12 Best Dogs for Apartments & Small Flats (2026): Quiet, Low-Energy Breeds

Yes, if it is calm indoors and gets proper exercise outside. Greyhounds and Whippets score 4 out of 5 for apartments in our ratings because they rest most of the day, even though a Greyhound weighs 60-70 lbs. The harder part is usually the lease rather than the dog: many rental buildings cap dog weight, with 25 lbs and 50 lbs among the most common limits, so read the pet policy before you choose.

Barking depends more on boredom, routine and training than on size. Alert breeds react to footsteps, elevators and doors, and in a building every bark is shared with the neighbors. A dog that is walked and mentally tired before you leave barks far less. If quiet matters, meet adult dogs of the breed, ask the breeder or shelter how the dog reacts to noise, and start teaching calm behavior at the door from day one.

In the US, yes in most cases. A landlord can refuse pets entirely or allow them with conditions such as a weight cap, a list of excluded breeds, a pet deposit or monthly pet rent. Assistance animals for people with disabilities are a separate case under the Fair Housing Act and are handled as a reasonable accommodation request. Get any permission in writing before the dog moves in, including the breed and adult weight.

Some breeds cope better than others, and long days alone are a common reason apartment dogs bark or chew. In our data the Bichon Frise is flagged as a poor fit for being left alone, while calm breeds like the French Bulldog tolerate quiet hours better. Build up alone time slowly, walk the dog before you leave, and plan a midday walk or dog walker if you are away for a full workday.

Small apartment breeds are among the cheaper dogs to keep. Our yearly estimates for food, routine vet care and grooming run from $600-1,200 for a Chihuahua and $800-1,500 for a Yorkshire Terrier to $1,000-2,500 for a French Bulldog, whose breathing and skin problems push vet bills up. Add whatever your building charges, since a pet deposit or monthly pet rent is common in US rentals.