Many dogs can live comfortably in an apartment, regardless of their size. However, there are other factors you’ll want to consider when you’re choosing the right breed to live in an apartment with you.
One thing you need to think about is the trainability of a dog. While all dogs are individuals, some breeds are in general easier to train than other breeds. This is something very important to consider if you’re living in an apartment. When you’re sharing a space with so many other people, you need to make sure your dog is well behaved.
If you’re living in an apartment complex, and want a breed that’s easy to train, don’t worry. There are plenty of breeds that will live happily in smaller spaces, and that are smart enough to train with no problems.
Manchester Terrier
These little dogs stand at about 15 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder and generally weigh between 12 and 22 pounds. They are very adaptable and make wonderful companions in an apartment. As lithe and athletic dogs, they’re also great for owners who want to stay motivated to exercise.
One of the best things about the Manchester Terrier is how easy he is to train. On top of being able to adapt effortlessly to apartment life, these dogs are also highly intelligent. You won’t have any trouble training these smart little dogs when you bring one into your apartment!
Poodle
Poodles come in three sizes, Standard, Miniature, and Toy. The Standard Poodle stands more than 15 inches tall and weighs 60 to 70 pounds. Miniature Poodles are 10 to 15 inches tall and weigh 10 to 15 pounds. Finally, the Toy Poodle will stand under 10 inches, and weigh in at 4 to 6 pounds.
No matter which size you get, you can expect a highly intelligent animal when you adopt a poodle. These dogs are incredibly smart, not to mention easy to please. Combined, these two traits make training a poodle simple. You’ll be delighted by how quickly yours catches on to the concepts you introduce to him! Plus, as super-adaptable dogs, they make great apartment companions.
Bernese Mountain Dog
Weighing between 70 to 115 pounds, your biggest challenge with bringing a Bernese Mountain Dog into your apartment will be making sure your building allows dogs that large. But if your building does, you’ll find yourself with an incredibly loyal friend in a Berner.
Berners are super intelligent dogs. Bred originally as working dogs, they fit in surprisingly well to apartment life. You’ll find that their high levels of intelligence, plus their eagerness to please their owners, makes them a breeze to train.
Havanese
Originating from Cuba, these dogs are an absolute joy to own. These small little guys weigh between 7 to 13 pounds and measure 8.5 to 11.5 inches tall. These dogs are real people-pleasers and will get along easily with the other inhabitants in your building.
The Havanese is also an extremely intelligent breed. They love learning new tricks and commands, and are super eager to please their owners. Training a Havanese to be a polite neighbor will be no problem for you!
Border Terrier
Be prepared to stay active when you adopt one of these dogs! Though small, they need a lot of exercise. Border Terriers stand about 12 to 15 inches tall and weigh 11.5 to 15.5 pounds. Although they like to be kept busy, you’ll find that they are wonderful little companions who can still easily adapt to apartment life.
One of the reasons Borders are so adaptable is that they’re easy to train. These supersmart little dogs will learn new concepts in short amounts of time. Teaching these dogs new tricks will be a cinch!
Boxer
Despite their size and history, Boxers make great apartment dogs. Ranging from 50 to 80 pounds, Boxers are big dogs with big hearts. You’ll be living with a loving, loyal companion when you adopt a Boxer.
Boxers are also really intelligent and love nothing more than pleasing their owners. You’ll find training your Boxer to be fun and easy. As very enthusiastic learners, you’ll also love how happy they get when you reward them for understanding a new concept.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a stocky dog with a long body and big, upright ears. Standing at 10 to 12 inches tall and weighing up to 30 pounds, these little dogs pack a lot of personality into a tiny body. These dogs are known for being a favorite breed of Queen Elizabeth II, and you’ll find yourself with a loving, intelligent companion if you adopt a Corgi for yourself.
Corgis are very smart dogs, which means they’ll catch onto new concepts quickly. Luckily, they’re also very eager to make their owners happy, so you won’t find the same stubborn streak you see in many other intelligent breeds. They also adapt easily to apartment life, making them a fantastic option.
Papillon
Named for their unique, butterfly-like ears, the Papillon is a small dog weighing just 5 to 10 pounds and measuring 8 to 11 inches tall. Despite their small stature, these are active dogs who love to run around!
A Papillon will do anything to please its owner. As a breed that’s also very alert and intelligent, it won’t be hard to teach your Papillon how to be a polite neighbor. Their easy-to-train nature and small size makes them great for apartment living.
Brussels Griffon
These unique-looking little dogs, standing only 7 to 10 inches tall and weighing just 8 to 10 pounds, will fit easily into even the tiniest of apartments. They are super friendly, which means your Brussels Griffon will get along easily with your neighbors.
These dogs are very devoted to their humans, and training new commands to a Brussels Griffon is a simple feat. Bear in mind, however, that these dogs can be very sensitive. You’ll want to use lots of positive reinforcement with their training, and a gentle touch.
Miniature Schnauzer
Schnauzers come in 3 sizes: Standard, Miniature, and Giant. While Giant Schnauzers won’t be the best breed for apartment life, Standards and Miniatures can adapt to smaller homes easily.
Miniature Schnauzers especially are very intelligent, as well as extremely attached to their humans. By combining these factors, you end up with a smart little dog who will pick up on new concepts quickly.
Norwich Terrier
A Norwich Terrier will certainly keep you busy! Although small, standing about 10 inches tall and weighing around 12 pounds, they are extremely active dogs. But if you are a very active person yourself, then you can definitely make living in an apartment with a Norwich Terrier work for you!
Norwich Terriers are known for their willingness to do as asked by their owners, though their spirited personalities will sometimes get in the way. Keep training sessions short and fun, and you’ll find training Norwich Terriers to be a breeze.
