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What Are The Best Dog & Puppy Breeds for Apartments?

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Cavalier

Note: While the breeds in this collection tend to be good for apartment living, individual pets will vary.  Please consult the adoption organization for details on a specific pet.

12 Dog Breeds

Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog breed laying down looking at camera with white background

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Highly valued as companion pets, the Cavalier is sweet, gentle, playful, and eager to please their owners. They are affectionate and quiet, happy to go wherever their owners go, whether to the couch or on a walk. They are affable and easygoing towards other pets, family members, and strangers. They do retain spaniel instincts, so they love to explore, sniff, and chase when playing outside. 

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Bichon Frise dog breed sitting and panting against a white background

Bichon Frise

Like your friend who keeps asking you to work out at 5 am, the Bichon is eager, perky, and full of energy. They are endearing companions to humans and other pets alike and are very good with children. Sensitive little souls who want to please their owners, are responsive and alert, always looking for an opportunity to play. They don’t like to be alone and could bark excessively if they are.

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Standing French Bulldog breed with head slightly tilted against a white background

French Bulldog

Clowning around comes naturally to the French Bulldog, who enjoys playing and enchanting their families. They make excellent cuddle buddies and are very happy simply snoozing next to their favorite person. Amiable, sweet, companionable, and willing to please, they make excellent companion dogs. 

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Havanese dog breed laying down looking at the camera against a solid background

Havanese

Havanese are busy and curious little pups who love being the center of attention in a family. They play and clown around and are affectionate toward everyone—family, children, strangers, other dogs, pets, you name it. They love to please and pick up training easily. They can bark a lot. 

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Pug dog breed sitting with tongue hanging out looking at the camera against a white background

Pug

Pugs offer a delightful mix of tranquility and mischief. They're the perfect cuddle buddy but also possess an entertaining silly streak. These devoted companions thrive on human interaction, so they are equally at home with family, strangers, and other pets, making them ideal for bustling households. They may experience separation anxiety if left alone for extended periods on end.

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English Bulldog breed sitting side view looking at camera with mouth ajar against white background

English Bulldog

The English Bulldog has a face only a mother could love but a personality that everyone adores. They are funny and easygoing dogs that have a mellowness to them. English Bulldogs are eager and willing but can be extremely stubborn when they want to be. Affectionate with their families, they get along well with most other pets and strangers. 

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Black Standard Poodle dog breed standing against a white background

Standard Poodle

Standard Poodles are a high-spirited, energetic breed who love to exercise, solve puzzles, and play with their owners. They enjoy being around their human companions and require a significant amount of care and attention. They are quick-witted, highly intelligent, and love to have fun, but do tend to get bored easily. You can commonly find them running around, swimming,  playing fetch, and loving on their owners. 

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Chow Chow dog breed standing tall side view with tongue out against a white background

Chow Chow

While bonded to their owner, the Chow Chow is generally reserved and independent. They are not especially playful or affectionate. The Chow Chow is good for owners who enjoy their independence and who don’t mind a dog giving their love from a distance. 

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Keeshond dog breed laying down with a colorful scarf and a bone against a white background

Keeshond

The cheerful Keeshond didn’t get the nickname the “Smiling Dutchman” for no reason. Their happy-go-lucky demeanor is one of their many charms. Beneath that charming, fluffy exterior, though, lies a sharp-minded watchdog with a penchant for vocal expression. 

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Mastiff dog breed standing tall looking at camera against a white background

Mastiff

Good-natured, calm, easygoing, and surprisingly gentle, the Mastiff gets a bad rap thanks to its size. They are well-mannered dogs inside but need sufficient room to stretch their massive bodies. They’re loyal and while not exactly affectionate, show their devotion to their families. They can be good with older children.

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Dark Great Dane dog breed with white chest sitting with head slightly ajar against white background

Great Dane

Great Danes are deeply affectionate and incredibly loyal. While their protective nature makes them excellent watchdogs, this instinct can sometimes lead to territorial behavior towards unfamiliar dogs. Early socialization in Great Dane puppies and obedience training are essential for shaping a well-adjusted dog.

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Black and white Greyhound dog breed standing against a white background

Greyhound

Known as “the world’s fastest couch potato,” the Greyhound breed is quiet, calm, and extremely well-mannered indoors. They are good with other dogs, other pets, and children if raised with them. They still have hunting instincts and might chase things outdoors. They are reserved with strangers, very sensitive, and sometimes timid. Despite their independent nature, they are eager to please those they trust.

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