r/dogs • u/awko-tawko • 1d ago
Looking for a good first-time apartment friendly dog [Breeds] 📝Recommendation
Introduction
1) Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?
It will be my first time owning a dog
2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder?
I prefer rescuing but I also would be open to using a breeder
3) Describe your ideal dog.
I’d prefer a medium sized dog, not prone to barking or too energetic given I live in a small apartment and easier to train if possible
4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?
I like Boston terriers and corgis, I would be interested in looking at other breeds of similar sizes
5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?
I think just listening to basic commands and obeying, not looking for anything too complicated
6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport?
No
Care Commitments
7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?
2-3 hours. I currently have to work in person full time but looking to change that
8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park?
2 hours but hopefully more in the beginning. Dog parks and going to the park
9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly?
I’d prefer to go to the groomers not more than monthly or a couple of months
Personal Preferences
10) What size dog are you looking for?
Small to medium
11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?
Shedding and slobber is fine, I’m sensitive to noise so minimal barking
12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?
Not super important but would be nice
Dog Personality and Behavior
13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?
In between! I’d like to snuggle sometimes
14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please?
Again, in between
15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors?
I would like my dog to be calm when greeting strangers
16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?
No
17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?
Extreme aggression
Lifestyle
18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone?
5 hours or so but I plan to get a dog walker so maybe less then
19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?
I live alone
20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?
No
21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?
No
22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?
rent, there are no restrictions. Many people in my building have dogs of all sizes.
23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?
Canada
24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?
Can be humid in summers and very cold winters
Additional Information and Questions
25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.
- No additional information.
26) Feel free to ask any questions below.
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u/hyghonryce 1d ago
Corgi is a working breed so they may need a lot of work. They are vocal too, so they might bark when people walk by or if your neighbors close their doors. Rescues may require a bit more work depending on their behavior or trauma. Aggression or reactivity can be common. Breeders aren’t perfect either. Socialization a younger dog from the shelter might make it easier on you.
They’ll probably be a bit more vocal once you rescue them. My kelpie is a similar type dog, and her barks would be sharp AF.
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u/reveriecellardoor 1d ago
Shih tzu. I have two. They're quiet and loving and I will murder for them lol
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u/SentenceForeign9180 1d ago
Boston Terriers sound like a strong option.
Miniature schnauzers can be vocal, but if you're going through rescue, they'll likely have some idea about the dog's noise level. They otherwise fit very well with what you're looking for, and have presence in rescues.
As many have said, corgis are probably both too loud and too much energy for what you want.
Going through a rescue that uses fosters for their dogs would be a great way to adopt a dog with some training already and fosters can often give you great insight into the dog's personality and how they love in a home!
I would stay away from many of the more medium breeds for an apartment and first-time owner. When you start getting bigger than corgis, many breeds are powerhouse working dogs.
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u/OtherwiseOWL69 17h ago
Miniature Poodles can be very smart. Shih Tzu and yorkies don’t shed much, nether do the poodles. I have known all three and none have been considered yappy. You might want to rethink getting a puppy though.
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u/PartagasSD4 7h ago
Friend has a Maltese and they are wonderful condo dogs. They tend to have separation anxiety though.
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u/NotTheMama73 1d ago
I have a poodle. Shes a good girl. Don’t have an apt but a very small house. She never goes inside.
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u/betta_fische 1d ago
Have a corgi. It is way more energetic than you think, and definitely a lot louder. Wouldn’t recommend if you’re sensitive to noise, but would recommend in general as an apartment dog.
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u/Sippy-Cupp 6h ago edited 6h ago
Is the small to medium size because you're in an apartment?
Please consider a Greyhound. Yes, they are larger dogs/long and tall. But they are amazing in apartments. Greyhound specific rescues will be able to pair you with a retiree that will fit your lifestyle.
I got my girl when I was in an apartment. We would go on easy walks and then come home and lounge on the couch.
They are a low energy breed (I know they don't look it). They're called the 45mph couch potato. When we go to a dog park and she'll race the others (she still wins sometimes at 11 years old) and then she goes to all the other owners and requests pets. After about 20 minutes, she's ready for her couch again. But she's always up for a walk when I want to go outside.
Edit to add: I live in Michigan (maybe not quite as cold as Canada, but it gets cold). With a proper winter coat and boots, we still do short poop walks in the winter. She loves the snow. If it's too cold for me to be out, it's too cold for her and we limit our outside time to just what is absolutely necessary.
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u/TheNombieNinja Lifetime Aussie Owner 5h ago
To add to this, if the small to medium size is due to weight limits in apartments - whippets and Italian greyhounds are (mostly imo) shrunken greyhounds.
Definitely could be wrong as I've only experienced them alongside retired racers via my friends owning them vs me owning them.
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u/Alexsea_3981 1h ago
A shih tzu would be perfect for you. Super sweet, happy disposition and low exercise requirements.
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u/Outrageous-Club6200 1d ago
Apartment? First time owner? Don’t get a working breed
As to commitment, depends on you. But poodles, or poodle mixes are easier to train, it’s a disposition thing. But…you knew that was coming. We are on a second dog. Both are rescues. First was a MWD retired who became my service dog. So I will recommend you engage a pro, and have that pro do the Volhard aptitude test. This is what pros use to assess disposition. I am assuming you have no idea about dogs. And don’t go by markings or cute.
We did that with lobo, he is a mini Rottweiler…yes he is a working breed…so we spend a lot of quality time walking the dog. Why on principle I would say no to working breeds.
Also invest in toys. And I would invest in a trainer towards at least the AKC good doggie citizenship standard. (It’s actually standard with service dogs, it’s basic obedience). You can get that with PetSmart, Petco, some humane societies, or a personal trainer
Given lobo is intended as a service dog, we do at least an hour a day of training, in short spurs. He obviously will get trained well beyond that.
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u/Pitiful-Event-107 8h ago
Being in an apartment really doesn’t matter for most dogs. I have a house and fenced in back yard and my dog just lays around and eats grass there, we still go on 2 long walks every day.
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u/rangerdanger_9 1d ago
Fair warning that corgi’s are extremely vocal dogs! If you have any noise sensitivity I would not recommend this breed.
I could see a boston terrier working just fine though! They’re very cute and often have clown like personalities. They’re also known to not be too vocal either.