BEST DOGS FOR APARTMENTS

The best dogs for apartments are the ones who have owners dedicated to seeing that they get adequate exercise and training. While many people think that small dogs are the best dogs for city living, size really doesn't matter all that much. Many large dogs can adapt really well to living in smaller spaces .

The first thing to consider when deciding to adopt a dog to live with you in your apartment is how the landlord feels about it. Many landlords exclude pets from their apartments. The reasons can range from the damage they can do to the annoyance factor to the other tenants, such as barking and fear of some of the larger breeds that have gained reputations of being agressive. best-dogs-for-apartments-saint-bernard

Some landlords that allow pets will exclude these breeds such as Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and Dobermans. These breeds are only as agressive as they are raised to be but unfortunately, the reputation remains.

Check with your landlord for his rules and be prepared to pay an extra deposit. If you are just in the process of finding a new apartment, look for one with some green space nearby. A park or running track would be great. All dogs, no matter how large or small, need some regular exercise. Even though smaller dogs can run around the apartment to burn off energy, they still need to enjoy the outdoors regularly. Once all that is out of the way, you are ready to choose your best dog breed for apartment living.

BEST SMALL DOGS FOR APARTMENT LIVING:

(Contrary to popular belief, not all small dogs are suitable for apartment life)

Chihuahua - Fiercely loyal usually towards one owner. Territorial, with a terrier-like temperament. Can be "yippy" but that can be overcome with the proper training.

Shih-tzu - A spunky, lively little dog, the Shih-tzu needs a daily walk and daily brushing.

Yorkshire Terrier - Affectionately known as "Yorkies", this is a big personality in a small package. Affectionate and loyal, they need to be taught early on who is in charge as they tend to want to be boss. Considered a hypoallergenic dog.

Pomeranium - Wonderful companian dog, quic and eager to learn.

Dachshund - Playful and stubborn which can make them a problem to train. A loud barker, without proper training they can become nuisance barkers. Fiercely loyal. apartment-dog-poodle

Bichon Frise - Merry and cheerful, the Bichon loves children. Considered one of the hypoallergenic dog breeds.

Maltese - Loving, gentle and devoted to it's owner. The Maltese is a non-allergenic dog.

Poodle - Very people-oriented and eager to please. The Poodle is easy to train and considered one of the most intelligent of the breeds.

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Lhasa Apso - Spirited and devoted little dog. Needs physical and mental exercise.

Pug - Playful, charming and sociable, the Pug requires a great deal of human attention and can become agitated if it does not receive it.

French Bulldog - Gentle, happy-go-lucky dog, the French Bulldog makes a great companion dog. Not an excessive barker and needs minimal exercise.

Pekingese - Brave, independent little dog that tends to be very affectionate with it's master. Needs to be taught early on who is the pack leader as he will tend to want to take over and be boss. Needs a daily walk where he is made to heel and walk properly.
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BEST MEDIUM SIZE DOGS FOR APARTMENTS:

Bassett Hound - Sweet, gentle and devoted, the Basset is an excellent family and children's dog.
Basenji - Alert and energetic, this dog should never be let off leash near traffic as they love to chase anything and many end up being hit by a car. This is a non-barking dog so for that reason works well in an apartment.

Whippet - Generally quiet, gentle dogs, they are content spending their day at rest. They are good with children and make an excellent dog for elderly people. Needs a regular walk.

Petit Bassett Griffon - Compact, robust and intelligent, this dog needs firm leadership if the relationship is to be successful. Teach the dog who is the pack leader early on. This dog needs long daily walks where he is made to heel and walk properly. He likes to jump and dig and is known as an escape artist, so make sure he is securely contained.

***Many large breeds such as the Newfoundland, Great Pyrenees,Saint Bernard and Great Dane, love to run in the dog park to burn off energy but when they are back in apartment-living-great-dane

the apartment, they turn into couch potatoes and love to just hang out. Even though these dogs are large, they are some of the best dogs for apartments.

BEST LARGE DOGS FOR APARTMENTS:

Bulldog - Docile and gentle, the Bulldog loves children and is very good with them. Can sometimes be willful but the right training should help that. Doesn't require a lot of exercise but a daily walk is needed. Craves attention.

Great Dane - Gentle giant, affectionate and sweet, the Great Dane loves and is gentle with children but probably is not the best dog for small children because of it's size and it's ability to lean into them and knock them over. Needs daily long walks.

Greyhound - Sociable and calm, the Greyhound is not much of a barker.

Newfoundland - Loves children. Requires regular walking and grooming. Looks like a giant teddy bear.

Great Pyrenees - Well-mannered and calm, this dog does tend to bark a lot. He needs long daily walks.

Saint Bernard - Gentle and tolerant. Extremely patient with children. Take the dogs-for-apartments-mastiff

Saint Bernard on daily walks.

Alaskan Malamute - Very affectionate dog. Needs to be walked and groomed daily.

Mastiff - Massive, powerful body, this dog loves to please and is easy to train with gentle patience. The Mastiff is considerate and loving toward children but should not be with very small children simply because of it's size and the possibility of accidently bumping into the children. Generally a quiet dog. Take on long daily walks.

Old English Sheepdog - Intelligent, protective and loyal. Loves children.

Some Dogs That Are Not The Best Dogs For Apartments:

Sporting Breeds - These dogs generally have very high energy. Dogs within this category include: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Setters such as Irish, Gordon and English and Pointers such as German Short Haired and English.

The dogs within these groups are very popular and make great family dogs but really need a nice large yard to play in.

Hound Breeds - Dogs within this category tend to be high energy and sometimes noisy. They include: Beagles, Greyhounds and Coon Hounds.

Herding Breeds - Dogs within this breed tend to be very high energy. They include: Bearded Collie, Collie, Shetland Sheepdog and Border Collie.

Dalmations - This breed became popular due to the 101 Dalmations movies but many became homeless when their owners were unable to deal with their high energy levels and willfulness. The Dalmation is best suited to an owner with lots of time and patience who will devote themselves to the proper training this breed needs.

Terriers - Some terriers such as the Yorkshire and Shih-tsu due very well in apartments but many in the terrier group tend to be very high energy as well as quite vocal.

Guardian Breeds - As mentioned previously, many apartments will not allow dogs within this group. Although it may be an unfair exclusion, dogs within these breeds are usually thought to be more agressive. They include: Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pincschers.

Socializing Your Dog for Apartment Living

Whichever breed you choose, it is important to start socializing your dog early. Whenever he great-dane-chihuahua

goes outside he will encounter people and other animals. Start by taking him to parks where he will have exposure to a wide range of people and animals.

Take time and allow him to sniff and get to know canine and human friends.

Walk him in areas where he will be exposed to things he would normally encounter on a daily basis, such as cars, buses, sirens, crowds, etc. If thses things will be a part of his daily life, he needs to adjust to them early on.

Remember, each dog is an individual. While you now have a good idea of the breeds normally considered best dogs for apartments or city living; individual dogs vary. Spend time with each dog you are considering. Check for friendliness, shyness, agression, fear of noise, etc. Ideally you want a dog that is adaptable to change.

MOST IMPORTANT: Check first with your local rescue shelters, ASPCA, and Humane Society.
There are many dogs there waiting to become part of your family.
AVOID: Pet stores and backyard breeders.

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