Best Dogs For Apartments

The Best Dogs For Apartments Are Found By Considering Genetics, Environment, and Lifestyle

If you live in an apartment, condominium or a small house in an urban setting and want to experience the joy of having a dog(s) in your life what breeds are best for you?  The purpose of this website is to provide information that helps find the best dogs for apartments that also fit your invidual lifestyle and preferences.

First of all, it must be recognized that dogs are individuals and while each breed has characteristics, the behavior of specific animals can differ greatly based on genetics and the environment in which they are raised.  For example, dogs that are the largest puppy in a litter tend to be dominant and outgoing as an adults while “runts” tend to be more timid.  Calm and friendly dams and sires tend to produce friendly pups while the offspring of nervous or aggressive adults inherit those traits. It is always a good idea to buy a puppy from a reputable breeder and to visit the kennel to observe the dog's parents. What you see in the parents is often a good indicator of what you will get in the pups.

Finally, the way you raise the puppy from the first day you bring it home will have a large impact on its behavior as an adult. Dogs love routine and by nature are pack animals that establish a  pecking order with a clear leader. They will also vie to become that leader if given the opportunity. You and your family members will constitute the dogs “pack” and it is important to quickly establish yourself as the "alpha dog" and set a regular and consistent pattern of acceptable behavior. We believe that with enough love and attention the behavior of almost all dogs can be shaped to fit apartment living and most lifestyles.  However, that said, each breed has a set of characteristics that make them more or less suitable for apartments.

Lifestyle is a Key Factor In Finding the Best Apartment Dog

.  In selecting the best dogs for apartments, it is equally important to consider your life style as well.

• Will the dog be left alone all day during the work week or will it usually have companionship?  Certain breeds are more solitary than others and dogs can be destructive if left alone for long periods of time. 
• Do you have children and how old are they? Some breeds are much better with small children than others.
• How much exercise will you be able to give the dog. Someone who has access to a park and will regularly go jogging or play frisbee with the dog, will do well with a more active breed than someone who either doesn’t have the time or leads a more sedentary life style.
• Are you allergic or are you a neatnick who will be bothered by dog hair on your clothes and furniture? Some dogs, like poodles, are hypoallengic and make an excellent companions for individuals who are concerned about allergies. Other dogs are heavy shedders and hair will be found everywhere even with frequent grooming.

How to Evaluate Breeds to Select the Best Dogs for Apartments

One of the first things that people think of in terms of the appropriate characteristics for apartment dogs is size.  Small dog = good for an apartment; large dog = not good. This is a myth and while size is a factor many larger breeds do quite well living in limited space.

So first let’s define the desirable characteristics of the best dogs for apartment living. For the purposes of this website, apartment means any dwelling with limited space, close proximity to other people and without a large yard. We will measure 50 popular breeds against 12 behavioral traits that apply to suitability for apartment living and also relate to individual life style factors. The breeds are broken into 3 size groups, small (less than 25 lbs), medium (26 to 50 lbs) and large (greater than 50 lbs), We will score and weight each of the breeds for the behavioral traits as low, medium or high and find the best apartment dogs by arriving at an overal rating.


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