12 Best Apartment Dogs for Full-Time Workers — our top picks
Shiba Inu
Shiba Inu: small-sized, medium energy and low trainability — a strong fit for apartment-dwellers who work away from home. Smallest Japanese spitz breed with fox-like appearance. Independent, clean, and alert with strong personality. Worth knowing before you commit: the Shiba Inu sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.
Shar Pei
Shar Pei: medium-sized, low energy and medium trainability — a strong fit for apartment-dwellers who work away from home. Chinese breed with distinctive wrinkles and blue-black tongue. Independent and loyal but can be aloof.
Basenji
Basenji: small-sized, high energy and low trainability — a strong fit for apartment-dwellers who work away from home. Barkless African hunting dog with cat-like cleanliness. Independent, intelligent, and unique. Worth knowing before you commit: the Basenji needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Pekingese
Pekingese: small-sized, low energy and low trainability. Ancient Chinese breed with lion-like mane and dignified bearing. Independent and somewhat aloof companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Pekingese needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Chow Chow
Chow Chow: medium-sized, low energy and low trainability. Ancient Chinese breed with blue-black tongue and lion-like mane. Independent and dignified with strong protective instincts. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Chow Chow needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
French Bulldog
French Bulldog: small-sized, low energy and medium trainability. Muscular flat-faced breed with bat ears and adaptable personality. Excellent apartment companion.
Boston Terrier
Boston Terrier: small-sized, medium energy and high trainability. American Gentleman with tuxedo markings and friendly disposition. Intelligent and easy-going companion.
Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apso: small-sized, medium energy and medium trainability. Tibetan breed with floor-length coat and watchful nature. Independent and somewhat aloof but devoted. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Lhasa Apso needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
English Bulldog
English Bulldog: medium-sized, low energy and low trainability. Iconic British breed with distinctive wrinkled face and muscular build. Gentle, courageous companion despite breathing challenges. Worth knowing before you commit: the English Bulldog is stubborn enough that first-time owners often struggle.
Scottish Terrier
Scottish Terrier: small-sized, medium energy and low trainability. Dignified Scottish terrier with distinctive beard. Independent, confident, and devoted to family. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Scottish Terrier needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Shihpoo
Shihpoo: small-sized, low energy and medium trainability. Shih Tzu and Poodle cross combining friendly nature with reduced shedding. Adaptable companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Shihpoo needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Cardigan Welsh Corgi: small-sized, medium energy and high trainability. Older Corgi breed with tail and rounded ears. Slightly larger and more reserved than Pembroke. Worth knowing before you commit: the Cardigan Welsh Corgi sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.
How this ranking works: each of DoggyQ's 321 breeds is scored on the traits that decide this particular question — the same trait ratings shown on each breed's own guide page, so you can check the reasoning rather than take a ranking on faith. Read more about our methodology, or see which breed you look like from a single photo.
Popular breeds that are a poor fit for apartment-dwellers who work away from home
Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is a popular choice, but its trait profile pulls against apartment-dwellers who work away from home. On top of that, the Belgian Malinois needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Vizsla
The Vizsla is a popular choice, but its trait profile pulls against apartment-dwellers who work away from home. On top of that, the Vizsla needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Border Collie
The Border Collie is a popular choice, but its trait profile pulls against apartment-dwellers who work away from home. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Border Collie needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Which dog do you look like?
Take one photo and an AI model tells you which of our 321 breeds you most resemble, and which features gave it away. Free, no account, and your photo is never stored. It is a game rather than advice — but every match links straight into that breed's real guide.
See which dog you look likeFrequently asked questions
- Which dog suits an apartment if I work full-time?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Shiba Inu ranks as the top choice for apartment-dwellers who work away from home, followed by the Shar Pei and Basenji.
- How was this list of dogs for apartment-dwellers who work away from home chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for apartment-dwellers who work away from home — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. The same trait ratings are printed on each breed's own guide page, so you can check why a breed placed where it did.
- Which popular breeds are a poor fit for apartment-dwellers who work away from home?
- The Belgian Malinois, The Vizsla, The Border Collie all rank near the bottom for apartment-dwellers who work away from home despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.