Dogs Who Would Be Happy in an Apartment

Tiny dogs aren't the only ones suited to apartment living. Dogs suited to small accommodations are those who don't require lots of exercise -- the kind who would rather sleep by the fire than go out for a run. Such dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Whatever your preference is when it comes to dogs, you should be able to find one to your liking who can comfortably share your place.

All dogs need daily walks, but some need walks of more intensity than others. Some dogs can thrive with just short daily walks, which makes them ideal to live in small spaces; others are bundles of energy who would suffer without a yard to play around in. Ideally you'll choose a dog that prefers lounging on your sofa rather than running through a field. Most large and giant breeds, believe it or not, have rather low energy. These include Saint Bernards, mastiffs, Great Pyrenees, Shar-Peis, Irish wolfhounds, Bernese mountain dogs, and chow chows. According to the Dogtime website, other low-energy breeds include French bulldogs, Chinese crested dogs, dogue de Bordeaux, basset hounds, Lhasa apsos, Pekingese, Japanese chins and Shih Tzus.

Many little dogs are yappers -- they'll bark at anything, all the time -- which makes them unsuitable for apartment living. You don't want your neighbors to hate you because your dog keeps them awake all night. Some toy breeds, however, just crave human companionship and really don't care about the world outside. Miniature poodles are a good example: Although they're fun and active, they'll be happy in an apartment because they just want to be around their humans. Pugs are another example: They're not well-adapted to outdoors heat and humidity because of their flat noses, and they don't need a lot of exercise. Indoor living is ideal for them, and their size suits a small place.

As dogs get older, their exercise needs decrease. That means adopting an older dog from a shelter is a suitable option for apartment living. A geriatric dog will be less straining on you and your neighbors than a hyper young. Older greyhounds -- especially retired racers -- are good examples. While young greyhounds love running and spending energy, older ones tend to love lounging on the couch, snuggling up to you.

Essentially any dog breed can live in an apartment -- so don't think you have to give yours up -- as long as you're willing to provide adequate exercise. For example, even the high-energy spaniels and retrievers can thrive even living in an apartment, as long as you're willing to take them for a couple of long daily walks and give every-other-daily free-run at a closed park, so they can get their fill of exercise and mental and physical stimulation.