Renting

This is the best dog for apartment living

If you’re looking for a dog that’s perfect for city living, look no further than the French bulldog.

January 16, 2015

4 minutes to read

I went on a quest to find the best dog for apartment living, and I found it: the French bulldog.

My quest was a selfish one, because I live in an apartment and would like to buy a dog. But I hoped that through my own research with veterinarians, dog owners, dog shelter workers, and even a professor who studies human-dog interaction, I could provide fellow city dwellers and canine lovers with a little advice.

Let me explain why I settled on the Frenchie.

The requirements seemed obvious. The dog must be relatively small, so I can carry it up and down stairs, and so that it doesn’t take up more space in my studio than my armchair.

It can bark if there’s an intruder, but preferably would keep quiet most of the time. It has to be friendly, because in a city of roughly 646,000, there’s going to be a lot of daily interactions with other dogs and people. It has to enjoy brisk walks, but I don’t want anything that needs to run 50 miles a day. A little shedding is okay, but if I’m constantly finding fur balls in my bed, we’re going to have a problem. This isn’t too much to ask for, is it?

Breed

Veterinarians and other dog experts I spoke with were hesitant to name a specific breed as “best’’ for apartment living. This is not surprising, because as Dr. James Serpell said, “picking a dog based on breed is kind of a bit of a lottery.’’

Serpell, who studies animals and ethics at the University of Pennsylvania, said that you can study breed “averages,’’ but there’s still a lot of variation among individual dogs. However, Serpell also said he could name “breeds you shouldn’t get’’ if you live in an apartment, which helped me narrow my list.

Some of the dogs with the highest energy are Jack Russell terriers, border collies, German shorthaired pointers, and many other working dogs, Serpell said. He added that Shetland sheepdogs and miniature schnauzers are known to be big barkers. So are many hounds and certain breeds of terriers, said Maryann Regan, Director of the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

Pam Bendock is a veterinarian at Back Bay Veterinary Clinic. Like Serpell and Regan, she said the primary determinant for whether your dog will be a good suite mate is how you socialize and train it as a puppy: “It’s really important to teach your dog how to be a good citizen in the city…Invest time to train them with walking on a leash and making them listen to you, and you’ll be less likely to make enemies with people.’’

She recommended a few breeds that generally met the criteria I mentioned above: French bulldogs, retired greyhounds, corgis, and miniature Golden doodles, among others. But once I researched the Frenchie, I determined it was the perfect for me.

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How to make your first apartment look like an adult’s, according to Newton-based designer Heather Vaughan:

Size

Frenchies are considered small, coming in at around 11 inches to 1 foot at the shoulder, and weighing between 16 to 28 pounds, according to DogTime, a dog information website. This size is perfect for sitting on my lap, and I’ll easily be able to lug the little guy up my stairs.

Noise

Unless someone’s breaking your door down, or hurting you, don’t expect too much yelping from Frenchies. Woofipedia, another dog info site, said they rarely bark. That’s good, because even though I occasionally want to retaliate against the aspiring drummer upstairs, I’d rather not annoy all my neighbors.

Temperament

Bendock described Frenchies as “very sweet.’’ They enjoy other dogs, other humans, and are typically very safe around children.

Exercise

Described as “not too active’’ on Woofipedia, Frenchies enjoy a refreshing morning, afternoon, and evening walk (with bathroom breaks in between), but they aren’t trying to win any marathons. Basically, they’ll give you a good reason to hit the Charles Esplanade for some exercise, but they’ll also be happy to chill with you on Sunday mornings.

Also, due to their adorably smushed-in noses, Frenchies don’t love exercising in super hot, humid weather – it can become hard for them to breathe. Living in Boston, I can’t think of a better place for a dog who hates heat…plus, how darn cute would they look in cable knit sweaters?!

Shedding

With short hair, Frenchies just need a weekly bath and grooming to stay clean and tidy – pretty low maintenance.

Cute Factor

Frenchies’ cute factor is through the roof. There are no statistics to prove this, but those bat-shaped ears and snouts are undeniably weird, yet awesome.

Now, if only I could get someone to buy me one…

Just a reminder: Shelter dogs are always a great option for someone looking for a dog. “There’s a stereotype that shelter dogs are damaged, but the common reason they’re there is just that a living situation didn’t work out,’’ Regan said. She added that the Animal Rescue League does full medical and behavioral screenings of their dogs, “so every adopter will know absolutely everything you’d need to know.’’