Most of us coming out of college won’t have a nice big house with a large, fenced in yard, but we still want the companionship of a pet. According to WebMD.com, pets help lower blood pressure and reduce the amount of anxiety in a person’s life. Not to mention pets can be date magnets: Nadine Kaslow, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University in Atlanta, said that pets help people to, “ease out of social isolation or shyness,” and that sometimes a conversation about a pet can become a real social interchange.

But what can you do if you are like most recent grads and can only afford an apartment/condo? Well, here is a list of the top 10 dogs I have found that are well-suited for apartment/condo life:

1. French or English Bulldog: Yes, these are two different breeds of dogs, but their temperaments are so similar I’ve lumped them together. These dogs are often called stubborn, but are really loving creatures. They love to be around their family, but toddler-aged children can be a problem as these breeds may pay too roughly with them.
2. Basset Hound: These are one of the most easy-going breeds you can find. They do need a little exercise outside, but short walks will do. Bassets are extremely friendly and are very good with children because of how patient they are. Two problems you can encounter with this breed are one, that Bassets like to howl and this can be annoying to neighbors and two, that Bassets are slobbery dogs-very slobbery- and have been known to slober on walls and furniture.
3. Schipperke: These are tiny little fur balls full of energy and curiosity. They like to be involved in whatever is going on around them and love to get exercise and play regularly. They have been known to be fairly independent and confident and make excellent watchdogs. One problem is if they are not trained well, they can be frequent barkers.
4. Pug: Pugs love to be around people and have an outgoing disposition. While they can be a little shy around strangers at first, they warm right up to them. They require little exercise and are known to be quite playful. They aren’t yappy dogs, but their smooshed faces often lead to loud breathing and snoring. A common problem with Pugs is their sensitivity to heat and health problems related to breathing.
5. Boxer: This medium-large sized dog was a surprise to me in my search for apartment dogs, but has shown up on a majority of the lists I found. Boxers are active dogs and do require a few walks a day, but hey are extremely affectionate and are very good with children. Boxers are fairly intelligent dogs and very loyal. They are not aggressive by nature and they require attention to avoid boredom-associated behaviors, such as chewing.
6. West Highland White Terrier: A lot of terriers make the list for good apartment dogs, but this one I thought was best. They are very alert and generally happy dogs, but can be known to be a little shy. Like most terriers, this breed is known to be spunky and requires lots of interactive playtime.
7. Chinese Shar-Pei: Probably the most goofy looking dog on my list, but is very devoted and protective of its family. This breed is known to be very independent and can be suspicious of strangers. It is calm enough to live in an apartment, but does need daily exercise. Some problems with the Chinese Shar-Pei breed are that it can be very territorial and, unless bred to be social, can be over-protective.
8. Chihuahua: These dogs are at the top of almost every list of good apartment dogs. They are very alert, but loving dogs. They require little exercise and can even be trained to go to the bathroom in a litter box. They can be very entertaining dogs and a bit eccentric. They are very sensitive to cold, so kept you apartment warm or get them a little doggie coat. One problem with them is, if they are not trained differently, they can bark at anything they think is out of place, making them known as “yappy” dogs.
9. Pomeranian: These little dogs are very intelligent and outgoing. They have a double coat, making them look like walking fur-balls. They don’t require much exercise, but are still pretty active and need frequent attention. Poms make great companion dogs and are very friendly and lively. If not trained well they can become relatively yappy dogs and are very protective of their owners.
10. Great Dane: Yes, Great Danes are giant dogs but have shown up frequently on my search for apartment dogs. They are low energy and low maintenance asfar as grooming goes. They are very affectionate and are good with children and strangers. They will require daily exercise and they are often referred to as “gentle giants.” They are not aggressive by nature and is often content on being a bit of a couch potato.

So there is a list of good apartment/ condo dogs, but please keep in mind when looking for a pet that they are a huge responsibility and you have to care for them like you would a child.