Best Small Dogs and Puppies for Apartments

Some small dogs are perfectly content living indoors and require minimal exercise; others are not. Knowing which small dog breeds fit your lifestyle is one of the first important steps in choosing a new family pet. Toy breeds are generally bred as companions and do well inside an apartment; in addition, a few medium-sized breeds also cope well within the confines of a high-rise. Below are the the most popular of these happy apartment dwellers:

Breeds that are small or medium sized and require only minimal exercise and generally would be content in an apartment:

Pug- View pug puppies for sale

Pug dogs and puppies are outgoing, affectionate companion dogs. Among the largest members of the toy group, and with history dating back as far as 400 b.c., they are best known for their short muzzle and prominent eyes. They have a soft coat, in black, apricot, fawn, or silver, but always with a darkly colored mask. Pugs are loveable, even-tempered, and are eager to please, making them an excellent family pet. Averaging 14-22 lbs at maturity, Pugs require little grooming and make a nice indoor pet, fitting an apartment dwelling nicely.

Yorkshire terrier (yorkie)- View yorkie puppies for sale

Yorkshire Terrier dogs and puppies are best known for their petite stature as a member of the toy group of “lap dogs.” Yorkies are less than 7 pounds at mature weight and make an ideal indoor companion. What little exercise that yorkies need can easily be satisfied by a jog around a small apartment due to its petite size. Yorkies do require regular grooming.

Cocker spaniel - View cocker spaniel puppies for sale

Cocker Spaniel dogs and puppies are cheerful, energetic companion dogs. A member of the sporting group, they are best known for their flowing coat, which has a silky, slightly wavy appearance. They can be seen in brown and tan, black, black and tan, cream, dark red , and buff. Weighing between 22-28 lbs at maturity, Cocker Spaniels can not only be excellent hunters, but can become a good watchdog due to their protective instincts. They do well in a family setting with children if they have been raised with them. The Cocker Spaniel needs regular exercise and frequent grooming due to their long and wavy coat. He is happy to lounge about in an apartment until his owner comes home.

Lhasa apso- View lhasa apso puppies for sale

Lhasa Apso dogs and puppies are outgoing, protective family companion dogs. Originating in Tibet, where they were bred to be guard dogs, Lhasa Apsos are members of the non-sporting group. They are best known for their characteristic long straight hair and curly tail. They are normally tan in color but can also be seen in a variety of other colors, and average in weight between 15-20 lbs at maturity. They require frequent grooming due to their dense hair coat. Lhasa Apsos thrive on human companionship, are easily trained and are excellent house pets, their size making them a good choice for apartment dwelling.

Bichon frise - View bichon puppies for sale

Bichon dogs and puppies are small, intelligent companion dogs. Originating in France, they are best known for their graceful puffy white coats and dark-eyed, inquisitive expressions. Bichons are affectionate, cuddly, and playful. They get along well with other dogs, children, and even strangers. They are easy to train. Bichons are also good for allergy sufferers because they produce less dander than other breeds. Bichons mature at 15 to 20 pounds and are an excellent indoor household companion for the whole family, in a home or an apartment.

English bulldog - View bulldog puppies for sale

English bulldogs and puppies are best known for their stocky bodies and saggy-skinned jowls. Despite their appearance, bullies have friendly personalities and get along well with people of all ages as well as other animals. Bullies have a low need for exercise and generally enjoy the pampered indoor life. They also have minimal grooming requirements, making them a good choice for apartment dwellers.

Chihuahua- View chihuahua puppies for sale

Chihuahua dogs and puppies are small, intelligent companion dogs, small enough to fit into any size apartment. Members of the toy group, they are best known for their small size (1-5 pounds), spunky personalities, and Mexican heritage. Chihuahuas are ideal inside pets, even in a small environment. They get along OK with other pets but usually bond with one adult. In addition, due to their intelligence, chihuahuas are fairly easy to house train.

Maltese- View maltese puppies for sale

Maltese dogs and puppies are friendly, gentle companion dogs. Members of the toy group, they are best known for their small size (4-6 pounds) and flowing, white coats. Maltese are ideal inside pets. Their coats do not shed but do require daily grooming, and they usually enjoy the pampering. With its docile personality, Maltese get along well with people and other pets, and do well in apartment dwellings.

Pomeranian - View pomeranian puppies for sale

Pomeranian dogs and puppies are small, intelligent companion dogs. Originating in Germany, they are best known for their beautiful, double-coated manes and coats. Members of the AKC toy group, Poms weigh 3 to 7 lbs upon maturity. They get along well with other pets and dogs; however, they prefer the company of adults over children. Pomeranian dogs and puppies can be easily trained due to their keen intelligence. They are ideal inside pets for apartments due to their low need for exercise and small size. Grooming is not intensive; in fact, over-grooming may cause damage to their coat.

Boston terrier- View boston terrier puppies for sale

 Boston Terrier dogs and puppies are friendly, intelligent companion dogs. Members of the non-sporting group and originating in Boston, they are best known for their characteristic coloring and perky ears. Bostons are an ideal family pet that gets along well with adult, children, strangers and other pets. Averaging 15-25 lbs mature, Bostons require little grooming or exercise and make a nice indoor pet. In addition, this breed is easily house trained due to its intelligence and pleasing attitude, making him a good choice for apartment living.

Breeds that are small or medium sized and require only moderate exercise (1-2 short daily walks) and generally would be content in an apartment if properly exercised:

Scottish Terrier - View scottish terrier puppies for sale

Scottish Terrier dogs and puppies are curious, playful companion dogs. Averaging 15-22 lbs mature and originating in Scotland, they are best known for their bearded faces, short legs and for being the family dog of President George W. Bush. Scotties are a loyal family pet that gets along well with adults and children if properly socialized, and they can make good guard dogs due to their loyalty to their family. Members of the terrier group, Scotties enjoy outside exercise as well as being near their families indoors. This breed can be trained with consistency, patience, and praise.

Welsh corgi - View corgi puppies for sale

Welsh Corgi dogs and puppies are best known for their stocky appearance and friendly, confident personalities. Members of the herding group, Corgis are intelligent and capable of working with animals. However, due to their compact bodies and flexible personality, they also can be content indoors or in an apartment, given the proper excercise. Corgis mature at 25 pounds and are popular with horse and cattlemen as well as apartment dwellers.

West Highland white terrier (westie)- View westie puppies for sale

West Highland White Terrier dogs and puppies are friendly, active, hardy companion dogs. They are best known for white coats, which require surprisingly little grooming. Members of the herding group, Westies love to play and are ideal pets for children; they average 16 pounds and can handle roughhousing. Due to their small size, they do well inside an apartment. They also get along well with other dogs.

Italian greyhound- View italian greyhound puppies for sale

Italian Greyhound dogs and puppies are affectionate, active small hunting dogs. Originating in Italy and Egypt and members of the AKC toy group, they are best known for their graceful, slender builds and playful spirit. IG’s are intelligent, cheerful pets that get along well with people and respectful children and especially other dogs and cats. Because of their short coat, they require very little grooming but will enjoy room outside to run and play and a nice nap on the couch in a home or apartment afterwards.

 Poodle - View poodle puppies for sale

Poodle dogs and puppies are intelligent, friendly companion dogs. Poodles get along well with other pets and people. They are good for allergy sufferers, as poodles do not shed. The miniature poodle is 10 to 15 inches or under at the highest point of the shoulders. The toy poodle is 10 inches or under at the highest point of the shoulders. Because of their small size, only moderate exercise needs, and no shedding, poodles are a popular choice for an apartment companion.

 

 

Boxer - View boxer puppies for sale

 Boxer dogs and puppies are noble, intelligent family companion dogs. Members of the working group, Boxers are best known for their protruding jaw, wrinkled face, and sport a docked tail and cropped ears. They can become devoted family members, and are patient with children. Boxers can be seen in fawn, brindle, and brown, with or without white markings. They average in weight between 65-70 lbs at maturity. Boxers require frequent and consistent exercise, but little grooming due to their slick coat, making them a good choice for apartment living, given the proper exercise. In addition, Boxers can exhibit fearless courage making them a protective family companion.

 Cairn terrier - View carin puppies for sale

 Cairn Terrier dogs and puppies are active, inquisitive family companion dogs. Originating in Scotland, and members of the terrier group, they are best known for their compact size and pointed erect ears. Averaging around 14 lbs at maturity, Cairn terriers are seen in cream, red, brindle, light gray and black, and require a daily brushing due to their rough coat. Cairns make excellent family pets, as they require little exercise and are great for apartments, but are rigorous enough for a country home.

Dachshund (doxie)- View doxie puppies for sale

 Dachshund dogs and puppies are small, intelligent companion dogs, excellent for apartment dwelling. Originating in Germany, they are best known for their courage that outweighs their size and for their long, slender bodies that somewhat resembles a hot dog, and so they’re sometimes called wiener dogs or Doxies. They get along well with people and children, forming close bond with their owners; however, their leeriness of strangers makes them a good watch dog. Doxies can be trained with consistency. Their coats, which can be smooth, long, or wire-haired, require minimal grooming. A member of the AKC hunting group, Doxies like a long walk with their best friends, their family, so they can sniff out a good hunting trail.

Schnauzer - View schnauzer puppies for sale

Miniature Schnauzer dogs and puppies are small, intelligent, energetic dogs, making them excellent apartment companions. Originating in Germany, they are best known for their bearded faces and friendly personality. Schnauzers get along well with people, children and other pets and are excellent watch dogs, as they are wary with strangers. They are loyal to their family and enjoy taking walks as well as playing outside. Their coat should be plucked but not trimmed.

The information for this article came from PetPlace.com. For the entire article, see this link:

"Top Dog Breeds for Apartment Life" http://petplace.com/

For more on compatible living with a pet in an apartment, see these articles from PetPlace.com:

"How to Love a Dog in an Apartment" http://petplace.com/

"Home vs. Apartment Pets" http://petplace.com/

"Toy Breeds" http://petplace.com/