New Yorkers love their dogs, but having one in the city can be tricky. We reached out to some pet experts and a few New York pet owners to find out what are the five best Breeds for living in a New York City apartment.

1.      Yorkshire Terriers. According to rover.com they are the “quintessential apartment breed: small, quiet, friendly, and adaptable.” They are also super easy to transport. You can adopt one at Yorkie 911 Rescue which has many that have been rescued from puppy mills.  Caitlin Kinney of Trupanion, a company that provides medical insurance for cats and dogs says the nice thing about smaller breeds is that they tend to be “healthier and thus less costly when it comes to medical expenses and pet medical insurance.”  

2.      French Bulldog. French Bulldogs rank number one in popularity for New York City Dog owners according to Kinney, French Bulldogs are “big dogs in small packages” that are perfect for busy New Yokers. They “don’t need a lot of exercise and are medium to low energy level, can be taught to use an indoor potty or to go to the bathroom outside.” They are also great for those with thin walls as they are “not big barkers.”  Other small dogs that that rank in the top 10 most popular New York dogs are Havanese, Shiba Inu, Toy Poodle and Minature Poodle although Kinney cautions that toy breeds tend to “bark a lot.”

3.      Great Danes. On the complete opposite side of the spectrum for apartment living is the Great Dane. Watching one walk down the sidewalk taking up most of it, you can’t help but wonder how owner and dog fit inside their home. But surprisingly, according to Rover.com Great Danes make great apartment pets because they are “notorious loafers, as well as super calm, friendly, and highly trainable.” Does this sound right for you? Mid-Atlantic Rescue League is a great place to adopt a Great Dane and get advice on how to care for them.

4.      Greyhounds. You think of racing round the track chasing a rabbit, but rover.com says that Greyhounds are actually “calm and laid-back, preferring naps over races.” They in fact need little exercise or grooming and like French Bulldogs, “don’t bark much.” They are also considered a “smart breed and are generally easy to train.”  

5.      Maltese. Rover.com says that like the Yorkshire Terrier, the Maltese is a “small, quiet lap dog.” Its long, silky coats doesn’t shed very much and because of its size can go anywhere without anyone knowing. One of our dog lovers and owners, Mandy says Maltipoos, a combination of Poodle and Maltese, are also a great option. She says, “Aside from looking like puppies their whole lives, they are stage four clingers and will follow their owners, easy to train on wee-wee pads” Her Maltipoo travels with her on subways, to the movies and even to work without anyone knowing. Most important, Mandy says they are hypo-allergenic.