A good dog for an apartment?

Question

I'm looking for a good medium-large sized dog.
I won't be buying my apartment for a couple months so I've been starting to do my reseach.
I'll be gone for some of the day but the dog will be with our cat, lola, so (s)he won't get lonely.
I'll have time for about two hours of playtime at the park.
I was thinking about a German Shepherd but, any suggestions are fine.

Thanks in advance.

I've also heard that great danes are good apartment dogs.

Answer 1

Large dogs are not a good fit for an apartment.

There are many books that can help with breed selection, the library near me had at least four.

Answer 2

here is a pretty basic list...also you can try the dog breed selector on Animal Planet.com I posted a link below for you! Good Luck! :)

Affenpinscher

American Bullnese

American Hairless Terrier

American Lo-Sze Pugg (TM)

Australian Bulldog

Australian Terrier

Basset Hound

Bichon Frise

Bichon/Yorkie

Biewer

Bolognese

Boston Terrier

Brussels Griffon

Bulldog

Cavachon

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cesky Terrier

Chacy Ranior

Chi-Poo

Chihuahua

Chinese Crested (hairless)

Cockapoo

Corgi

Coton De Tulear

Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Dachshund

English Toy Spaniel

French Bulldog

German Spitz

Glen of Imaal Terrier

Griffon Bruxellois

Hairless Khala

Havanese

Italian Greyhound

Japanese Spaniel (Chin)

Kerry Blue Terrier

Kyi-Leo®

Lagotto Romagnolo

Lakeland Terrier

Lancashire Heeler

Lhasa Apso

Lowchen (Little Lion Dog)

Maltese

Malti-Poo

Manchester Terrier

Mi-Ki

Miniature Fox Terrier

Miniature Pinscher

Miniature Poodle

Miniature Schnauzer

Olde Victorian Bulldogge

Ori Pei

Papillon

Pekepoo

Pekingese

Peruvian Inca Orchid

Pomeranian

Prazsky Krysavik

Pug

Russian Toy Terrier

Schipperke

Schnoodle

Scottish Terrier (Scottie)

Sealyham Terrier

Shichon

Shih-Tzu

Silky Terrier

Skye Terrier

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Standard Schnauzer

Tibetan Spaniel

Toy Poodle

Victorian Bulldog

West Highland White Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier

Answer 3

Well first off make sure your land lord will let you have a dog! Then if they will let you Great. Dogs are great fun and loving. But you have to be careful. Yorkies are yappers and if you get the wrong neighbors well that won't be pretty or fun. Greyhounds are HUGE. If you have never seen one then make sure to go and visits a greyhound rescue shelter first before making a decision like that. German Shepherds won't be good because they need alot of room to run and they get big and sometimes a little scary.

So what i recommend is this: first off go with a dog from the shelter or humane society, there you will be saving a dogs life and they are usually more loyal then purebreds with less health problems. there are a lot of Boston Terrier mix breeds in the pound and they make good dogs. they bark at new people but don't yap. and they are playful. If you really want a purebred and and indoor dog (the Boston is an indoor dog also) I would have to recommend one of my fav. dogs: The King Caviler spaniel. These dogs are great. They don't yap and they love to be petted. They are the cutest dogs around.

Well that's more than my two cents. Best of Luck

Answer 4

Hello
As a German shepherd owner and breeder I usually don't recommend people in apartments to own one. Unless they work from home and can spend more time with them. two hrs a day exercises is probably good enough. Then there is the issue of shedding which occur twice a year and most of the time pretty excessive - that will cause lots of frustration on your behalf. Also basic obedience training is a must , I also hope you won't crate it all day while your gone that causes a whole set of problems.
As a dog trainer for 20 year I would recommend for apartment the following breeds: Large - Standard poodle 9wont shed and smart); Medium breed west highland white terrier - same reasons as mentioned, small breed - a quality Min-Pin and by good quality you need to search for a breeder that have the one with sable temperament - I have one for 13 years now as a house dog and she is the most wonderful dog I have ever owned.
I hope this will help and if you have any more questions your welcome to ask
Best Ronnie

Answer 5

Yes, you absolutely can have a German shepherd in the apartment. Whoever says no knows nothing about training. The size of your living conditions don't matter. It's how much exercise you'll get with your dog every day. Unless you are running your dog inside your house (who does that?) it doesn't matter. If you are going to walk it to the park to get some exercise and play every day, that's just fine. Don't forget to mentally exercise it too! German shepherds need to have a mental job! I had 3 dogs, including a very very active young Belgian Malinois shepherd (the GSD's more energetic cousin) in a small apartment for about a year and a half. As long as we went to the trails and did obedience work, we were fine. In fact, Great Danes and greyhounds (as pointed out earlier) make excellent apartment dogs because they are lazy in the house once they are adults. Good luck!

Answer 6

German Shepherds can be A LOT of work. I'm a vet tech at a surgical practice and we see G. Sheps often. They tend to be harder patients to work on and a lot of them can be caution dogs-only meaning they need a muzzle. They have alot of energy which is why they are used for police, fire and rescue dogs. I have 4 dogs, ea a diff size. A golden ret, aust. shep, boston terrier and chihuahua. They are all diff in there own way. Boston Terrierrs were originally bred for companion, apartment dogs. (They are actually not terriers either!) French Bulldogs are a good medium size and they have great personalities. Stay away from working dogs like labs, heelers, aust sheps etc. because they need a lot of exercise. You can always try rescues and pounds too because mutts are alot of time the healthiest, best dogs. Hope that helps! =)

Answer 7

i think that a german shepard or a great dane are both too big for an apartment. they are big, need a lot of exercise and they may not get along with a cat.

you may want to consider a smaller dog. maybe an american eskimo, terrier, pit bull etc.. sized dog.

also, you should DEFINITALY go to some local shelters/animal adoption organizations. often, the dogs there are great animals. dont look for a specific breed or dog, just go to a shelter and look at the dogs. you might find one that is the right size, right temperment and all around right for you and your lifestyle. also, shelter dogs are usually the best dogs. you dont need to train them and they are (usually) very appreciative and loving because you "saved them". (i adopted my american eskimo more than a year ago, and she is so sweet. i didnt intend to get that breed, but i found her and it clicked). go to www.petfinder.com to look at dogs near you.

http://www.canadiancontent.net/en/jd/go?Url=http://www.puppyfinder.com/

Answer 8

Chihuahua i cant nobody said that dog?? there the smallest and you really dont want to get a big dog unless you walk it ALL the time.. its not JUST because they are big dogs a lot of dogs have been bread for a specific think working dog breeds thee need the exercise just because you don't walk them they are not gunna get used to it they need alot of room to run

Answer 9

Small dogs are ideal for apts. Toy Poodles, Yorkies, shitzus or just a small mixed breed they are great and so lovable. Good luck in finding one.

Answer 10

Go to a shelter and find a SMALL dog, since you are going to live in an apartment.