'For those living in apartments, what breed of dog do you have?': Owners Recommend 7 Dog Breeds Best for Small Spaces

Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager

Sep 6, 2026 8:15 AM EDT

Not all dogs need a backyard and unlimited free time outside, some are pawfectly fine with a few walks and then coming back home for nap time and belly rubs. Real dog owners answered the age-old question "What dog breeds are best for apartment living?" below, and if you can't trust real dog owners living in real apartments, who can you trust?

Before adopting or purchasing any dog, you have to first think about your lifestyle. How many hours are you home a day? How big is your living space? What is your activity level - low, medium, or high? How many hours a week are you willing to commit to training? How much time are you willing to commit to cleaning? Do you like to travel a lot? There are 100 more questions you could ask yourself, but each answer will bring you closer and closer to the pawfect dog breed for you.

One of the biggest questions people ask is which dog breeds are best for apartments, and that's because most people assume every dog needs a huge backyard to be happy. This isn't true at all - and this is why your activity level and commitment to training affect what kind of dog is best. Typically, for apartments, low-energy dog breeds tend to be better, but if you're an avid runner, you can definitely get a high-energy dog breed who will be pawsitively pleased with their apartment home. Personally, I think that these people are the exception - most people who ask this kind of question are looking for an "easy" dog to bring into their small space.

If that's the case for you - you're in the right place! We found some real dog owners answering this very question, posed by Thatcooltiger online. These pupper pawrents shared their best dog breeds to live in apartments, that they would happily get again and again. Each person is different, but that's the beauty of it. Read through them all below to find your perfect pupper pair!

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For those of you living in apartments, what breed of dog do you have? What are some of the challenges you have with your breed of dog living in an Apartment? How much exercise does your dog get? Would you get that same breed again for apartment living?

Cheezburger Image 10660902656 — *Greyhound dog sitting for a portrait*
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OrganOMegaly Greyhound. Perfect apartment dog. He's a lazy git who spends near on 20 hours a day sleeping.

Despite being one of the fastest dog breeds, Greyhounds are actually known for being quite lazy. They love to nap, they rarely bark, and their short coats mean minimal shedding. All of these things make them excellent apartment dogs!

Cheezburger Image 10660902912 — *Pomeranian standing in a lush green field*
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Grim-Sum Pomeranian. We go for short walks around the neighborhood 2-3 times a day and once or twice a week we attempt a big one, but honestly he usually wants to be carried after about 1/4 of a mile.

He does need a ton of attention from me to get his mental needs met (he loves doing trick training, loves being hand fed or puzzle fed kibble, loves playing tug) so I am only happy and confident with this setup because I WFH primarily.

Cheezburger Image 10660903168 — *German Shepherd lying on the ground*
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mayannadior border collie/german shepherd. Not a natural apartment dog. requires lot of exercise and most importantly mental stimulation. he sees a trainer every week (for mental stimulation), we have

secret spots in the area that are huge fields for him to run off leash, he goes for walks everyday, and I leave him with stimulation toys/games when we're out of the house. :)

Cheezburger Image 10660907776 — *Miniature Pinscher standing on gravel*
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Ziggie520 Miniature Pinscher. Perfect size for an apartment! They are great watchdogs and very affectionate. Their small size makes it easy for indoor exercise probably much to the dismay of your downstairs neighbors!>

Cheezburger Image 10660908032 — *Miniature schnauzer lying on grass outside*
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cheesely33 I had 2 mini schnauzers and they were the perfect apartment dogs. I got them from a rescue when they were 3 and I had them for 15 years until they passed from old age. I was able to leave them alone in my apartment for a

few hours without issue because they had each other. My neighbors had no idea I had dogs until they saw me with them because they were so quiet.

This breed has hair instead of fur that needs to be brushed and cut occasionally, but if you get a pair of clippers you can do that yourself easily.

The shedding factor is a big deal for many people. Personally, I don't mind it - it just means I have to vacuum a couple of times a week - but for others, it's a deal-breaker. This is why all sorts of poodle mixes are popular now, because these dog breeds, like schnauzers, have hair instead of fur. Dog hair comes with its own issues, like needing to be cut frequently and cleaned properly, but it doesn't shed nearly as much (or at all) as dogs with fur.

Edited to add: I'm planning on getting dogs again in the next 3- 5 years and I am definitely going to get mini schnauzers again.

Cheezburger Image 10660908288 — *Long-haired chihuahua laying on a plush toy*
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mediacontrols I have 2 little chihuahuas, both litter trained. They do great in our condo, and get plenty of exercise on daily walks. One of our chis likes to bark, but we got him a collar that beeps when he barks (no zaps) and it cured him

of random barking when he hears people in the hallway. Would definitely recommend chihuahuas, they're perfect for apartments and not as needy as a lot of people think they are.

Cheezburger Image 10660908544 — *Adult black and white shih tzu walking outside*
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Bunnybeth I've had two shih tzu's (not at the same time) in our apartment. They don't bark that much, they don't shed (but need to be groomed every 5 weeks) and they need a couple of walks a day. I take her out on longer walks on the weekends.

Cheezburger Image 10660908800 — *Golden retriever lying on a dog bed in an apartment*
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zombieskin I have a golden. She's my second golden in an apartment and I'd recommend the breed as long as you're an active person that can meet their exercise needs. Goldens' exercise needs vary widely from dog to dog - some are lazy and don't like to exercise much, but most have a fair amount of energy.

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'For those living in apartments, what breed of dog do you have?': Owners Recommend 7 Dog Breeds Best for Small Spaces

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