Apartment living is now becoming a popular choice among a significant part of the population in Australia, with over 9% of the country’s population – or roughly 2 million people – living in apartments, units and flats. With apartment living, people typically don’t get to have access to yards and gardens, which may not be such an issue for a lot of people, but may be hard for aspiring pet owners.
The good news is that there are a handful of dog breeds you can choose from with whom apartment living wouldn’t be too much of a hassle, especially with their compact sizes and personalities. We’ve compiled 10 of the top dog breeds that apartment dwellers love to have as family pets:
1. Poodle
Poodles are well-known for their calm and good-mannered behavior, making them one of the best apartment dogs you can find. They are extremely intelligent and are quick learners, so they’ll be able to adapt to apartment living in no time.
Their noise levels are also extremely low, so you won’t need to worry about causing too much of a ruckus if ever they get impatient or too excited. For exercise, you just need to take them out for regular walks, or just give them something they can be busy with in your apartment.
2. Boston Terrier
Boston terriers are huge cuddle bugs, so they’ll extremely enjoy sitting on your lap or just chilling at home – which makes them a good choice for apartment dwellers. They are extremely loyal to their owners, making them perfect for people who are looking for devoted pets. However, to decrease their energy levels a bit during the day, you would need to take them out on regular walks and a few circles around your neighborhood.
3. Cavoodle
Whether you’re looking for a black cavoodle or a tri-colored one, you can still be assured that they will be the perfect pet for you, whether you live in a house or an apartment. As a mix between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the poodle, this adorable breed gets the best of both worlds. It inherits the calm and affectionate nature of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and the intelligent and instinctual nature of the poodle.
Add to that, cavoodles have compact builds, with activity levels highly dependent on their pet parents. This makes them perfect options for people who live in apartments, since they’ll easily adapt to their owners’ lifestyle.
4. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are well known for their gentle and affectionate nature. They are wonderful companions for children since they’re patient and even-tempered. They are also extremely adorable, with their large eyes and soft fur.
However, what makes them perfect for apartments is that they’re small, growing up to about 13 inches tall. This means that they can stay active while just running around your apartment, and you won’t have to worry too much about them knocking things over when they play.
5. English Bulldog
English bulldogs are extreme couch potatoes and they can laze around the whole day if you leave them to their own devices. They can be content just spending time with you and cuddling.
While English bulldogs may look a bit intimidating with their squashed face and stubby legs, you can’t go wrong with this breed if you’re living in an apartment. They have low noise levels (with some English bulldogs just not bothering to bark at all), so you won’t have to worry about waking up your neighbors.
6. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
With its compact size and adorable face, who wouldn’t want to get a Pembroke Welsh Corgi to raise as their baby? This breed is strong-willed and extremely independent, making them good choices for people who have work or people who need to leave these dogs for a few hours each day.
Corgis are also incredibly adaptable, being able to cope with the lifestyles of their pet parents with relative ease. However, there’s a caveat: Sometimes corgis might be a bit too independent, which may border on stubbornness. If you want to keep them happy, you’ll need to train them properly to keep them behaved.
7. Peekapoo
Peekapoos are the hybrid of the Pekingese and the Poodle, giving them a distinct short snout of the Pekingese and the curly coat of the poodle. Protective and affectionate, this breed is a perfect choice for starter families who want a kid-friendly pet. They adapt well to their environments, and can seamlessly feel right at home in any home setting you have.
8. Pomsky
One of the most popular mixed breeds in the world, Pomskies are famous as being miniature versions of the Siberian Husky. This means you get all the fluffiness and cuteness of the wolf-like breed in a much more compact build. This breed is easy to train, highly intelligent and extremely affectionate, making them highly adaptable to the lifestyles of their pet parents.
However, one thing to note is that Pomskies have high noise levels, and are more prone to howling and barking when they get excited or if they want to get your attention. This can be easily taken care of though with proper training and socialization.
9. Bichon Frise
Bichon Frises are confident and beautiful dogs who will relish in your attention. With a hypoallergenic coat and a happy-go-lucky personality, this breed is a good choice for people who live in apartments, since they don’t shed too much and they get along well with just about everyone. You won’t have to worry too much if you’re going to run into people in your apartment’s hallways or around the neighborhood – the Bichon Frise is going to get along splendidly with them.
10. Pug
Pugs are small and lazy – which might not seem like a convincing argument to convince you to get them, but this is what actually makes them perfect for apartment living. Pugs are excellent at adapting to their environments, being content with smaller spaces to run around and keep active in. You won’t even have to worry about taking them on long walks since short, brief walks are perfectly adequate as exercise for them.
Other Factors You Need to Consider Before Getting a Pet
Aside from being apartment-friendly, there are a few more factors that you should consider before choosing your future pet. Some of these include grooming levels and shedding, their need for exercise, the pet products you need to exercise them properly, whether your apartments are pet-friendly, and, of course, if you’re ready for the responsibility of taking care of a living, breathing companion. Before adopting, don’t forget to consider whether you’ll be able to take care of these pets the best that you can, or if you can dedicate a significant portion of your daily schedule to their upkeep and exercise.