Years
ago, potential owners thought that in order to have a dog, you needed
to have a big house, big yard, and white picket fence. Very often,
people who wanted to get a dog of their own were told that an
apartment was an inappropriate home, since dogs need plenty of fresh
air and exercise. Of course, this is true, but as long as you are
willing to exercise your pup, taking them for walks and potty time,
there is no reason why you cannot live the dream and own one for
yourself. For the majority of apartment dwellers, they will be on the
lookout for a breed that is friendly and quiet.
Not
every breed is perfectly suited to life in a high-rise, whether it is
the penthouse, or a two-bedroom corner unit on the second floor. It
will take some careful thought and planning in order to choose the
breed that is right for you and your lifestyle. Size will obviously
be one consideration. It is important to make sure you have a happy
pup, and if your home is extremely tiny, this should definitely be a
factor in your final choice. Carefully attention also needs to be
given to how noisy the animal is, its friendliness level, and how
much energy they have.
Adult
dogs that do the famous "crazy run" may not be the apple of
your downstairs neighbour's eye if they hear what sounds like a
stampede from above at 3am. Nor will your next-door neighbour likely
be thrilled with howling every time you walk out the door. With this
being said, many dog breeds are very adaptable and will do well in
almost any type of environment. Perhaps surprisingly, consistently
noted among the overall top five of best dogs for apartment living
are Great Danes, Mastiffs, Pekingese, Pugs, and Lhasa Apsos.
Best
small sized dogs for apartments
Being
small is not a guarantee of a perfect apartment companion. There are
certain breeds considered too vocal, and it may come down to getting
yourself evicted if your neighbours are being driven crazy.
Chihuahuas are the tiniest of dogs, but they often do not make ideal
apartment dwellers because of their incessant barking and nervous
energy. They are also the number one biting breed. Any animal you
choose to live in an apartment with you must also be friendly, since
there will be many occasions when your dog and guests or neighbours
will cross paths. Five of the best small stature breeds that enjoy
apartment living are listed below:
1.
Maltese: Weighing
in around nine pounds at adulthood, the Maltese is a great choice for
small areas. They prefer to spend the majority of their time with
their human, and they are relatively quiet. Since they have no
undercoat, Maltese do not shed very much, making cleaning easier.
2.
Bulldog: This
breed is well known for being quite lazy. With the exception of short
walks for potty time, your couch is very likely their favourite place
to be. A bulldog can snooze the day away and be perfectly content,
making them a great choice for apartment dogs.
3.
Yorkshire Terrier: These
tiny little balls of cuteness are very quiet on average, and they
take up no space. They are happy to follow you around, curl up in your lap, or sleep in their favourite spot. They are adaptable and
friendly, both with other animals and with humans, making them a
common choice for apartment pets.
4.
Dachshund: Even
though this breed is quite energetic, the fact that their legs are so
small makes it possible to get all the exercise they need from
running around the home. They love to go for short walks, and they
are extremely friendly, grabbing the hearts of everyone they meet.
5.
Toy or Miniature Poodle: Although
they may be small, poodles are extremely smart. They each have their
own quirks, but in general, they have a great disposition. Poodles
require very little room to be happy. New people they meet are fair
game for kisses, and they get along well with other pets as well. A
small amount of basic obedience training will help to curb any slight
barking issues.
Best
big apartment dogs
Just
like dogs, apartments come in all shapes and sizes. As a rough guide,
the larger the apartment is the bigger size dog you will be able to
get. This is not written in stone however, so be prepared to make
some adjustments with your choices. Dog owners who are lucky enough
to have very spacious surroundings will do very well with any of the
following breeds listed below:
- Great Dane
- Mastiff
- American Pit Bull
- Greyhound
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Whippet
- Brittany
This
is only a small sampling of breeds that would be great choices. There
are so many others that it would take pages to list them. While all
of the breeds listed above may seem strange choices for apartment
dogs, each of them are docile, laid-back, and quite happy to lounge
around until exercise time. For the most part, they are quiet as
well, and protective of their humans.
Best
small apartment dogs
So
you don't live in the penthouse, but is your small two-bedroom
apartment capable of housing a furry companion? Of course it is! You
just need to pick the right dog. There are oodles of breeds which are
sized perfectly to fit in with small apartment living. Several of
these breeds are large as well. For instance, the Greyhound is more
than suitable for a small apartment. Since the majority of these
graceful animals are retired racers, lounging on the couch all day is
heaven as far as they are concerned. They do need plenty of exercise
to get rid of their energy though, and if you are a jogger, a
Greyhound could not be better suited for you. Below is a small sample
list of other breeds that do well in small apartments due to their
personalities and exercise requirements:
- Chinese Crested
- Bichon Frise
- Pomeranian
- Small terrier breeds
- King Charles Spaniel
- Havanese
- Shih Tzu
- Pug
Out of the breeds listed above,
the Chinese Crested is very likely the best choice for inactive or
senior owners since they are extremely low maintenance. Their
favourite indoor activity is simply to follow their owner from room
to room, or to perch on the back of sofas or chairs.
Best apartment dogs for
guys/girls
Each
person has his or her own personal favourite dog breed. While it may
be expected that small dogs are girlie, and the larger dogs are
better suited to guys, this stereotype has no basis in fact. A
certain type will grab your heart and it can be difficult to consider
any other. However, there are some dogs potentially better suited to
living with one sex or the other.
Let
us begin with the women. Females who live alone are often concerned
about personal security, making this a major factor in the type of
dog they choose. While they may not be looking for a pet that lives
for the "kill" command, some breeds look intimidating
enough to make most would-be intruders think twice. Falling into this
category are dogs such as Mastiffs, Dobermans, German Shepherds, and
Rottweilers. Girls who are looking for great companions may choose
from among breeds such as Corgis, Whippets, American Pit Bulls,
Basset Hounds, and Great Danes, among others. If the primary reason
behind your choice of dog is a partner for workouts, think along the
lines of Border Collies, Shiba Inus, Jack Russels, Labs, Retrievers,
Weimaraners, or even Huskies.
Men
who are looking for their perfect match have many choices as well. If
companionship is the main motivation behind getting a pet, breeds
such as Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Beagles, Australian Shepherds, and
Bernese Mountain Dogs are good choices. For guarding the home and
personal security, German Shepherds, Dobermans, Rottweilers,
Mastiffs, and Thai Ridgebacks are more than up to the job. For guys
who are active and would like a four-legged partner to exercise with,
consider breeds such as Labs, Brittanys, Pachon Navarros, Irish
Setters, Border Collies, and Bloodhounds are worth giving some
thought to.
Best
quiet apartment dogs
We
all know how aggravating it can be to listen to excessive barking or
incessant whining or howling. If you reside in an apartment building
and have a pet, one of your responsibilities is to make sure that
your dog does not become the building's least favourite resident.
This comes with good news however, since there are numerous breed
choices known to be capable of keeping mum.
The
Basengi is an African breed known as "bark less." They are
not completely silent, capable of various vocalizations ranging from
a yodel to whines and growls. This breed also highly intelligent and
is not for everyone. While fun and mischievous, they often choose to
use their smarts to get up to no good. Other options for quieter pups
to pick from include the King Charles Spaniel, Japanese Chin, Italian
Greyhound, Chinese Crested, Havanese, and French Bulldog.
Best
non-shedding apartment dogs
With
the relatively small amount of square footage available in most
apartments, keeping the home clean is of top importance for most
people. Choosing a breed that loses little to know hair is one way to
cut down on the time you spend housecleaning. Thankfully, several
canine companions fit the bill perfectly. The number one choice for
non-shedding dogs is one that most people have never even heard of.
Listed with the rarest and oldest of all known breeds, the
Xoloitzcuintli has been roaming around since the Aztec days. They are
officially recognized by the AKC, and while they may be difficult to
find, if hair is truly an issue for you, it may well be worth the
time to track one down. Among the other top choices for non-shedding,
apartment dogs are the Chinese Crested, Peruvian Inca Orchid,
Poodles, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, American Hairless Terrier,
Bedlington Terrier, and Bichon Frise.
It's
been said that a house is not a home without the patter of paws, and
it applies in equal measure to apartments. The dogs that we choose to
love become our companions, friends, confidants, and much more. Just
because you live in an apartment does not mean that you need to give
up on having a pup of your own. Do the proper amounts of research
until you find the perfect one to fit in with you, your lifestyle,
and your living arrangements, and then enjoy your life together.
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