18 Best Dog Breeds for Apartments, Ranked

Dogs are great companions who can offer loyalty and comfort; however, the best dog breeds for apartments depend on your needs and your apartment’s pet policy. Of the 18 dog breeds scored, eleven received a score of 10 or higher based on their apartment-friendliness.  

According to a recent 2026 Apartments.com renter survey, 38 percent of renters lived with a pet, and 62 percent of those pet owners had a dog. Before you bring home a new pet, review your apartment’s pet policy for breed or weight restrictions, capacity limits, and any additional fees that come with living with a pet, like a pet deposit or pet rent.

How to Choose the Right Dog for Your Apartment

After reviewing your pet policy and deciding whether you can afford the extra costs associated with owning a dog, you’ll want to decide on an apartment-friendly dog breed. Your choice will most likely be determined by which dog breed fits your lifestyle best. It can be a lot of research, so to make it easy for you, Apartments.com has created an infographic about the best apartment dogs.

Each breed is ranked on a 1-15 scale, with 1 being the least apartment-friendly and 15 being the most apartment-friendly. The infographic includes information about size, mood, cleanliness/shedding, barking/vocalness, tolerance to being alone, exercise needs, and friendliness towards strangers. Every category is color-coded: red means the breed is less suited for apartment living, orange is average, and green is good for apartment living. All the dog statistics and breed information came from the American Kennel Club and Dog Time.

Best Small Dog Breeds for Apartments

Pug

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Pug	12	14-18 pounds	Low	Infrequent	Low tolerance	Regular, mostly inactive	Playful

 

Pugs rank number one in the small dog category and on the entire list because they are friendly toward strangers and don’t bark or shed much. However, they do not like being alone. Because pugs are quite attached to their owner, they may not be the best option if you travel or are away from home often. Pugs require regular exercise to keep within the healthy 14–18-pound weight range, though they much prefer to lounge around the house.

 

Shih Tzu

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Shih Tzu	11	9-16 pounds	High	Moderate	Average tolerance	Low exercise	Calm

 

The shih tzu is another great breed for apartment dwellers. On average, the shih tzu can weigh between 9-16 pounds and requires little exercise. Even though it ranked favorably in two categories, the breed only scored as average for its toleration of being alone and shedding. Renters concerned about noise may need to think twice about the breed due to its habitual barking.

 

Bichon Frise

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Bichon Frise	11	12-18 pounds	Low	Low	Low tolerance	Daily exercise	Bursts of energy

 

The bichon frise’s small size, friendliness towards strangers, and low bark rate make this breed an excellent choice for renters. As the breed has short bursts of energy, daily walks around the neighborhood are required. While they don’t shed much, the fluffy double coat requires specialized care and grooming.

 

Chihuahua

 

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Chihuahua	10	3-6 pounds	Moderate	Low	Low tolerance	Minimal exercise	Enjoys indoors

 

Being one of the smallest dog breeds, chihuahuas are perfect for apartments. Chihuahuas are known to be feisty and unfriendly to strangers but love their owners and are highly attached to them. Since chihuahuas are so small, a bit of exercise goes a long way for them.

 

Lhasa Apso

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Lhasa Apso	8	12-18 pounds	High	Needs daily grooming	Above average tolerance	Regular exercise	Moderate energy

 

The lhasa apso is an independent breed that’s okay with being left alone for a few hours but still loves to follow you around when you are home. These dogs are down to laze about on the couch with you but need to run off their energy, too, whether by themselves in the yard or with you on a walk. With beautiful long hair, lhasa apsos need more maintenance, like daily brushing and frequent baths.

 

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	7	10-18 pounds	Moderate	Average	Low tolerance	Daily exercise	Moderate energy

 

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel loves meeting new people and strangers, so they are happy to run into neighbors in the hallway. Though they love strangers, Cavaliers do bark a bit. Other parts of apartment life may not suit this breed as they are difficult to housetrain, need daily walks, and don’t like being left alone.

Best Medium Dog Breeds for Apartments

French Bulldog

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
French Bulldog	11	Under 28 pounds	Average	Average	Low tolerance	Low exercise needs	Playful

 

With low exercise needs and a love for strangers, the French bulldog is an excellent dog breed for apartment living. As much as they like to meet new people, their favorite activity is being right by your side; they don’t do well when their owners are gone for extended periods of time. They don’t need much exercise, so you don’t have to worry as much about having space for them to run around.

 

Basenji

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Basenji	11	24 pounds	Low	Low	Above average tolerance	Above average exercise	Very active

 

Basenji is a medium-sized dog breed that is very active and requires a lot of exercise. This may not be the best fit if you live in a community that lacks space to run. However, these dogs are great because they can tolerate being alone, aren’t huge barkers, and don’t shed too much. If you can manage their exercise needs and dislike of strangers, basenjis are great for apartments.

 

Whippet

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Whippet	11	25-40 pounds	Low	Low	Below average tolerance	Above average exercise	Calm, but active

 

The whippet is usually calm but does experience bursts of energy from time to time that can be managed with lots of exercise. If you want a companion to get moving with, then the whippet is perfect. Though they like strangers, their favorite person is their owner as they aren’t happy when left alone for too long.

 

Basset Hound

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Basset Hound	10	40-65 pounds	Above average	High	Average tolerance	Below average exercise	Easy going

 

Easy going and laid back, basset hounds have a personality that fits the apartment lifestyle and requires little exercise. They’re also great with strangers and okay with being left alone from time to time. However, they may howl when left alone, so if you have thin walls, be wary, as they are noisy. You’ll also find fur and drool everywhere as shedding and drooling is frequent with basset hounds.

 

Welsh Corgi

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Welsh Corgi	10	Up to 30 pounds	Below average	High	Average tolerance	Above average exercise	Very active

 

Even with their small legs, Welsh corgis are an active breed and need lots of exercise. Corgis may not always be noisy, but they are quick to bark when they need to alert you to a stranger or possible threats. While they don’t love being left alone, they can tolerate it for a few hours. Your clothes might get covered in shed fur, but they’re surprisingly easy to groom.

 

Bulldog

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Bulldog	9	40-55 pounds	Above average	High	Average tolerance	Average exercise	Lazy

 

Bulldogs tend to be lazy and would rather sleep than go outside, but they still need regular exercise. They’ll be delighted if you meet strangers during a walk as they are very friendly. Your apartment might get covered in fur and drool as they are heavy shedders and droolers. They’re also quite vocal dogs, making sure their barks are heard if you leave them alone for longer than they like.

 

Dachshund

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Dachshund	8	16-32 pounds	High	Average	Average tolerance	Low exercise	Moderate energy levels

 

With a decent tolerance for being alone and low exercise needs, dachshunds can be great for apartment living. Your furniture won’t be covered in too much fur, just a moderate amount. However, they do bark a lot and aren’t fans of strangers.

Best Large Dog Breeds for Apartments

The following large dog breeds were ranked best for apartment living. Before bringing a new pet home, check with your property manager or landlord for any breed or weight restrictions that might be in your lease agreement.

 

Standard Poodle

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Standard Poodle	11	40-70 pounds	Low	Low	Low tolerance	Above average exercise	Playful

 

Standard poodles are larger dogs that are great for apartments because they love strangers and are quiet. Being hypoallergenic and not big shedders makes maintenance and cleaning up easy. However, they do have an above-average need for exercise and prefer to be with their human beings rather than left alone.

 

Irish Wolfhound

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Irish Wolfhound	10	100-120 pounds	Very low	Moderate	Low tolerance	Above average exercise	Mellow but athletic

 

As a large, athletic breed, the Irish wolfhound needs plenty of exercise throughout the day. If provided an active lifestyle, their mellow personality pairs great with apartment living. They also will get along well with your neighbors as they are friendly towards strangers and quiet. Don’t leave them alone, though; Irish wolfhounds value some quality time together with their human as they need companionship.

 

Mastiff

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Mastiff	9	120-230 pounds	Low	Average	Average tolerance	Above average exercise	Docile but active

 

The mastiff may weigh around 230 pounds, but these dogs are gentle giants and can be a good fit for apartment living. You need to make sure you have nearby areas to let your mastiff run, as they require a lot of activity and exercise. Make sure to bring water to help them stay hydrated, especially if it is summer. Their docility makes them a quiet breed, and they can withstand being alone. However, shedding and drooling are common.

 

Greyhound

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Greyhound	8	60-70 pounds	Above average	High	Low tolerance	Average exercise	Calm if active

 

If properly exercised, a greyhound can be quite calm, often found sleeping on the couch. They are good with strangers, but their favorite person is still their owner. They’ll make themselves known as they’re big barkers. Even though they shed at high rates and drool, greyhounds are easy to groom.

 

Great Dane

Breed	Score	Weight	Barking	Shedding	Time Alone	Exercise	Mood
Great Dane	7	100-200 pounds	Above average	High	Low tolerance	Above average exercise	Easygoing when exercised

 

Topping 200 pounds, Great Danes may be huge, but they’re very easygoing. They need ample exercise, about 2-3 walks a day to keep them happy and healthy. You may be their favorite person, but they’re also very friendly to strangers, making them perfect for an apartment community. This breed can be a bit noisy, as they love barking. Cleaning your apartment might become a more frequent chore as Great Danes often shed and drool.

How to Find a Pet-Friendly Apartment on Apartments.com

Finding a pet-friendly apartment on Apartments.com is easy. Type in the city or neighborhood you are looking at in the search box. Then, select “All Filters” and an expanded pop-up will show more filters. Scroll down until you see “Pet Policy” and click on the box below it. You can select “Pet Friendly,” “Dog and Cat Allowed,” “Dog Friendly,” “Cat Friendly.” After you have selected your desired filters, it will filter to find apartments matching the pet-friendliness that you selected.

If you want more detailed information about the pet policy at a specific apartment community, simply click on that community. Scroll down until you see “Fees and Policies” where you can click on the “Pets” banner. This will tell you the information about the pet policy, including potential breed restrictions, monthly pet rent, one-time fees, pet deposit, and pet limits.

This article was originally published on August 2, 2018, and has been updated.