Apartment Dogs: Part One

All dogs are not created equally. Each breed and breed mix possess general attributes that can make them good or bad candidates for particular living situations. Apartments present a challenge to the dog lover. With limited space, close neighbors, and most buildings not having a fenced yard, it can be difficult to determine which breed suits you AND your apartment. We're here to help! Below are just 5 recommendations for dogs that tend to adapt well to apartment life. There will be more to come!

Number One

The Chihuahua is a quintessential apartment dog. It's easy to see why, with their compact size and equally small exercise needs. These little feisty canines adapt wonderfully to apartment life. They are also available in two coat types; smooth (pictured below) and longhaired.

Number Two

The Poodle can't be ignored when considering a canine for apartment life. Highly adaptable to various living situations, the Poodle comes in 3 main sizes (Toy, Miniature, and Standard) with a 4th bonus size (Moyen) landing between the Miniature and the Standard in size. All sizes can adapt to apartment life with adequate exercise, with the smaller the sizes requiring less exercise than the larger sizes. They are also minimal shedders and produce very little dander, which are great attributes for allergy sufferers!

Number Three

The Greyhound may not be a breed that pops into your mind when you think of "apartment dogs," but they can be amazing apartment dogs with just a few considerations. They do tend to be on the lazy side, sometimes sleeping most of the day. That doesn't mean they need NO exercise though. They should be taken on daily walks of 30-45 minutes. In addition to their daily walks, they should be provided with a secure place - a dog park usually works just fine - to run at full speed once or twice a week, but more often would be better.

Number Four

Speaking of Greyhounds, the Italian Greyhound is a perfect option if you love the Greyhound but want something small! The great thing about these is the ease of facilitating exercise. If you have 30 minutes, a tennis ball, and a hallway, then you have everything you need! Half an hour of exercise daily, in addition to walks for them to use the bathroom outside, is more than enough exercise. They tend to be quite lazy in the home, but they will sometimes get the zoomies! Be sure to provide them with blankets, because these little fellas love to snuggle and get warm.

Number Five

The Pug is an endearing and popular pet, with many people finding their smooshed faces adorable! They tend to thrive in apartments, partly because exercise and access to extreme temperatures are more limited. They should receive some exercise each day, whether that be a short walk, or just some fetch down the hallway. They often have breathing difficulties, especially if they are not acquired from an ethical breeder who selects breeding stock for optimal health and function.

If there are any dogs you think should've been mentioned, don't worry! They may be in Part Two or Part Three!