- Exercise needs: Very low — two 15–20 minute walks daily
- Barking level: Low
- Good with strangers: Very good
- Alone time tolerance: Moderate
Important consideration: English Bulldogs have severe health issues related to their brachycephalic structure. The breed carries significant welfare concerns — research carefully and always buy from responsible breeders with full health testing.
11. Cocker Spaniel
The Cocker Spaniel is a joyful, gentle and adaptable breed that does well in apartment settings when given adequate daily exercise. They are affectionate, rarely aggressive and respond beautifully to positive training. Their moderate exercise needs can be met with two good walks a day.
Key facts:
- Weight: 12–16 kg
- Exercise needs: Moderate — 1 hour daily
- Barking level: Low to moderate
- Good with strangers: Very good
- Alone time tolerance: Moderate
Large Dog Breeds That Thrive in Apartments
12. Greyhound
This will surprise many people: the Greyhound is one of the very best apartment dogs in the world. Despite their speed, Greyhounds are the ultimate couch potatoes indoors. They sleep for up to 20 hours a day, rarely bark, are gentle and quiet, and have a naturally clean and odourless coat. A retired racing Greyhound (from a rescue organisation) can adapt to apartment life remarkably quickly.
Key facts:
- Weight: 27–40 kg
- Exercise needs: Moderate — one off-lead run plus gentle walks daily
- Barking level: Very low — one of the quietest breeds
- Good with strangers: Generally gentle and non-threatening
- Alone time tolerance: Good when settled into routine
Important consideration: Greyhounds have a strong prey drive and must be muzzled and kept on lead in unsecured areas. They are sensitive to cold — a coat is essential in winter. Many rescue organisations have greyhounds ready for rehoming.
13. Great Dane
Another counterintuitive choice. Great Danes are giant dogs with gentle temperaments, low energy levels and moderate exercise needs. They are calm indoors, rarely bark excessively and are generally good with people. Many urban owners successfully keep Great Danes in large apartments — though space for a giant dog bed is essential.
Key facts:
- Weight: 50–80 kg
- Exercise needs: Moderate — 1–1.5 hours daily, no intense exercise in puppyhood
- Barking level: Low to moderate
- Good with strangers: Yes — typically gentle giants
- Alone time tolerance: Moderate
14. Standard Poodle
The Standard Poodle is highly intelligent, hypoallergenic, trainable and surprisingly adaptable to apartment life when given adequate daily exercise and mental stimulation. They are elegant, quiet dogs that respond well to routine and do not tend to bark without reason.
Key facts:
- Weight: 20–32 kg
- Exercise needs: Moderate to high — 1–1.5 hours daily
- Barking level: Low
- Good with strangers: Very good
- Alone time tolerance: Moderate — benefits from routine
15. Basset Hound
The Basset Hound is famously laid-back, low-energy and deeply devoted to comfort. They are content with moderate daily walks and extensive napping. Their main apartment challenge is noise — Basset Hounds have a loud, resonant bay that can carry through walls. This is manageable with training, but important to consider in close-proximity living.
Key facts:
- Weight: 25–35 kg
- Exercise needs: Low to moderate — 45–60 minutes daily
- Barking level: High (baying) — important consideration for apartments
- Good with strangers: Very good — friendly and sociable
- Alone time tolerance: Moderate
Breeds to Avoid in Apartments
Just as important as knowing which breeds thrive in apartments is knowing which ones struggle. The following breeds are generally poor choices for apartment living — not because they cannot be loved in a flat, but because their needs are genuinely difficult to meet without significant outdoor space:
- Border Collie — extreme working intelligence and energy; without a job and space, develops serious behavioural problems
- Siberian Husky — high energy, very vocal (howling), bred for endurance in open spaces
- Jack Russell Terrier — huge energy and prey drive in a tiny body; barky, destructive when under-stimulated
- Dalmatian — extreme energy and stamina; needs 2+ hours of vigorous daily exercise
- Weimaraner — very high energy, severe separation anxiety when alone, destructive without significant exercise
- German Shepherd — possible with very dedicated exercise, but their size, energy and guarding instincts make apartments a suboptimal choice
- Australian Shepherd — highly intelligent working breed; suffers profoundly without space and a job
Tips for Successful Apartment Dog Ownership
Whatever breed you choose, these practices make apartment dog life significantly smoother:
Establish a consistent routine
Dogs in apartments thrive on predictability. Set fixed times for morning walks, evening walks, meals and play sessions. A dog that knows when things happen is a calmer dog.
Prioritise mental stimulation
Physical exercise alone is rarely enough for a dog's wellbeing. Puzzle feeders, training sessions, sniff walks (letting your dog choose the pace and direction, sniffing everything) and interactive toys provide the mental engagement that reduces problem behaviour in confined spaces.
Build a solid "settle" behaviour
Teach your dog to go to a specific mat or bed and relax on command. This is one of the most practical skills for apartment life, particularly during work calls, meals and quiet periods.
Address barking proactively
If your dog barks at sounds in the corridor, trains passing or neighbours, address it early with systematic desensitisation. Ignoring it rarely works — it is easier to manage when the behaviour is new than after it becomes entrenched.
Use a dog walker or daycare if needed
An apartment dog home alone for 9–10 hours is a dog at risk of anxiety and problem behaviour. A midday walk from a professional dog walker makes an enormous difference to wellbeing.
Final Thoughts
Apartment living and dog ownership are entirely compatible — with the right breed, the right routine and the right owner. The dogs on this list have been successfully kept in urban apartments by thousands of owners around the world, and many of them genuinely thrive in the companionship and structure that apartment life provides.
Choose thoughtfully, prepare properly, and you and your dog will both be the better for it.
Do you have an apartment dog? Share your experience in the comments — and browse our other comprehensive guides on dog breeds, training and health.