21 Great Dog Breeds for Small Apartments
Living in a small apartment doesn't mean compromising on a furry companion. Many breeds genuinely thrive in compact homes — and the difference between a great fit and a stressful match comes down to size, energy needs, bark tendency, and how well the breed adapts to indoor life.
Below are 21 dog breeds that consistently do well in apartments, with HD photos, quick stats, and a one-line take on why each one works. Click any breed to read its full guide.
At a Glance
Quick Comparison: All 21 Breeds
| # | Breed | Size | Weight | Exercise | Grooming | Apartment Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bichon Frise | Small | 12–18 lbs | 30 min | High | ★★★★★ |
| 2 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Small | 12–18 lbs | 30–45 min | Moderate | ★★★★★ |
| 3 | Maltese | Small | Under 7 lbs | 20–30 min | High | ★★★★★ |
| 4 | Miniature Poodle | Small | 10–15 lbs | 40–60 min | High | ★★★★★ |
| 5 | Affenpinscher | Toy | 7–10 lbs | 30–40 min | Moderate | ★★★★☆ |
| 6 | Pekingese | Small | Up to 14 lbs | 30–60 min | High | ★★★★★ |
| 7 | Havanese | Toy | 7–13 lbs | 30–45 min | High | ★★★★★ |
| 8 | Pug | Small | 14–18 lbs | 20–30 min (weather permitting) | Moderate (fold cleaning daily) | ★★★★★ |
| 9 | Shih Tzu | Small | 9–16 lbs | 20–30 min | High | ★★★★★ |
| 10 | Basset Hound | Medium | 40–65 lbs | 30–45 min | Low | ★★★☆☆ |
| 11 | Boston Terrier | Small | 12–25 lbs | 30–45 min (weather permitting) | Low | ★★★★★ |
| 12 | Chihuahua | Toy | 2–6 lbs | 20–30 min | Low–Mod | ★★★★★ |
| 13 | Yorkshire Terrier | Toy | Up to 7 lbs | 30–45 min | High | ★★★★★ |
| 14 | Bulldog | Medium | 40–50 lbs | 20–30 min (strictly weather-limited) | Daily (fold cleaning) | ★★★★☆ |
| 15 | French Bulldog | Small | 20–28 lbs | 20–30 min | Low | ★★★★★ |
| 16 | Shiba Inu | Small-Medium | 17–23 lbs | 60–90 min | Moderate | ★★★★☆ |
| 17 | Italian Greyhound | Toy | 7–14 lbs | 30–45 min | Very Low | ★★★★★ |
| 18 | Coton de Tulear | Toy | 8–13 lbs | 60–90 min | Moderate | ★★★★★ |
| 19 | Whippet | Medium | 25–40 lbs | 40–60 min | Low | ★★★★★ |
| 20 | American Eskimo Dog | Small | 6–35 lbs (varies by size) | 90+ min | High | ★★★★☆ |
| 21 | Greyhound | Large | 60–70 lbs | 30–45 min | Low | ★★★★☆ |
Buyer's Guide
What to Look For in an Apartment Dog
Jump To
The 21 Breeds
- 1. Bichon Frise
- 2. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- 3. Maltese
- 4. Miniature Poodle
- 5. Affenpinscher
- 6. Pekingese
- 7. Havanese
- 8. Pug
- 9. Shih Tzu
- 10. Basset Hound
- 11. Boston Terrier
- 12. Chihuahua
- 13. Yorkshire Terrier
- 14. Bulldog
- 15. French Bulldog
- 16. Shiba Inu
- 17. Italian Greyhound
- 18. Coton de Tulear
- 19. Whippet
- 20. American Eskimo Dog
- 21. Greyhound
1. Bichon Frise
Small · 12–18 lbs · Exercise: 30 min · Grooming: High
Apartment fit: Quiet, low-shedding, content with a daily walk — built for small spaces.
A cheerful, curly-coated companion bred for centuries to be a tidy lap dog. Low shedding plus a soft, friendly bark makes them one of the easiest apartment fits.
Read the full Bichon Frise guide →2. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Small · 12–18 lbs · Exercise: 30–45 min · Grooming: Moderate
Apartment fit: Calm, affectionate lapdog who matches your energy level instead of demanding more.
A gentle, sweet-natured spaniel that adapts to your pace. Happy with a brisk walk and a soft seat next to you.
Read the full Cavalier King Charles Spaniel guide →3. Maltese
Small · Under 7 lbs · Exercise: 20–30 min · Grooming: High
Apartment fit: Tiny indoor companion under 7 lbs, gentle and easy to live with.
Under 7 lbs of silky-coated charm. Bred to be a portable companion to royalty — no surprise they thrive in small spaces.
Read the full Maltese guide →4. Miniature Poodle
Small · 10–15 lbs · Exercise: 40–60 min · Grooming: High
Apartment fit: Smart, low-shedding, easy to train in tight quarters.
All the smarts of a Standard Poodle in a 10–15 lb package. Hypoallergenic-style coat, eager to learn, and trainable for elevators, hallways, and shared lobbies.
Read the full Miniature Poodle guide →5. Affenpinscher
Toy · 7–10 lbs · Exercise: 30–40 min · Grooming: Moderate
Apartment fit: Compact toy with big personality — doesn't need a yard.
Pint-sized terrier-cousin with a clownish personality. Gets daily exercise needs from indoor play and short walks.
Read the full Affenpinscher guide →6. Pekingese
Small · Up to 14 lbs · Exercise: 30–60 min · Grooming: High
Apartment fit: Low-energy companion who'd rather nap on the couch than run.
Dignified, slow-paced, and low-effort. Famous for being calmly indifferent — ideal for quiet buildings.
Read the full Pekingese guide →7. Havanese
Toy · 7–13 lbs · Exercise: 30–45 min · Grooming: High
Apartment fit: Small, social, low-shedding velcro dog.
Cuba's national dog: cheerful, low-shedding, and bonded to family. Adapts to apartments effortlessly.
Read the full Havanese guide →8. Pug
Small · 14–18 lbs · Exercise: 20–30 min (weather permitting) · Grooming: Moderate (fold cleaning daily)
Apartment fit: Quiet, low-exercise, happy as long as you're nearby.
Charming brachycephalic clown with very modest exercise needs. Heat sensitive — indoor AC suits them perfectly.
Read the full Pug guide →9. Shih Tzu
Small · 9–16 lbs · Exercise: 20–30 min · Grooming: High
Apartment fit: Bred to be a palace lapdog — apartment life is in the DNA.
Literally bred to live in palace rooms. Calm, sociable, and content with two short walks a day.
Read the full Shih Tzu guide →10. Basset Hound
Medium · 40–65 lbs · Exercise: 30–45 min · Grooming: Low
Apartment fit: Low energy and surprisingly couch-loving — just check noise rules (the bays).
Low to the ground, low energy, and built to lounge. Heads up: their hound bay is loud — verify your building allows it.
Read the full Basset Hound guide →11. Boston Terrier
Small · 12–25 lbs · Exercise: 30–45 min (weather permitting) · Grooming: Low
Apartment fit: Compact tuxedo, low-shedding, moderate exercise.
American-born tuxedo dog. Compact, polite, and perfectly suited to small homes and shared walls.
Read the full Boston Terrier guide →12. Chihuahua
Toy · 2–6 lbs · Exercise: 20–30 min · Grooming: Low–Mod
Apartment fit: Pocket-sized, indoor-happy, minimal walking range needed.
The smallest AKC breed. Indoor exercise often covers their daily needs.
Read the full Chihuahua guide →13. Yorkshire Terrier
Toy · Up to 7 lbs · Exercise: 30–45 min · Grooming: High
Apartment fit: Tiny, hypoallergenic-style coat, content indoors.
Toy terrier with a silky, single-layer coat. Bold personality fits small spaces — just train against alert-barking.
Read the full Yorkshire Terrier guide →14. Bulldog
Medium · 40–50 lbs · Exercise: 20–30 min (strictly weather-limited) · Grooming: Daily (fold cleaning)
Apartment fit: Couch potato in a 50-lb package — surprisingly apartment-friendly.
Surprisingly couch-bound for their bulk. Short walks, long naps, and air conditioning are all they really ask for.
Read the full Bulldog guide →15. French Bulldog
Small · 20–28 lbs · Exercise: 20–30 min · Grooming: Low
Apartment fit: Quiet, low-energy, doesn't need a yard.
America's most popular breed for a reason — quiet, affectionate, and content in a one-bedroom flat.
Read the full French Bulldog guide →16. Shiba Inu
Small-Medium · 17–23 lbs · Exercise: 60–90 min · Grooming: Moderate
Apartment fit: Cat-clean and quiet — fastidiously tidy indoors.
Cat-like cleanliness and a quiet demeanor indoors. Expect a structured walk plan and you're set.
Read the full Shiba Inu guide →17. Italian Greyhound
Toy · 7–14 lbs · Exercise: 30–45 min · Grooming: Very Low
Apartment fit: Sprinter outdoors, statue indoors — a true apartment dog.
Slim, refined toy sighthound. Sprints in short bursts outdoors, statues himself on the couch indoors.
Read the full Italian Greyhound guide →18. Coton de Tulear
Toy · 8–13 lbs · Exercise: 60–90 min · Grooming: Moderate
Apartment fit: Soft cotton coat, gentle, low-bark.
Soft cotton-like coat and a soft personality. Companion-bred and apartment-ready.
Read the full Coton de Tulear guide →19. Whippet
Medium · 25–40 lbs · Exercise: 40–60 min · Grooming: Low
Apartment fit: Calm, quiet, sleeps 18 hours a day — a surprise apartment dog.
Often called "velcro greyhounds." One sprint a day, then a nap on every soft surface in your apartment.
Read the full Whippet guide →20. American Eskimo Dog
Small · 6–35 lbs (varies by size) · Exercise: 90+ min · Grooming: High
Apartment fit: Bright and alert; the smaller and miniature varieties slot into flats well.
Sharp, alert spitz that comes in toy, miniature, and standard. Toy/Mini are great in flats; Standard needs more room.
Read the full American Eskimo Dog guide →21. Greyhound
Large · 60–70 lbs · Exercise: 30–45 min · Grooming: Low
Apartment fit: Couch potato sprinter — short bursts, then naps all day.
Retired racers are famously calm. Two short walks plus a couch — the rest of the day is sleep.
Read the full Greyhound guide →FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the quietest dog breed for apartments?
Basenjis (which don't bark in the typical sense), Whippets, Greyhounds, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are some of the quietest popular options. Pugs and French Bulldogs are also relatively quiet apart from snoring.
Are big dogs OK in apartments?
Yes — if their energy is moderate. Greyhounds, Whippets, and Bulldogs can be excellent apartment dogs because they sleep most of the day. The bigger problem is usually building weight limits, not the dog.
Which apartment dogs need the least exercise?
Pugs, Bulldogs, Pekingese, Shih Tzus, and Cavaliers all do well on 30 minutes a day or less of structured walking, plus indoor play.
Are Pugs and Bulldogs really good apartment dogs?
Yes, with one caveat: brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds are heat sensitive and shouldn't be exercised in hot weather. Air conditioning and indoor play handle most of their needs.
Best hypoallergenic dogs for apartments?
Bichon Frise, Maltese, Miniature Poodle, Havanese, Coton de Tulear, and Yorkshire Terrier all shed minimally. "Hypoallergenic" is shorthand — no dog is 100% allergen-free, but these produce far less dander.
How long can apartment dogs be left alone?
Adult dogs of most breeds can handle 4–6 hours alone if exercised before and after. Young puppies need much shorter intervals. If you work long days, plan for a midday walker or doggy daycare.
Do small dogs bark more than big dogs?
Sometimes — small breeds like Chihuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers can be alert-barkers. With consistent training from puppyhood, this is manageable. Big calm breeds like Greyhounds tend to be quieter by default.
Explore More
Related Reading
- Best Small Dog Breeds — All small breeds, ranked
- Best Dogs for First-Time Owners — Easier-to-train, easier-to-live-with picks
- Best Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds — Low-shedding breeds for sensitive owners
- Quietest Dog Breeds — Low-bark picks for shared walls
- Best Dogs for Seniors — Calm, low-maintenance companions
From Wooffy
Wooffy House: Designed for Apartment-Dwelling Dogs
Apartment dogs need a calm, defined space of their own. Wooffy House was built specifically for small spaces — a quiet retreat that doubles as bed, den, and a place that's clearly theirs. No yard required.
Explore Wooffy HouseFinal Word
Pick the Match, Not the Picture
The best apartment dog isn't always the smallest — it's the one whose energy, bark tendency, and adaptability actually fit your routine. Use the comparison table above to shortlist three or four, then read each breed's full guide before deciding. Your future self (and your neighbors) will thank you.
