Plenty of medium-sized breeds do great in an apartment. People forget that.
The common assumption says small breeds are better apartment dogs, and it does not hold up. A lot of small dogs run hot, bark at every footstep in the hallway, and never really settle. Those are exactly the traits that make a neighbor knock on your door.
Size tells you almost nothing about how a dog behaves inside four walls. Several medium breeds, and a few large ones, stay quiet, low-key, and calm indoors. That is what actually makes a good apartment dog.
Below are the best medium sized dog breeds for apartment living, with what each one needs to be happy in a smaller space.
1. Australian Shepherd
Sharp, quick to learn, and happiest with a job to chew on. The Aussie picks up new cues fast and likes a puzzle. He is not timid, but he holds back around strangers and keeps a watchful eye on his people.
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This is a real problem-solver. He thinks for himself and will make his own calls if you let him, so set clear rules early and stay consistent. A herding dog that decides he is in charge gets pushy fast.
For an Aussie, the brain matters as much as the legs. Skip the mental work and you have a bored dog inventing his own entertainment.
Leave him understimulated and he turns into a 50-pound ball of nervous energy, pacing and chewing. Give him something to think about and a couple of solid walks plus some off-leash time, and he is content to nap the rest of the day.
He settles into almost any home, small apartments included. Keep up the daily exercise and the thinking games, and the Australian Shepherd can adapt perfectly to apartment living.
2. Azawakh
Smart, loyal, and even-keeled. This is a sighthound from West Africa that bonds hard with family but stays aloof, not the type to climb into your lap. He guards his people and will sound off at anyone he does not know.
He learns quickly and works well for positive reinforcement. Try to correct him with harsh punishment and you lose him fast, because he just shuts down.
The Azawakh is built for speed, and some compete in lure coursing. Add a strong prey drive for cats and other small animals, and you keep him leashed on every walk. Off-leash running only happens inside a fenced, secure space.
Cover his exercise and he makes a fine apartment dog. Half an hour of real running or brisk walking a day usually does it. After a good session, he is a couch ornament for most of the afternoon.
3. Basset Hound
Easygoing and good-natured, which makes him a steady family dog. He has a goofy streak and genuinely likes company, whether that is adults, kids, or other pets in the home.
Stubborn is the word every Basset owner uses. He thinks for himself, so training takes patience, though he warms up to positive, food-based methods.
That nose runs the show. Once he locks onto an interesting scent he tunes out everything else, including you calling his name. Keep him on leash or in a fenced yard, every time.
The Basset Hound does well in an apartment. Outside he acts like he could go forever, but indoors he is a famously lazy dog who would rather snooze. He still keeps one ear up, which makes him a decent watchdog.
4. Brittany
Friendly, playful, and affectionate, so he slots into family life easily. The catch is energy. This is a bird dog at heart, best matched with people who run, hike, and get outside often.
He is sensitive and eager to please, which makes training go smoothly, especially if you start while he is young.
Temperament and health problems are rare in the breed. What he does need is a real dose of physical and mental work every single day to stay balanced.
The Brittany adapts well, and once his exercise is handled he is a great apartment dog.
5. Bull Terrier
The egg-shaped head and the reputation scare people off. At home, with his family, he is gentle, affectionate, and a total clown.
He is loyal and people-focused to the core. That same devotion can tip into overprotectiveness, so be thoughtful around strangers, kids, and unfamiliar dogs.
Socialize him early and often, with all kinds of people and animals.
Steady obedience work from day one is not optional. Put in the time and you end up with a well-mannered, social dog who fits right into the household.
Get the socialization and training right and he is an excellent family pet.
The Bull Terrier runs on a full tank, so daily exercise is non-negotiable. He also needs to be near his people, which rules him out as a backyard-only dog.
He lives indoors, wants your attention, and burns off energy on walks and play so the destructive habits never start. Meet those needs and he settles into apartment life just fine.
6. Chinese Shar-Pei
Independent, clever, and strong-willed. He keeps strangers at arm’s length and saves his devotion for the people he lives with.
The Shar-Pei is a good guard dog for apartment life. He is confident and physically powerful, so start training and socializing him young. That early work keeps the territorial, aggressive side from taking over.
He is smart and stubborn in equal measure. He learns fast when he feels like it, so bring patience. Keep the sessions short and upbeat with positive reinforcement and you will get there.
The Chinese Shar-Pei makes a good apartment dog because indoors he is quiet and low-key. A 20-minute walk a day covers his exercise, which suits people who want a calm companion in a tight space.
7. Chow Chow
Aloof and self-contained, not the social butterfly type. He is wary of strangers and can get snappy with dogs he has never met.
With his own family it is a different dog. He is protective, devoted, and affectionate, though he usually picks one person and sticks close.
He is intelligent but independent and bullheaded, so training is genuinely hard. Skip it and he decides he runs the place, which gets ugly. Put in the work to set his rank in the household.
Socialize him early too, kids especially, if you want a dog the whole family can trust.
The Chow Chow has a low activity level, and one or two short walks a day is all he asks for. He counts as a lazy dog breed that adapts very well to apartment living.
8. English Bulldog
English Bulldogs is considered one of the best medium apartment dogs. He is sweet and mellow, gets on well with kids, and tolerates other pets without much fuss.
Sociable and easygoing, he makes friends with just about everyone.
He has more courage than his lazy reputation suggests and makes a solid watchdog, even though he rarely barks.
Bulldogs are stubborn and slow to learn, so training tests your patience. The upside is that once something sticks, it really sticks.
They usually get along with other dogs and household pets, but socialize him from puppyhood anyway so he does not turn wary or scrappy later.
This is one of the best apartment dogs around. He needs only moderate exercise and is quiet and lazy indoors. Do not overdo the workouts either, since the flat face means he can struggle to breathe in heat or after hard effort.
9. Ibizan Hound
Even-tempered, loyal, and affectionate with family, and great with kids. He stays reserved around strangers but is never shy or aggressive about it.
His hearing is excellent, which makes him a sharp watchdog. He is quiet and barely barks, so when his ears go up and he goes still, you know something is up.
He is bright and learns fast. Train with positive reinforcement, keep it short and fun, and he turns into an eager, focused student.
Quiet by nature and only moderately active, the Ibizan Hound is a great apartment dog as long as he gets a couple of 20 to 30 minute walks a day.
Fall short on that exercise and he gets bored quickly, and a bored Ibizan goes looking for trouble.
10. Keeshond
Lively, outgoing, and alert, he wants in on everything the family does. This is an indoor dog through and through, and time with his people is the whole point for him.
The Keeshond is smart and easy to train. He has a mischievous side, but good manners come naturally and he picks up obedience without much grief.
He does not need much exercise. One brisk daily walk keeps him happy and in shape.
Bred as a Dutch barge dog and companion, the Keeshond is built for close quarters and makes a great medium size apartment dog.
11. Norwegian Elkhound
Affectionate and loyal with his family. He is good with kids and usually friendly toward strangers and other pets, which is not a given in a hardy northern breed.
The Elkhound is bright, independent, and a bit domineering, so training is a project. Be firm and consistent and it can actually be productive and fun for both of you.
A dog this smart needs his mind kept busy. Let him stagnate and the destructive behavior shows up.
He wants to live indoors with his family where it is calm. He also needs at least two exercise sessions a day, partly because the breed tends to pack on weight if you slack off.
Calm indoors and easy to live with, the Norwegian Elkhound suits apartment life as long as you keep him properly worked.
12. Pharaoh Hound
Smart, gentle, and affectionate, with a real zest for life. He gets along with almost everyone, from kids to other dogs, though he can be standoffish with strangers. One quirk worth knowing: he blushes, his nose and ears flush rose when he is happy or excited.
He has an independent streak but still craves company and soaks up attention and affection from his family.
He likes doing things his own way, but he is clever and willing to please, so training comes fairly easy.
People call him high energy, yet 30 minutes of vigorous exercise leaves him satisfied. The Pharaoh Hound is a perfect partner for a morning jog or a bike ride.
His calm temperament makes him a good apartment dog. The one watch-out is barking, which can become an issue with neighbors close by.
13. Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Obedient and good-natured with people and other animals. Under that shaggy coat is a serious working dog: intelligent, active, and strong.
He has a strong personality and his own opinions, so the Polish Lowland Sheepdog needs an owner who stays firm and follows through.
He is also a playful dog with plenty of energy. Give him enough physical and mental work or boredom sets in.
Excessive barking and chewing are what you get when he is understimulated or left alone too long, so keep him occupied. He thrives on obedience or agility work, and on shared activities like hiking or jogging.
He can be a good apartment dog as long as he gets out to exercise regularly and has a job to do.
14. Portuguese Water Dog
Gentle, loving, and funny, with a real sense of humor. He is great with kids and other pets, though he keeps his distance from strangers at first.
He needs 30 minutes to an hour of exercise a day, anything from long walks to a jog. Swimming is his happy place, so a water session counts double. Cut his exercise short and you invite destructive habits.
He is smart, learns quickly, and enjoys picking up new skills. He responds well to positive reinforcement but bores easily, so keep training fun and a little challenging.
These are people dogs that belong indoors with the family, not out in a yard. Give him his exercise and he is a great roommate for apartment dwellers.
15. Silken Windhound
A lovely family pet: affectionate, playful, and gentle with small children and other animals. He is friendly with everyone he meets, which also makes him a hopeless watchdog.
Silken Windhounds are smart and eager to please, so training goes easily. Owners even say they will more or less house-train themselves given enough access to the outdoors.
He is content curled up on the couch with his family, with the odd burst of zoomies thrown in. If you want a loving, trainable, active companion, he fits the bill.
He adjusts to just about any home and lifestyle. Give him one long walk a day or some time to stretch out in a dog park and he settles right into apartment life.
16. Standard Schnauzer
Smart, friendly, and fiercely protective. He makes a good family dog and is reliable around children.
He is territorial and a capable guard dog who barks at anyone unfamiliar.
The Standard Schnauzer is active and high energy, and he needs a lot of both physical and mental work. Bore him and he gets creative, in the worst way for your furniture. Plan on at least three brisk walks a day.
He is stubborn and strong-willed too, so start training while he is still a puppy.
Do not wait until six months to begin. By then he is more set in his ways and harder to manage.
The Standard Schnauzer is not an outdoor dog. He is a guardian who wants to be near his family, and he lives quite happily in an apartment.
17. Welsh Springer Spaniel
Like most spaniels, the Welsh Springer is affectionate, smart, gentle, and deeply attached to his family.
He is neither shy nor unfriendly, but he does not warm to strangers quickly. With other pets and kids, on the other hand, he is right at home.
His protective, alert nature makes him a good watchdog, and he will bark at anything that catches his eye.
He can dig in his heels, so steady, consistent training matters. He does learn fast and holds onto what he picks up.
He takes to apartment living well once his exercise is covered. An hour of walking a day, or half an hour of harder effort, keeps him a happy, healthy apartment dog.
18. Whippet
Gentle, sweet, and affectionate. He is famously calm and quiet, the kind of dog who treats the couch as a full-time job.
He is devoted to his family, though he usually bonds hardest with one person. He is good with kids, and he prefers a calm, quiet home over a chaotic one.
He is smart but an independent thinker, which makes training a little tricky. Positive reinforcement works well, especially when food is on the table.
He is also clean and easy to house-train. Getting him to do his business in rain or snow, though, is nearly hopeless, since that thin coat offers almost no protection from the cold.
Quiet, calm, and light on exercise, the Whippet adapts beautifully to apartment life. He really needs to live indoors with his family, and he ranks among the best apartment dogs you can pick.
19. Xoloitzcuintli
Known as the Mexican Hairless, the Xolo is calm, sweet, and loving. He bonds tightly with his family and wants to be close to them. He doubles as a good watchdog and turns protective over his people and his space.
He needs a moderate amount of daily activity, something like a 30-minute walk. He is also a natural at dog sports and really shines in agility.
The Xolo is a people-dog and a wonderful companion. Leave him out of family life and he gets destructive looking for attention.
He trains quickly in both obedience and house-training. Just keep the sessions short, fun, and lively so he does not check out.
He needs to live indoors because of that hairless skin. He cannot take long stretches in direct sun, and he gets cold easily, so a sweater earns its keep in winter.
Calm, fairly quiet, and only moderately energetic, the Xolo settles into apartment life with no trouble.
Final Thoughts
The best medium sized dog breeds for apartments share one thing: they are calm indoors and their needs are easy to meet in a smaller home. Match the dog’s energy to your routine and the square footage barely matters.
So learn the breed before you commit. Know what your future roommate actually needs, walks, training, company, and you give him a good life, whatever the floor plan.
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Frequently asked questions
Can big dogs really live in an apartment?
Yes. Energy level matters far more than size. A calm Great Dane settles into a flat better than a wound-up terrier, as long as it gets a proper walk twice a day.
Which dog breeds bark the least in apartments?
Greyhounds, Basenjis, Bulldogs and Cavaliers are among the quietest. Any dog can learn to be calm, but these simply start at a lower volume.
How much exercise does an apartment dog need?
Most do well on 30 to 60 minutes a day split into two walks, plus a little indoor play. Cut that short and the barking and chewing usually start.