Best Apartment Dogs

Not just small dogs — dogs that can handle the lifestyle. Low exercise, low barking, low neighbor complaints.

"Apartment friendly" doesn't mean "small." A hyperactive Jack Russell in a studio is worse than a lazy Great Dane. What matters: exercise needs, noise level, destructive tendencies when bored, and how they handle being alone. These breeds have the temperament and energy level to thrive in smaller spaces.

French Bulldog
Companion

Frenchie

The Frenchie is the most popular dog in America for a reason — they're compact, adaptable, and genuinely funny. These are dogs that fit in apartments,...

11-13 inches · under 28 lbs · 10-12 years
Bulldog
Non-SportingCompanion

English Bulldog

The English Bulldog is the breed that launched a thousand mascots — universities, Marines, Winston Churchill's war spirit. Originally bred for bull-ba...

14-15 inches · 40-50 lbs · 8-10 years
Chihuahua
ToyCompanion

Chi

The Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed in the world and possibly the most misunderstood. Named for the Mexican state where they were refined, these d...

5-8 inches · under 6 lbs · 14-16 years
Yorkshire Terrier
ToyCompanion

Yorkie

The Yorkshire Terrier was a working class dog before they were a fashion accessory. Victorian mill workers in Yorkshire bred them to catch rats in tex...

7-8 inches · 7 lbs (max) · 13-16 years
Miniature Poodle
ToyCompanion

Mini Poodle

Same brain as the Standard, smaller package. The Mini Poodle is arguably the most versatile small dog — smart enough for competition obedience, athlet...

10-15 inches · 10-15 lbs · 14-16 years
Cocker Spaniel
SportingCompanion

American Cocker Spaniel

The American Cocker Spaniel split from the English Cocker in the early 1900s and became the most popular dog in America for decades. They're sporting ...

13.5-15.5 inches · 20-30 lbs · 12-15 years
Dachshund
Hound

Doxie

The Dachshund was bred to hunt badgers in underground tunnels. Badgers. Those short legs and long bodies aren't a design flaw — they're purpose-built ...

5-9 inches · 11-32 lbs (standard), under 11 lbs (mini) · 12-16 years
Beagle
HoundCompanion

Beagle

The Beagle is a nose on four legs. Bred to hunt rabbits in packs, they're still used by USDA 'Beagle Brigade' to sniff out contraband food at airports...

13-15 inches · 20-30 lbs · 12-15 years
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
HerdingCompanion

Corgi

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is an actual herding dog. Those short legs aren't for looks — they're for ducking under cattle kicks while moving livestock. ...

10-12 inches · up to 30 lbs · 12-13 years