Suzy Azalea: The five best breeds for small apartments

“Suzy Azalea, what are the best dog breeds for small apartments?” asked one of my friends. I say, match the breed’s traits to your house environment. While all dogs need daily exercise, some breeds require less space for activity than others. The Pug is a popular breed among apartment dwellers because of its ideal size and sleeping habits. A Pug will spend anywhere between 12 to 15 hours sleeping, making it less of a worry to leave them alone at home. Note that a Pug should be walked on a harness instead of a leash because pressure to its neck can cause its eyes to literally pop out!

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Another good breed is the Japanese Chin, a popular lapdog that comes highly recommended for city living because they very rarely bark and do not require a large space for exercise. In fact, Japanese Chins are happy to simply dance on their hind legs– a trick that is known among owners as the “chin spin.”

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I, Suzy Azalea, do not believe that a small space requires a small dog. The Shiba Inu, a highly-independent, medium-sized breed is a good choice for apartment living because of its catlike behavior. Shiba Inus are so intent on keeping clean that they can even be trained to use a litter box. A very similar breed is the slimmer Basenji, a dog which doesn't bark at all but instead, yodels. Although both breeds have a marked independence that is often misunderstood as being unfriendly, they are two of the most loyal breeds in the world.

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Another roomie-material mutt is the Bichon Frisé. This small and energetic breed is easily one of the smartest breeds overall. Owners will find them easy to train– verbal praise, not toys and treats, are enough reward for them. A descendant of the Poodle, the Bichon Frisé is also a hypoallergenic and odor-free dog– ideal for family members with allergies.

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Any dog can be a good pet if trained well and socialized early. For more information about dog breeds and training, follow Suzy Azalea on Twitter.