These breeds might squeeze into your square footage, but they’ll take over your entire sanity.
Some dogs were made for wide open spaces, early mornings, and being slightly feral in a charming way. That does not translate well to upstairs neighbors and 700 square feet. The breeds on this list are all fairly common across the U.S., but they’re also known for being mismatched with apartment life. They bark, they bolt, they pace, they panic. Some are too smart. Some are just too loud. And all of them want more than your building can give.
1. English Foxhounds make your entire floor sound like a racetrack.
Built to run for literal hours and howl mid-sprint, the English Foxhound is not here for your cozy studio aesthetic. According to the American Kennel Club, this breed was developed to hunt in massive packs over long distances. When placed in an apartment, they’ll try to recreate that lifestyle through nonstop pacing and vocalizing at every hallway sound. They’re sweet, social, and polite until boredom hits, and then the noise starts. They don’t really bark—they make this haunting, echoing call that carries through vents like it’s auditioning for a horror movie. And because they need constant exercise, skipping walks is not an option unless you’re cool with a chewed couch and an angry landlord.
2. Airedale Terriers treat walls like challenges and rules like suggestions.
These dogs are known as the kings of terriers, and once they move in, they act like it. They’re smart and ridiculously confident, which sounds great until your drywall pays the price. Airedales need engagement or they invent their own. According to the Airedale Terrier Club of America, they were bred for versatility, meaning they’re constantly looking for a task. That “task” becomes whatever they can get into. Cabinets, trash cans, your laundry. Apartment living usually means limited stimulation and tight routines, and that’s where they unravel. They’re not mean. They’re just way too curious and way too active for four walls and a hallway.
3. Bloodhounds make noise like they were built to star in a crime documentary.
If you live anywhere with thin walls, this is not your breed. Bloodhounds were bred to track human scent across miles, and their baying reflects that kind of determination. As described by the American Bloodhound Club, their vocalizations are part of their tracking instincts, but in an apartment, those vocal talents feel like a protest concert. They’re also stubborn and difficult to train in confined spaces, especially if they catch a scent from a neighbor’s cooking or a dog down the hall. Once their nose gets activated, you’re dealing with a full-body mission that doesn’t end until they get what they want—or destroy a rug trying.
4. Labrador Retrievers look perfect on paper but fall apart without space.
Yes, they’re the most popular dog in the U.S., but that doesn’t mean they thrive in an apartment. Labs need room to burn energy, and they’re not the kind of dog who tires out quickly. As described by the Labrador Retriever Club, they were bred for retrieving game and swimming long distances. That energy still lives in their bodies, even if they’re lying across your air mattress looking sweet. When kept in small spaces for too long, they start chewing, jumping, barking, and demand-walking like it’s a hostage negotiation. They’re also heavy tail waggers, which sounds cute until they clear a coffee table in under five seconds.
5. German Shorthaired Pointers are built for running, not relaxing.
These dogs are athletes. They don’t power down. According to the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America, they were bred to cover ground quickly while hunting birds, which means they’re wired to move. Constantly. Apartment life, no matter how enriched, usually doesn’t match their physical and mental needs. They get bored fast, and when they do, they either start bouncing off furniture or digging into the floor like it’s dirt. They’re also prone to intense separation anxiety if they don’t get enough daily stimulation. Even with two long walks a day, many of them still struggle to settle unless they’ve had a job to do.
6. Doberman Pinschers need more room than they let on.
People assume that because Dobermans are sleek and elegant, they’ll slip into apartment life without friction. That illusion fades after a week of pacing, barking at hallway sounds, and testing every boundary in sight. These dogs were designed for protection and alertness, which means their senses are always online. Every knock, every neighbor, every creaky pipe becomes something to react to. Without enough structure or exercise, that alertness turns into reactivity. They bond deeply with their person, which sounds great until separation anxiety kicks in and your doorframe gets chewed off during a Target run.
7. Boston Terriers come with big energy in a deceptively small package.
They might look like little gentlemen in tuxedos, but Boston Terriers are wired like caffeine-fueled gym bros. They zoom around the apartment with no sense of boundaries, bark more than people expect, and can be stubborn when overstimulated. As adorable as they are, they tend to forget they’re small and act like they own the room. For people who need a quiet or chill dog in a tight living space, the Boston Terrier can be surprisingly overwhelming. They’re also prone to separation anxiety and respiratory issues, which can spiral fast if the apartment isn’t calm, cool, and low-stress. It’s a case of mismatched energy, not bad behavior. They just need more room to vibe than most city layouts can offer.
8. Brittany Spaniels operate on constant overdrive.
Brittanys might be one of the most overlooked high-energy breeds in the U.S. They’re small-ish, which fools people into thinking they’re good apartment candidates. The truth is they function like tightly coiled springs. Originally bred as bird dogs, Brittany Spaniels are happiest when running long distances and working alongside hunters. In tight quarters, they get anxious fast. They pace, jump, bark, and obsess over windows like they’re waiting for orders. Their energy isn’t bad—it just doesn’t have an outlet in most apartment settings, especially if the owner has a busy schedule and no yard.
9. English Setters will decorate your entire unit with fur and chaos.
They’re beautiful, gentle, and notoriously affectionate, which makes them deceptively popular in the pet world. But they also shed like it’s their career and need more exercise than most apartment dwellers can realistically give. English Setters were bred for endurance, running through fields to locate birds for hours at a time. When confined to an apartment, they tend to dig, chew, and bark out of frustration. They also need constant companionship and don’t love being left alone, which leads to destructive behaviors when separation hits too hard.
10. Bullmastiffs seem chill but will wreck your square footage on accident.
At first glance, the Bullmastiff looks like a lazy roommate who just wants to sleep. That’s partially true. But the part people forget is that they’re also massive, incredibly strong, and incredibly stubborn. In small apartments, they become a walking hazard. They knock over furniture just trying to turn around. Training is crucial, and their sheer physical power means that even mild reactivity can lead to broken objects—or worse, broken leases. They also drool and shed, which makes cleaning in tight spaces a never-ending task.
11. Vizslas get emotional when they’re under-stimulated.
Affectionate and sensitive, the Vizsla doesn’t do well when ignored or under-exercised. They bond intensely with their humans and tend to panic when separated. That combo can become overwhelming fast in small spaces. Without long daily workouts and consistent engagement, they act out. Destructive chewing, anxious pacing, and obsessive behaviors are common. They’re also highly vocal when stressed, which doesn’t exactly fly in buildings with noise rules. People see the smooth coat and athletic frame and think easy maintenance, but the truth is, this breed needs a full-time emotional and physical outlet.
12. Weimaraners unravel in apartments faster than you’d expect.
These silver-coated stunners are athletic, vocal, and practically allergic to boredom. Weimaraners were bred for hunting large game over long distances, and their bodies are wired for endurance. In apartments, they tend to spiral without intense daily exercise and stimulation. The problem shows up fast—chewed doors, constant pacing, obsessive licking, and howling that wakes the entire floor. They also bond extremely closely with their people, which leads to severe separation anxiety if left alone too long. Their sleek appearance hides just how demanding they are mentally and physically.
13. Standard Schnauzers run the show if you don’t step in first.
Don’t be fooled by their size or fluff. Standard Schnauzers are bossy, independent, and incredibly clever. They were bred as working dogs and ratters, which means they come with intensity and an agenda. They need tasks, routines, and a leader. In the absence of all that, they fill in the blanks themselves. That usually results in barking at every hallway footstep, guarding the apartment like a fortress, and challenging every rule you try to set. Apartment living doesn’t give them the space or structure they crave, and they respond with overcontrol.