When you're looking to get a dog, it's important to consider the space you're living in — not every breed does well in a small apartment. Narrowing your puppy wish list down based on which breeds are best suited for your living space [1] is essential to ensuring that you and your dog will both be comfortable and happy. If you live in a smaller space, there are plenty of cute canines that will be perfectly comfortable to curl up in your cosy apartment [2], but on the flip side, there are certain dogs that really do need room to roam free. Ahead, we've rounded up the dog breeds that won't love living in a small apartment, so you can make sure to give your pup all they space need (and more)!
Golden Retrievers
The quintessential good boy, golden retrievers [4] love a game of fetch, or pretty much any outdoor activity. Keeping them in a tiny apartment without much room to frolic can cause them to become a bit stir-crazy [5]. If you do have your heart set on a golden retriever, but without much room to spare, you'll have to be wholly committed to taking them out on plenty of walks and trips to the dog park to keep them active and happy.
Bernese Mountain Dogs
Hailing from Switzerland, Bernese Mountain Dogs did, in fact, originate in the mountainous region of Bern [6], where they were used on farms to herd cattle. So, being cooped up in a small apartment isn't quite their ideal scenario [7]. Plus these lovable giants can be, well, giant — sometimes weighing it at up to 115 pounds.
German Shepherds
Though they're generally very bonded to their humans, German Shepherds' imposing size [8] and reputation as a police and military dog can make them a hard sell in apartments. Plus, they'll need lots of exercise, and have highly sensitive hearing, so if you live in a building with thin walls, noise from your neighbours is likely to agitate your good boy.
Labrador Retrievers
A labrador retriever is one energetic doggo [9]. Likes include: long walks, playing fetch for hours, swimming, and hiking. Unfortunately, a small apartment that doesn't have wide open spaces in the immediate vicinity isn't the best match for this incredibly active breed.
Border Collies
The braniac of dog breeds, border collies were bred to herd, and that instinct, coupled with their intelligence and need for stimulation [10], makes these dogs better suited for homes with a fenced-in yard. If you keep a border collie in a small apartment, they have a tendency to grow agitated, and, at times, destructive.
Siberian Huskies
Bred to pull sleds, Siberian Huskies [11] love athletic endeavours of all kinds. Being resigned to a small space without enough opportunity to exercise can lead them to become stressed and unhappy.
Beagles
You might assume that beagles, with their small stature [12], would be perfectly content in a tiny apartment. While that may be somewhat true, these playful pups were bred to be hound dogs, so they have a hunting streak in them. They also love to be part of a pack, so being left alone for long stretches of time is a no-go. Furthermore, beagles have a tendency to bark and howl, which doesn't bode well for neighbours in close quarters.
Weimaraner
These friendly giants yearn to be a member of your family (they're so lovable and friendly) — however, weimaraners need a ton of exercise and stimulation [13]. And no light walks around the block will do. These silly grey ghosts need to be completely wiped out to be happy. Unfortunately, they're not the ideal companion when your bedroom is just the size of your mattress.
Dalmatians
These spotted dogs are highly active and need plenty of exercise [14] — we're talking in the ballpark of two hours a day — which makes them much more suited for a fenced-in yard where they can run to their heart's content. When left indoors for a long stretch of time or without ample opportunity to run and play, they can exhibit destructive tendencies like chewing up furniture or digging.
Jack Russell Terriers
Similar to a beagle, you might think the petite Jack Russell [15] would do just fine in a small apartment. However, these hunting dogs require significant exercise and attention, and can be rather aggressive, making them difficult to live with neighbouring animals.