Moving into apartments allow seniors to downsize, decrease maintenance costs and upkeep, and overall save a lot of money. Older people are also more likely to live alone with 21 percent of men and 33% of women over the age of 65 living by themselves (Source).

As a result, a lot of retirees and seniors looking to find a dog are interested in dogs that will do very well in apartments, and will not require a large yard for exercising and running around. We have selected below the best dog breeds for apartment living:

Scottish Terrier

Scottish Terrier
The Scottish Terrier shares a lot of similarities with his other Terrier cousins including Yorkshire Terrier and West Highland White ...

Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terriers have a big number of fans, especially among the older generation, thanks to his small size and suitability ...

Havanese

havanese puppy on grass
Just like their cousin Maltese, Havanese are one of the brightest and happiest of toy breeds. But are they good ...

Shih Tzu

Shih tzu
Shih Tzus are not only ridiculously adorable to look at but they are also the perfect dogs for seniors to ...

French bulldog

French bulldog
As a senior or retiree, the "empty nest" syndrome can hit you pretty hard. But life doesn't have to be ...

Bichon frise

portrait of bichon frise
Are bichon frises good for seniors? This fluffy dog breed has a lot of positive aspects for seniors: bichons are ...

Cocker spaniel

cocker spaniel dog with senior woman
For old people who don't mind a slightly larger dog (usually around 20-30 pounds), the Cocker Spaniel can be a ...

Bolognese

bolognese dog on grass
Bolognese is related to his toy cousins Havanese, Maltese, and Bichon Frise and shares many similar traits. As evident from ...

Maltese

maltese breed with older woman
Are Maltese good for seniors? Maltese need moderate exercise The Maltese breed is a somewhat lower energy dog. They are ...

Boston terrier

boston terrier breed portrait
Are Boston terriers good for seniors? Older people and seniors appreciate Boston terrier dogs because these dogs often don’t bark ...

Pug

pug sitting on senior people's laps
Pugs are small and sweet dogs with big expressive eyes and innocent faces that could melt the coldest of hearts ...

Corgi

Corgi dog sitting on old man's lap
The Corgi breed is one of the most popular and agreeable dog breeds that's also loved by seniors. However, it ...

Cavalier king charles spaniel

Cavalier king charles spaniel
Docile and diminutive, cavalier king charles spaniels are one of the most loved breeds but are they good for seniors? ...

Chihuahua

Chihuahua
Chihuahuas may be small in size but they have a tremendous amount of love to offer. Their quirky personality and ...

Toy poodle

toy poodle playing with ball in the snow
Are toy poodles good for seniors?  Toy poodles are great dogs for seniors. Especially, if friendly, well-mannered, and easy-to-train are ...

Go back to our list of the best dog breeds for seniors.

Author

  • Dr. Winnie, Veterinarian

    Dr. Winnie earned a Master in Biology from St Georges University, and graduated from the University of Pretoria's Veterinary School. She is a full-time Veterinarian specializing in internal medicine for companion animals.