There is a dog breed suited for every lifestyle, whether you have a big house or small apartment, whether you’re a fitness junkie or couch potato, there’s a pup out there that will fit your daily routine.
The trick is knowing yourself and knowing the requirements and limitations of your own lifestyle before committing to a furry little friend.
Not everyone has the luxury of a big house with a large yard and lots of running space, many of us live in downtown apartments, condos or townhomes where space is at a premium and the only place to run is the dog park.
For those of us living the downtown lifestyle it’s very important to acknowledge our space limitations when choosing the dog that’s right for us.
These are five of the best dog breeds for small homes:
Bichon Frise – These happy little dogs are amazing apartment companions for many reasons, but one of the most interesting has a lot to do with how their ancestors lived.
Early Bichon Frise originated in Western Africa, on the Canary Islands, and were bred to be sailing dogs.
The sailors loved having these dogs on their boats and for hundreds of years they spent most of their time sailing around coastal Africa and the Atlantic Ocean.
This is perhaps why Bichon Frise are so comfortable in small living spaces. They thrive in condos and apartments plus they are very social, making them an excellent dog of choice if you have children or other pets.
If you’re looking for a fun dog that will love your downtown living space, you should take a good long look at this breed.
Pug – If you are a proud couch potato and love your low energy lifestyle these little fellas are the dog for you. Pugs are widely known for their laid back temperament.
They take many naps throughout the day and require only short daily walks to keep them happy and healthy.
Pugs are very well suited to apartment life because, unlike some dog breeds, pugs don’t suffer from cabin fever after spending a day indoors.
Pugs also have very quiet muffled barks that won’t keep the neighbours up at night.
One of the most infectious Pug traits is their bubbly demeanor, you get a lot of personality in a small package. They love spending time with people and will often follow you throughout your home, just happy to be along for the ride.
If you’re looking for a dog that will embrace your tiny home, Pugs are an excellent option.
Dachshund – These disproportionately tiny dogs make for excellent roommates in any downtown dwelling.
They are exceptionally smart and quick learners meaning you’ll have no problem house training them and teaching them not to bark indoors.
Also, because they have such tiny little legs, they don’t require long walks to get a healthy amount of exercise.
Their small legs have to work extra hard to move short distances so the calories they burn from simple day to day movement is the equivalent of a long walk for other breeds. This means that Dachshunds are not only capable of living in small spaces but they actually thrive in smaller homes.
Greyhound – I know what you’re thinking, “Greyhounds? Don’t the need A LOT of exercise? How is that going to fit into my busy lifestyle?”
Well yes and no, so Greyhounds do need some exercise, just like all dogs, but unlike other active dog breeds (think Huskies or German Shepherds) Greyhounds are not endurance dogs.
This means that they don’t need the constant exercise or running space that you might expect from other highly active breeds. Making them a perfect fit for a busy lifestyle.
The Greyhound is a sprinter, they are extremely fast for short periods of time. These sudden sprints use a lot of energy all at once and in order to command these dramatic bursts Greyhounds require a lot of rest, making down time a must.
Take them on a walk or for a run at the dog park once a day and they’re happy as can be, they’re able to get all that pent up energy out of their system without over exerting themselves.
Greyhounds are also very lean and slender meaning they will be able to navigate an apartment or busy downtown streets without feeling cramped or overcrowded.
Bulldog – These dogs are laaaaaaazy! Phfew! Even thinking about waking up from one of their (many) afternoon naps is sure to tire them out.
Bulldogs are known for collecting ‘Zzzz’s,’ and on average Bulldogs sleep between 12 – 14 hours a day. But it’s not uncommon for them to sleep for up to 18 hours in a single day.
You could wake up, go to work, come home, and by the time they wake up they’ll never even know you’d left.
As you might guess, when your average sleep cycle hovers around 14 hours a day you aren’t left with time to do much else. So nope, Bulldogs do not require a lot of exercise.
In fact, they’d probably love you even more if you didn’t insist on going for a walk every day.
For most Bulldogs the simple jaunts around the house are all they really need to stay happy and maintain a healthy body weight. So an every-other-day walking habit would be welcomed by your snoozy Bulldog.
But what they lack in energy they make up for in kindness. Bulldogs are an incredibly gentle and docile breed that loves attention and a good belly scratch. They’re an amazing addition to any home especially smaller homes with no stairs as they have difficulty climbing steps with their short legs.
Before picking a dog breed make sure you take a good long look at your living situation and your habits so you can pick the right dog for you.
Many people just pick a specific dog breed without doing proper research or considering what that breed needs in order to live a fulfilling and happy life.
That’s why so many people have to give up their furry pals to rescues or animal shelters. So before committing to a new family member make sure you’re a perfect match!
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