When seeking a dog breed compatible with apartment living, most prospective pet-guardians consider a single factor: size. It is certainly true that large dogs are generally more difficult than small dogs to house in an apartment. However, size is one of many factors that influence a dog’s compatibility with apartment living. Other considerations, including the dog’s aggressiveness and level of activity, play a role in determining whether the dog can comfortably and happily live in an apartment.
While there will always be dogs who defy the typical behaviors of their breed, some dog breeds are almost universally incompatible with apartment lifestyles. Here are a few breeds that you should generally shy away from if you live in an apartment.
Foxhounds
Both the English foxhound and the American foxhound are incredibly active breeds, bred for running long distances in packs. Pent up in a small apartment, the foxhound will quickly become anxious, irritable and destructive. If you do keep a foxhound in an apartment, take care to exercise the dog for at least one to two hours each day.
Herding Dogs
Herding dogs such as border collies, Old English sheepdogs, German shepherds, and Australian shepherds comprise the most active and intelligent breeds in the AKC. Centuries of selective breeding have given these dogs a powerful work ethic and a need for mental stimulation. Confined to an apartment, these breeds can become extremely neurotic.
Mastiffs
All breeds of mastiff, including the bull mastiff, Tibetan mastiff, and Spanish mastiff, are inappropriate for apartment living– if for no other reason than their sheer size. Mastiffs kept in apartments can become very aggressive, and even dangerous, toward their owners and visitors. Urban lifestyles simply don’t suit these giants.
Sled Dogs
Dog breeds historically used to pull sleds, such as the Alaskan malamute, Siberian husky, samoyed, and American Eskimo spitz, rarely do well in apartments. Like herding dogs, these breeds have an innate instinct to run, learn, and work. Without an outlet for these activities, the dog can resort to aggression and misbehavior.
Dalmatians
A few dalmatians can adapt to apartment environments, but most feel overly confined in such a small space. Dalmatians are relatively large and have a need for daily exercise. These spotted beauties need to run, jump and chase in order to feel happy and satisfied. If you can’t provide that in your apartment, a dalmatian is not for you.
Poodles
Toy and miniature poodles may be small enough to fit into an apartment, but they require large amounts of exercise. True to their gundog roots, even the smallest of poodles feel a need to run, chase, and catch. Standard poodles are both behaviorally and physically maladapted for apartment living.
Sighthounds
Sight hounds are quick, active and alert by nature. Greyhounds, wolfhounds, Afghan hounds, borzois and whippets are all, for the most part, poorly adapted to apartment living. With regular exercise, you can help your sighthound to overcome some of the behavioral challenges associated with the breed, but larger sighthounds are less likely to overcome them.
The American Kennel Club’s breed profiles offer more information about the behavioral and physical needs of specific dog breeds.