City life can be hard on some dog breeds. Working dogs who love to run and hunt aren’t well-suited to cramped urban apartments. If you’re an urbanite who’s thinking about adopting a furry friend, make sure you don’t choose a pet that’s clearly not a city dog. To help guide your search, here are 7 dogs that aren’t good pets in the city.
1. Siberian Husky
It’s clear just by looking at a Siberian Husky that it’s not a city dog! Huskies have thick coats because they were bred to pull sleds in freezing temperatures. Since they’re working dogs, they have excess energy to burn off and require lots of exercise. Huskies generally aren’t happy without a big yard to run around in. They also bark frequently and loudly, so you probably shouldn’t adopt a husky if you live in an apartment without much of a sound barrier.
2. Dalmatians
Although a Dalmatian can be an affectionate and loyal companion, it’s not a city dog. Dalmatians are smart and have high energy levels, so they enjoy running around and exploring their surroundings. Owners in city apartments would likely struggle to provide them with enough mental stimulation and physical activity When they’re denied the play and exercise they need, Dalmations can become destructive, stubborn, or even aggressive. Dalmatians also have to be socialized from a young age to learn how to behave properly around other dogs.
3. Chihuahuas
Chihuahuas are small, so they may seem well-suited to apartment life at first glance. However, it might be hard to meet a chihuahua’s needs in an urban environment. This pint-sized breed packs a lot of energy into a small package. Despite looking like lap dogs, chihuahuas actually require lots of exercise, which can be difficult to provide in a city setting.
Plus, chihuahuas are known for barking loudly and excessively, especially when left alone. Their loud vocalizations may annoy your neighbors and result in noise complaints. Chihuahuas are also hard to train and have a low tolerance for cold weather. So it’s wise to rule out this breed if you live in a city with harsh winters like Chicago or Boston.
4. Border Collie
Another working dog breed, border collies were bred to herd livestock and run around the farm. Unfortunately, this makes them a poor match for city life. Small living spaces and limited public parks, often with leash rules, severely hamper border collies’ ability to thrive. If you work long hours, you may even come home to property damage because collies are prone to destructive fits of boredom. When left alone for long periods, they may bark, dig, and chew their way around your apartment due to separation anxiety and lack of mental stimulation.
5. Great Dane
Great Danes have obvious disadvantages for city life, particularly their size. They can grow to a whopping three feet tall at the shoulders. While great danes are known to be on the calmer side, their size is often a limiting factor in apartments. Due to their long legs, this breed requires significantly more room to roam in order to burn off energy. So rule out this breed if you don’t have a large, off-leash dog park nearby.
Additionally, Great Danes need lots of attention and can’t be left alone for much longer than four hours at a time. If you can’t afford doggy daycare, this breed probably isn’t the right fit for you.
6. Malshi
A Malshi is a mix of the Maltese and Shih Tzu breeds. Malshis are small dogs that usually weigh around 10 pounds or less. Although they’re small, they have such bad separation anxiety that they aren’t city dogs. Unless you work from home and never leave your apartment, you’ll probably get noise complaints if you adopt a Malshi. They don’t enjoy being left alone for even short periods and express their disapproval loudly.
7. Terrier
Terriers are smaller and more independent than many other breeds, so they seem like they’d be a good fit for an urban lifestyle. But unfortunately, their personality rules them out. Terriers were also bred to be working dogs and chase rodents from farms by digging up their dens. Terriers are very territorial and like to control their space, which rarely ends at your apartment’s front door. They may act grumpy or feisty around other people and dogs, so they’re not an ideal match for crowded cities.
Pick a breed that matches your life
When searching for your next canine companion, picking the right dog is an important first step to unlocking years of happiness. Finding a dog that is well-suited to your lifestyle and the area you currently reside in is crucial. Hopefully, this list gives you an idea of which breeds to avoid as an urbanite. Although all dogs are lovable, some breeds just aren’t suited to city life due to their size or needs.