Best dogs
Best dogs for apartments
The breeds rated best for apartment living, with the exercise and barking each one adds.
Living in an apartment changes what a dog needs from a breed. Size matters less than it seems. A calm large dog can be easier in a flat than a small, loud, high-energy one, so this list looks at how well each breed copes with limited space, how much it barks and how much exercise it needs outside.
The list
| # | Breed | Size | Typical weight | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French Bulldog | Small | 20 to 28 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 2 | Bulldog | Medium | 40 to 50 lb | 8 to 10 years |
| 3 | Shih Tzu | Small | 9 to 16 lb | 10 to 16 years |
| 4 | Pug | Small | 14 to 18 lb | 12 to 15 years |
| 5 | Japanese Chin | Small | 4 to 9 lb | 10 to 14 years |
| 6 | English Toy Spaniel | Small | 8 to 14 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 7 | Boston Terrier | Small | 12 to 25 lb | 11 to 13 years |
| 8 | Pekingese | Small | 7 to 14 lb | 12 to 14 years |
| 9 | Havanese | Small | 7 to 13 lb | 14 to 16 years |
| 10 | Bichon Frise | Small | 12 to 18 lb | 14 to 15 years |
| 11 | Chinese Crested | Small | 8 to 12 lb | 13 to 17 years |
| 12 | Biewer Terrier | Small | 4 to 8 lb | 12 to 16 years |
| 13 | Coton de Tulear | Small | 8 to 13 lb | 14 to 16 years |
| 14 | Brussels Griffon | Small | 8 to 10 lb | 12 to 15 years |
| 15 | Tibetan Spaniel | Small | 9 to 15 lb | 12 to 15 years |
About the breeds
1. French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is a small, muscular, bat-eared companion from France and England, popular in cities for its easygoing nature and limited exercise needs. Read the French Bulldog profile.
2. Bulldog
The Bulldog is a heavy, wrinkled, short-faced English breed once used in bull-baiting and now a calm, stubborn and affectionate house companion. Read the Bulldog profile.
3. Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a small, long-coated companion from imperial China, bred purely to keep people company and known for its friendly, outgoing nature. Read the Shih Tzu profile.
4. Pug
The Pug is a small, square, wrinkle-faced companion from China, kept for centuries for its easygoing charm and prone to breathing and weight problems. Read the Pug profile.
5. Japanese Chin
The Japanese Chin is a small, flat-faced toy with a long silky coat and a cat-like, dignified personality, kept for centuries as a companion of nobles. Read the Japanese Chin profile.
6. English Toy Spaniel
The English Toy Spaniel is a quiet, short-nosed lap spaniel with a domed head and long silky ears, descended from the dogs of the English court. Read the English Toy Spaniel profile.
7. Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier is a compact, short-nosed American companion with a tuxedo coat, known for its friendly, lively and sociable nature. Read the Boston Terrier profile.
8. Pekingese
The Pekingese is a small, flat-faced Chinese toy with a lion-like mane, once an imperial palace dog and now a dignified, stubborn and loyal companion. Read the Pekingese profile.
9. Havanese
The Havanese is a sturdy little Cuban companion with a long, silky, wavy coat and a bouncy, people-loving temperament that suits families and apartments. Read the Havanese profile.
10. Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise is a small, white, powder-puff companion with a cheerful nature, a curly coat that needs regular professional grooming and a long lifespan. Read the Bichon Frise profile.
11. Chinese Crested
The Chinese Crested is a slender toy dog, either hairless with a crest and plume or coated as a Powderpuff, known for its affectionate, clingy nature. Read the Chinese Crested profile.
12. Biewer Terrier
The Biewer Terrier is a small tricolor toy with a long silky coat, developed in Germany in the 1980s and valued as a lively, affectionate lap companion. Read the Biewer Terrier profile.
13. Coton de Tulear
The Coton de Tulear is a small, cheerful white companion from Madagascar with a soft, cotton-like coat and a lively, affectionate temperament. Read the Coton de Tulear profile.
14. Brussels Griffon
The Brussels Griffon is a small, flat-faced Belgian toy dog with an almost human expression, once a stable ratter and now a devoted, sensitive companion. Read the Brussels Griffon profile.
15. Tibetan Spaniel
The Tibetan Spaniel is a small, alert companion from the Himalayas with a silky double coat, a flat-faced expression and a cat-like habit of perching high. Read the Tibetan Spaniel profile.
How this list was made
Breeds rated 4 or 5 for apartment living, then ordered by apartment rating, with lower barking and lower energy ranking higher. The ratings come from the breed profiles on this site, which rate each breed as a whole. Individual dogs differ, so use the list to decide which profiles to read, then meet the breed before you choose.