Much has been said about the bond mankind shares with dogs. Touted as the most faithful creature to walk the earth, these furry friends are the best kinds of domestic animals. That said, raising a pet requires some effort. And the one thing that dog experts have maintained is that canines require grooming & lots of space to move about.
Given that population is on the rise and finding individual homes with large yards are becoming a rarity in cities, apartment dwellers are giving up hopes of having a pet.
So here’s bringing some good news. If you’ve always wanted a dog, here are some breeds that fit well in small apartments! But before that, let’s take a look at characteristics that you want to look for in an apartment-friendly dog.
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Characteristics of an apartment friendly dog –
- Easy to toilet train. For houses with a yard, you only need to teach your pet to rush outside to answer nature’s call. Dogs that live in apartments must be taught to do their business in a tray or one particular spot always.
- Lazy, not wanting to move around too much. Big breeds require enough exercise to keep ailments at bay. Smaller dogs or lazy ones are ideal for apartments where space is a constraint.
- Sheds very little fur. Unless your dog is an extremely short-haired one, he/she will shed considerable amount of fur. Pick dogs with thinner coats for convenience.
- Friendly. Aggressive dogs can be a headache to your neighbors.
- Keeping the above qualities in mind, here’s our list of top 5 apartment friendly dogs!
English Bulldog
This is a small-medium sized dog with a very sweet disposition. This breed has a lifespan of around 8-10 years. Its coat is short and hence, requires very little maintenance. The breed is often touted as a lazy one, so even if you do attempt to give the dog some exercise, they will gladly resist. This lack of interest in moving around too much plays in your favor if you own a tiny apartment.
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu or little lion as the name means, is an affectionate and highly alert dog breed that are largely raised as lap dogs. They require constant human interaction to be their happy selves. The dogs have a thick furry coat, so grooming will be quite necessary. While they are not overly active, they wouldn’t resist an invitation for a walk either. Shih Tzus are easy to train & apart from the amount of hair they shed, everything else about them should be easy-peasy.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Yet another dog from the toy breed category is the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. This one is a very graceful and gentle breed with an average lifespan of around 12-14 years. This breed is one of the more playful ones and is very fond of exploring. However, they don’t require exhaustive workouts or oodles of space to move around. They are most happy dashing around the apartment at a manic pace. These dogs have a very long, furry coat so shedding will be a problem unless groomed regularly. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very good around children and make excellent playmates.
Pug
Much has been said and even commercialized about this beloved punch-faced dog breed. Pugs are often hailed as the third best pets to have inside a small apartment, fishes and cats being the first and second respectively :). Pugs are playful, exercise-hating dogs with a very happy disposition. Adult pugs spend most of their time napping. Their coats are short, but they do shed quite a bit. However, these are one of the hardest dogs to house train.
Beagle
Beagle is a type of hound that is highly intelligent and alert. 
They are easy to groom people dogs that are very social around kids and other pets. Although there is a debate on whether they should be kept in small condos or apartments, the truth is that as long as they get to go on walks, they’re happy to call a tiny apartment their home. The average lifespan of a Beagle is around 12-15 years. They are not large, but they sure are sturdy and athletic.
Furry Friends For Life!
While having pet seems like a wonderful idea, please keep in mind that dogs are loyal and emotional beings that will fall into depression if abandoned by their first owners. Unless you are sure that you will be around them till their last breath, do not adopt or buy a dog. In many ways, having a pet is like having a kid. You have to look after them, you have to train them and groom them. Ultimately, the bond you forge with them is one that will last forever. A dog will, till its last breath, remain your most loyal and faithful companion.
We hope you enjoyed this article and if you did, share it with your pet loving friends. So bye-bye! Or should we say bow-bow? 🙂
Cheers!