Apartment dogs: the breeds that truly thrive in one

A dog can be happy in an apartment if its exercise needs are met outdoors. We ranked the breeds by how well they adapt to a home without a yard: calm indoors, barking, size, need for space.

Ranked using our 1 to 5 ratings on 20 criteria, up to date as of October 13, 2026.

Refine with your own criteria

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

United Kingdom · Companion and toy dogs

Small · moderate energy · average coat care

Struggles when left alone
Chihuahua

Mexico · Companion and toy dogs

Very small · moderate energy · low coat care

Struggles when left alone
French Bulldog

France · Companion and toy dogs

Small · calm · low coat care

Struggles when left alone
Pomeranian

Germany · Spitz and primitive types

Very small · moderate energy · high coat care

Sheds a lot
Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire, England · Terriers

Very small · moderate energy · very high coat care

High-maintenance coat
Shih Tzu

Tibet / China · Companion and toy dogs

Very small · calm · very high coat care

High-maintenance coat
Coton de Tulear

Madagascar · Companion and toy dogs

Very small · moderate energy · very high coat care

Struggles when left alone
Havanese

Cuba · Companion and toy dogs

Very small · moderate energy · high coat care

Struggles when left alone
English Bulldog

England · Pinschers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs

Small · very calm · low coat care

Demanding to train
Miniature Poodle

France · Companion and toy dogs

Small · high energy · very high coat care

Struggles when left alone
Bichon Frise

Belgium / France · Companion and toy dogs

Very small · moderate energy · very high coat care

Struggles when left alone
Pug

China · Companion and toy dogs

Small · calm · low coat care

Struggles when left alone
Maltese

Malta, Mediterranean basin · Companion and toy dogs

Very small · moderate energy · very high coat care

Struggles when left alone
Boston Terrier

Boston, Massachusetts, United States · Companion and toy dogs

Small · moderate energy · minimal coat care

Struggles when left alone
Papillon

France and Belgium · Companion and toy dogs

Very small · high energy · average coat care

Struggles when left alone
Lhasa Apso

Tibet · Companion and toy dogs

Very small · calm · very high coat care

High-maintenance coat
Italian Greyhound

Italy · Sighthounds

Small · moderate energy · minimal coat care

Struggles when left alone
Tibetan Spaniel

Tibet · Companion and toy dogs

Very small · moderate energy · low coat care
Toy Poodle

France · Companion and toy dogs

Very small · moderate energy · very high coat care

Struggles when left alone
Chinese Crested

China · Companion and toy dogs

Small · moderate energy · average coat care

Struggles when left alone
Russian Toy

Russia · Companion and toy dogs

Very small · moderate energy · low coat care

Struggles when left alone
Pekingese

China · Companion and toy dogs

Very small · very calm · very high coat care

Sheds a lot
Japanese Chin

Japan · Companion and toy dogs

Very small · calm · average coat care

Sensitive to heat
Australian Silky Terrier

Australia · Terriers

Very small · moderate energy · high coat care

High-maintenance coat

The breeds least suited to apartment life

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