8 best dog breeds for apartments

Choosing the best dog breed is difficult because so many cute dogs are out there! However, if you live in an apartment and want a dog, you must know which one is ideal for you, the furbaby, and the rest of the family. There is so much to think about when choosing an apartment pooch. To help you, here are eight of the best dog breeds for apartments.

Which dog breed is best in apartments? 8 choices

You may be looking for a small breed, but other critical factors include energy, fur shedding, and barking. To simplify everything, I put together this guide to help dog lovers and apartment dwellers.

So, stay put as I roll out eight canine breeds for people who live in an apartment. If you are interested in other ones, check out Holistapet breeds to find a complete list that will interest you.

1. Bichon Frise

People often mistake it for a Poodle, but it comes highly recommended for people with allergies. It is small and gets along with other people and animals.

The Bichon is sensitive, mainly when it is left alone. Hence, before you get this breed, ensure you have enough time for family activities, daily walks, and indoor games.

Energy – high

Barking – low

Shedding – low

2. Affenpinscher

This smart and feisty breed is full of energy and character. This puppy is ideal for apartments, but you must consider the following things:

1. It may not be a good choice if toddlers or children are in the house.
2. You need to train it early enough and consistently.
3. You must socialize it with other humans and dogs. You can go for walks, visit cafes accepting dogs, and invite your friends to help with socialization.
4. Housetraining it is difficult. Hence, you need access to dog parks or a backyard to keep the breed healthy and excited.

The Affenpinscher quickly adjusts to any environment and is friendly to cats and dogs. However, it dislikes rodent pets like ferrets and hamsters. Other things to note about this dog are:

Energy – high

Barking – low to moderate

Shedding – quite low

3. In an apartment, Hairless American Terrier are among the best breeds

This is a complete house pet as it comes in both hairless and coated varieties. Despite being small, it is always protective of its owner and makes for an adorable watchdog.

The two varieties of this breed shed their furs sparingly. Therefore, you only need to brush them lightly once each week.

Furthermore, you must expose the American terrier to other dogs and people from when it turns seven weeks old to about four months. This will help it become a good house pet.

You can consider enrolling your furry friend in puppy school. It also needs daily walks and some indoor play to stay agile.

Energy – moderate

Barking – low

Shedding – extremely low

4. Basenji

This breed is extremely unique, and you should go for it if you:

1. Appreciate its flaws
2. Don’t own another pet
3. Are ready to learn as well as invest time in training it

Basenji is a manipulative pet and needs adequate exercise; otherwise, it will become very destructive. If you want to get this pet, ensure you take your belongings off the floor because it chews on just anything. You can read this article to learn how to stop a Basenji from chewing on things.

Energy – high

Barking – moderate to high

Shedding – extremely low

5. American Eskimo

This breed is unsuitable for backyard life and prefers to stay indoors. It is intelligent and likes participating in activities at home.

It is also good for kids. Your Eskie will live a healthy and happy life if you utilize these recommendations:

1. Eskies like announcing the entry and exit of strangers. You can use training and distraction techniques to resolve this.
2. The breed performs at its best during mental activities. Ensure you train it in obedience, agility, and tricks from a tender age. You can also try to make it outsmart you.
3. It should not be left alone for an extended period.

This breed is a complete apartment dog, so don’t leave it with smaller pets. Other things to note are:

Energy – high

Barking – moderate to high

Shedding – quite high

6. Basset Hound

Basset is friendly to kids and makes a great addition to any family. You can easily take good care of this dog, but you should also know it is quite lazy. It also has drooling potential, which you may want to consider.

Additionally, the dog has good endurance; therefore, taking a long walk once each day will keep it exercised. It is a big breed but has small legs and is quite heavy. So if you live upstairs, you may also want to consider its weight before choosing it.

Energy – low

Barking – high

Shedding – high

7. Bedlington Terrier is another of the best apartment dog breeds

Bedlington looks like a lamb and will easily attract attention in any household. It is either small or medium-sized. To raise this dog at home, you must do the following:

1. Regular grooming
2. Socialize it early enough with other pets
3. Mental stimulation and moderate exercise. You can jog, walk, or hike with it. Don’t be surprised if it matches your speed.

Energy – high

Barking -moderate

Shedding – low

8. Barbet

It is a born swimmer, responsive, joyful, easy-living, calm, and cute dog. It loves lounging around as well as having fun with indoor games.

Also, you can keep a barbet happy by taking several walks every day. It doesn’t shed too much but requires occasional grooming to stay happy. You can check out https://www.dog-learn.com/dog-breeds/barbet/grooming to learn about Barbet coat care.

Energy – moderate

Barking – moderate

Shedding – low

Conclusion

Now you know eight dog breeds that can live happily in an apartment. The info above also taps into their energy levels, barking, and shedding, so you know what to expect.

These are critical points because apartment dwellers prefer dogs that do not make a lot of noise, are portable, can stay indoors, and make do with just a little exercise. It’s also important to watch for signs your dog is sick and provide the proper care, including seeing a vet.