Best dog for apartment living, bigger than a Yorkie? Shiba Inu?

All dogs need space to exercise and access to both physical and mental stimulation, unless you are able to take them out at least 4-6times a day a fenced garden really is recommended for any medium-large breed in order to limit boredom and destructive behaviors. I really would not recommend any retrieving/herding breeds (labradors/spaniels/collies etc) for such an arrangement but an older sight hound such as a retired greyhound which has been used to a kenneling routine and limited periods of controlled exercise would be expected to adapt quite well as long as you have the time for daily exercise and frequent toilet breaks

If you are living in a small apartment, then a small breed dog would honestly be a better choice; in addition, smaller breeds don't need as much maintenance as a medium breed dog. You could consider a pug, a pekinese, a French bulldog, or even a chihuahua. These breeds need a minimal amount of exercise, and are very happy being lap dogs.

More important than breed is the personality of the dog. Since you're gone during he day so much a puppy is not a good choice. I'd go with a shelter dog who is an adult already and seems to have a very calm personality type. Stay away from border collies, dalmations, many retrievers, and other innately-hyper working breeds as they require alot of attention and activity.

Hi. Given your requirements I would recommend that you search for an adult dog to adopt. A puppy would require frequent trips outside to become housebroken and typically may bark more. Young pups also require visits to vetfrequently for vaccines. Many breeds or mixes fit your other requirements. It's best to evaluate the animal by individual personality and temperament. You will want a dog that is fairly laid back and not high energy as it will be left alone for long periods. I'm unsure if there are shelters or places to adopt adult dogs in your area. If so many are usually very willing to help educate you and help find the dog best suited to your needs.

The samoyed is an active large breed dog but they are also usually great with people and other dogs. The pros and cons I will give you are generally for the breed itself, individual dogs can have different temperaments. The pros for apartment living: friendly towards strangers and other dogs, they love kids, and are very loyal to their families. The cons for apartments - these dogs were made to WORK. If you do not exercise the dog vigorously on a daily basis (running is a favorite activity) the dog will get bored and likely destructive in the apartment. They have a moderate tendency to bark or howl which may not endear you to your neighbors. They also shed A TON - and this will be much more noticeable in a small space. In addition, a female dog in heat may attract the attention of male dogs that are not confined - the presence of strange male dogs around an apartment complex may also be unwelcome! Good luck in your dog search. Thank you for using pet coach.

King is gorgeous! Thank you for including a picture! I think the answer to your question really depends on your lifestyle and King's personality. If you are an active person who can take King for regular walks/runs and King will have the opportunity for regular play daily, then living in an apartment may not be a problem at all. However, if you will not be able to offer King enough opportunity to run and play while living in the apartment, he certainly might develop some bad habits from being bored and not getting enough activity. Does King like to go to the dog park or doggie day care? There are plenty of large dogs that live in apartments and get more activity than those that live in a house with a yard, so I wouldn't use that as my deciding factor, but you may need to make some lifestyle changes to make sure that King gets the exercise that he needs. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, and thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Coming from a fellow Siberian Husky owner, I think you could do great with this breed. I can tell you’re already thinking about how to provide enough mental and physical stimulation, which is the most important part of having a high energy breed. They can do just fine in a smaller house, as long as they’re given enough opportunities to run! Keep in mind though, that many huskies are escape artists, and often find their way out of fenced yards. I personally had to invest in an invisible fence in addition to the chain link, to keep my little runaway contained! The invisible fence taught her to stop testing the chain link. Your dog will likely need to have some good stimulation before and after your work days if it is kept in the fenced area alone, such as chasing a ball or going for a run. Good luck in your endeavors to find the right dog for you! :-)