Top Dog Breeds for City Living: Find Your Ideal Urban Companion

What are the best dogs for city living? Good candidates can’t be frequent, loud barkers that drive the neighbors mad. Additionally, they must be comfortable in smaller spaces and able to saunter through crowded city streets on a leash — or in a bag — without freaking out. So, which breeds check all the boxes? Continue reading to discover the perfect pup for your urban lifestyle.

French Bulldog 

• AKC Dog Personality Description: Intelligent, alert, curious 
• Average Height: 15.5 -18.5 inches
• Average Weight: 17-24 pounds, female; 20-28 pounds, male

Nearly all Bulldog breeds do well in apartments, but French Bulldogs — with their signature bat ears — are especially suited to cities. Smaller than other Bulldogs, Frenchies don’t bark much and were bred for cafe life.

Though they have short hair, these adorable little pups shed profusely. As such, weekly at-home grooming — with a medium-bristle brush, rubber grooming mitt, or hound glove — goes a long way in reducing the amount of hair that lands on your floors and furniture.

French Bulldogs are well suited to city life because they don’t require much outdoor activity and they’re at home on busy sidewalks. Why are Frenchies so acclimated to the hustle and bustle? The little bruisers were bred to be the lap dogs of the 1800s Paris Cafe Society. 

Japanese Chin

• AKC Dog Personality Description: Charming, noble, loving 
• Average Height: 8 to 11 inches 
• Average Weight: 7 to 11 pounds

Japanese chins are tiny, silky little pups. These adorable little dogs are amusingly independent and reserved, the canine equivalent of your well-heeled friend with a talent for sophisticated snark. They’re comfortable and fun around you but tend to be aloof with strangers. Quiet and fastidious, Japanese chins don’t bark much, and they’re fine with just a smidgen of light exercise at the home “gym.”

To keep them looking presentable, brush them weekly and bathe them once a month. Also, their nails grow quickly and must be trimmed regularly. Originally bred as lap dogs for Japanese nobles, chins are perfectly comfortable reigning over a city apartment. 

Pug 

• AKC Dog Personality Description: Charming, mischievous, loving 
• Average Height: 10 to 13 inches
• Average Weight: 14 to 18 pounds

Pugs are beloved the world over. Their smooshy faces and endearing waddles get us right in the “awws.” Besides, who doesn’t appreciate a pup that’s full of love and a bit mischievous!? Pugs were domesticated centuries ago as companions to Chinese emperors. Holland’s royal House of Orange also took a liking to them. It’s also one of the few breeds with a Latin motto: multum in parvo — a lot in a little.

Sure, pugs may have frequent gas that can, shall we say, ignite a room. But they’re also highly adaptable, love to please, and aren’t big on barking. Besides, owners can usually solve the gas issue with a change of diet.

Pugs are relatively easy to groom. A weekly brushing of their short, smooth coats, with a rubber grooming mitt, hound glove, or medium-bristle brush, will keep your pooch in tip-top shape. 

Stoic folks may wish to consider other breeds. Though Pugs may look like fearless fighters, their feelings are easily hurt, and like toddlers, sadness registers on their faces immediately. Additionally, pugs are not built for heat and humidity, so folks in warmer climates should look elsewhere.

Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka

• AKC Dog Personality Description: intelligent, loving, sweet
• Average Height: 8-10 inches
• Average Weight: 5-11 pounds

Called Bolonkas for short, Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonkas are tri-colored lap dogs bred specifically for apartment-dwelling. Hypoallergenic and incredibly sweet to their masters, Bolonkas are calm as monks and more loyal than nuns — but aren’t too fond of other animals. And while they don’t bark much, Bolonkas will sound the alert when unexpected guests arrive.

Bolonkas shed infrequently but need pampering! Their loose, curly hair needs to be brushed with a wide-toothed comb every other day to avoid matting. Daily face washings are also a must to keep bacteria from forming in skin folds.

Border Terrier

• AKC Dog Personality Description: Affectionate, happy, plucky 
• Average Height: 12 to 15 inches
• Average Weight:  11 to 15.5 pounds

For more active city folk, border terriers are a great choice. Tough but affectionate,  independent but trainable, border terriers can handle crowds, and they do well in urban settings. These charming pups need at least two brisk walks a day, and time at the doggie park is always welcome. Never leave the house without a leash, though, because border terriers are born chasers! These instincts come in handy when mice stumble into the apartment.

Fair warning: Things can get a little hectic if there’s also a cat in the mix. Kitties and the border terriers usually get along about as well as Hatfields and McCoys. In terms of grooming, border terriers are no fuss. Their wiry, double-layer coat is weather-resistant and only requires a quick weekly brushing. Originally bred as outdoor hunting companions, they’re hearty, fast, strong, and can dig better than a gardening shovel. 

Teddy Roosevelt Terrier

• AKC Dog Personality Description: Playful, versatile, intelligent
• Average Height: 8 to 15 inches
• Average Weight: 8 to 25 pounds

What city-friendly dog breed has giant ears that stand at attention and loves to play? Teddy Roosevelt Terriers are the naturally obedient, low-shedding, cat-friendly, easy-to-groom canine! These small terriers do well in crowded metropolitan environments because they’re sociable, can be crate-trained, and are eager to please their masters. Plus, they’re a snap to maintain. A weekly brushing with a rubber curry mitt or soft brush does the trick. Also, check their ears regularly for wax buildup, which can invite infection.

Teddy Roosevelt Terriers make the best city dogs because they’re amazing mousers — on the level of cats! If a rodent finds its way into your apartment, it won’t take long for Teddy to hunt it down. But before you fall in love with a Teddy Roosevelt Terrier, beware of a few things. For starters, they’re one-person dogs that may not take kindly to someone else moving in. Secondly, they’re energetic — very energetic. If you can’t make time for several walks a day or near-daily playdates at the dog park, this isn’t the breed for you.

Havanese

• AKC Dog Personality Description: funny, intelligent, outgoing,
• Average Height: 8.5 to 11.5 inches
• Average Weight: 7 to 13 pounds

Also known as Havana Silk Dogs and Spanish Silk Poodles, the Havanese is the only dog breed native to Cuba. These days, they’re a popular dog for city dwellers. These small- to medium-sized pups are cheerful extroverts that come in a variety of colors and keep barking to a minimum.

Depending upon how you style their hair will dictate grooming needs. As for exercise, a brisk daily walk and 15-minute apartment play session keep them happy and healthy. Also, check their ears and eyes regularly to remove buildup. Havanese do not like being left alone, so if you work outside your home or travel frequently, this is not the breed for you.

Keeshond 

• AKC Dog Personality Description: friendly, lively, outgoing
• Average Height: 17 to 18 inches
• Average Weight: 35 to 45 pounds

The Keeshond — pronounced “Kayz-hawnd” —  is a great medium-sized dog for city living that’s perfectly happy in small spaces, a remnant of their days living on Dutch canal barges. 

Keeshonds have fox-like faces, fluffy coats, and a coloration pattern that looks like permanent eyeglasses.

To keep shedding minimal, Keeshonds need a weekly grooming with a pin brush. Baths and blow-dries every four to six weeks are standard for the breed.

In terms of exercise, Keeshonds enjoy lots of doggie park time and long city walks. They also love to curl up on the couch at night to hang with their humans. Great therapy dogs, Keeshonds are smart, sensitive, and very trainable. They’re also the breed to beat in obedience contests.