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Here's a list of the top ten dog breeds, for apartment living:

- Basset Hound
- Boston Terrier
- Chihuahua
- Corgi
- Dachshund
- Great Dane
- Miniature Breeds (Min Pin, Toy Poodle, etc)
- Pug
- Schnauzer
- Shar Pei

Many people select their dog breed based on the size of their living space - apartment dwellers tend to chose small dog breeds, and people with acreage generally select big dog breeds for their pets. The truth is that all dog breeds were developed to exhibit certain behaviours and temperament, to meet the needs of different owners.

For instance, many terriers (Jack Russel Terriers, Rat Terriers, etc.) were developed to help control rodent populations. They are small dogs, but they require extensive daily exercise - which means they need a lot of space to run around. And, the Great Dane, can grow to be the size of a small pony, but they are actually better suited for smaller living spaces. See, this breed is so large, the dogs' hearts and bones have a hard time supporting the body's functions and, therefor, these dogs should really only have limited amounts of specific exercise (swimming and walking, not running), and plenty of time to rest.

It's important to do your research about the various dog breeds, prior to making the commitment to have a dog. There are several dogs that really don't do well in small spaces or city living. Many dog breeds were designed to be in the field and, therefore, need a lot of room to run and plenty of contact with humans and other animals. These dog breeds are also prone to excessive barking (which will not be appreciated by neighbouring apartments, especially those sharing a wall with your unit).

Dog breeds that are NOT suited for apartment living include:

- All Hunting and Sporting breeds (pointers, setters, retrievers, etc.)
- Bearded Collie
- Border Collie
- Boxer
- Cocker Spaniel
- Hounds (Beagles, Coonhounds, Foxhounds, etc.)
- Husky
- Most Terriers (Jack Russel, Airedale,Yorkshire, etc.)
- Weimaraner

There are exceptions to every rule and, more importantly, how you train and treat your dog will determine whether or not they thrive in apartment living. Make sure that your dog is properly trained in obedience, receives adequate daily exercise, and plenty of contact with other humans and animals.

Learn more about this author, Merri Sharp.
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