Choosing a breed
Apartment dogs in Colombia: which breeds work, which don’t and why
By Casa Trufa ·
A dog does well in an apartment when its energy, its tolerance for being alone and its tendency to bark fit your routine; size matters least. Of the seven breeds we raise, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Maltese and Maltipoo adapt most easily. A Border Collie only with real dedication; we don’t recommend the Blue Heeler or Bernese Mountain Dog.
What makes a dog an “apartment dog”?
Four things, and size comes last:
- Energy. A calm 30 kg (66 lb) dog is less trouble in an apartment than a tireless 8 kg (18 lb) one.
- Time alone. How many hours the dog will spend alone, and how the breed copes with it. This causes more problems than anything else.
- Noise. Some breeds announce every movement in the hallway. Your neighbors live there too.
- Size. It matters for the elevator, the stairs, the car and the building rules, not so much for the dog’s happiness.
And a fifth that depends on you: time. No dog is an apartment dog if nobody takes it out.
How do the seven breeds we raise do in an apartment?
| Breed | Adult weight | Energy | In an apartment | The condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 5–8 kg (11–18 lb) | Low | Very well | Company for most of the day |
| Maltese | 3–4 kg (7–9 lb) | Moderate | Very well | Not left alone for many hours; barking needs training |
| Maltipoo | 4–7 kg (9–15 lb) | Moderate | Very well | A walk and play every day |
| Cockapoo | 6–11 kg (13–24 lb) | High | Well, with activity | Long walks and play every day |
| Border Collie | 14–20 kg (31–44 lb) | Very high | Only with a lot of dedication | Two hours a day of exercise and mental work |
| Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler) | 15–22 kg (33–49 lb) | Very high | We don’t recommend it | It is a farm dog and a working dog |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | 36–50 kg (79–110 lb) | Moderate | We don’t recommend it | Needs space, cool floors and a cool climate |
The Bernese shows that energy isn’t everything: it is a calm dog, but it is a giant one that needs space, and in a small apartment — even more so in a hot climate — it struggles.
Which dog suits a small apartment best?
If you spend a good part of the day at home, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: calm, quiet for a small dog and happy with moderate walks. What it asks for is company and a heart exam every year.
If you want the smallest, the Maltese: 3 or 4 kg (7–9 lb) and very little shedding. It barks to alert you and copes badly with being alone.
If there are children and you want a dog that also plays, the Maltipoo: sociable and adaptable. It is a cross, with no pedigree, and we say so.
Which dog should you choose if you work away from home all day?
None of the seven is ideal for eight or ten hours alone every day, and the companion breeds — bred precisely to keep people company — cope with it worst. No breed solves that; arrangements do:
- A dog walker in the middle of the day.
- Dog daycare a few days a week.
- Shifts among the people in the household, or days of remote work.
- Waiting. Sometimes the honest answer is that it isn’t the right time yet.
It is the first thing we ask, and not to rule you out: we ask so that you don’t end up with a dog that spends its life waiting at the door.
What do your building’s rules say?
Read them before you decide. In Colombia, the bylaws of a building or residential complex (reglamento de propiedad horizontal) and its community handbook (manual de convivencia) set rules on common areas, leashes, picking up after your dog and noise.
Two things worth knowing: none of the seven breeds we raise is on the list of breeds classed as “special handling” in Article 126 of Colombia’s Law 1801 of 2016, so the additional obligations in that law don’t apply to them. And persistent barking can end in a dispute with your neighbors: one more reason to choose well and train from day one.
Does it depend on the city?
Yes. An apartment in Barranquilla and one in Bogotá are two different climates, and inside an apartment the dog depends on you to cool down or keep warm.
- In the hot lowlands (tierra caliente), the small breeds wear their coat short and walks happen at dawn and after dark. The Cavalier, with reservations.
- In the cool highlands (tierra fría), a small dog that has just been bathed needs to be dried completely and, sometimes, a coat.
Look up your municipality in Delivery to see the table of the seven breeds at your altitude, or read which dog suits your city’s climate.
What if you don’t need a specific breed?
Then your apartment dog may already be waiting for you. Animal welfare centers and rescue foundations have adult dogs whose size and temperament are already known, which is exactly the information you don’t have with a puppy. We lay it out plainly in adopt a dog or go to a breeder?
Frequently asked questions
Which small dogs are good for apartments and children?
Of the breeds we raise, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Maltipoo. Both are sociable and patient. With very young children you need to supervise, because the fragile one is the dog.
Can a large dog live in an apartment?
Some can, if they are calm and get out enough. The Bernese Mountain Dog, specifically, we don’t recommend: it is a giant dog that needs space, cool floors and a cool climate.
Which dog can be left alone in an apartment?
No breed copes well with eight or ten hours alone every day, and the companion breeds tolerate it worst. You need a dog walker, daycare or shifts at home.
Can a Border Collie live in an apartment?
Only with a lot of dedication: a couple of hours a day of exercise and mental work, and without spending the whole working day alone. For most apartment households it is not the right breed.
Sources
- Ley 1801 de 2016, Código Nacional de Seguridad y Convivencia, artículo 126 (Law 1801 of 2016, National Police Code, article 126). List of breeds classed as “special handling”
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