Megan Torres moved to Brooklyn with a plan. Her studio apartment had 450 square feet, her lease allowed pets, and she wanted a dog that fit. She adopted a 15-pound Jack Russell Terrier named Benny, reasoning that a small dog couldn't cause problems in tight quarters.
Three weeks later, her downstairs neighbor filed a noise complaint. Benny barked at every hallway footstep, dug through couch cushions, and needed three walks daily just to sit still for ten minutes. Megan's coworker owned a 60-pound Greyhound in the same building. That dog slept 20 hours a day and never made a sound. The lesson hit hard: small doesn't automatically mean easy.
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That misconception is spreading as cities fill with tiny dogs. ASPCA data shows small dog adoptions climbed 6 percent in the first half of 2025, while large dog adoptions dropped 9 percent. More than half of American pet owners now say size is their top priority when choosing a dog. French Bulldogs claimed the number one U.S. breed spot in 2026, dethroning Labrador Retrievers for the first time in decades.
The reasons make sense. Rent is expensive, apartments are shrinking, and landlords impose weight limits. Sarah Patel, a leasing agent in Austin, says 70 percent of her rental listings cap pets at 30 pounds.
"Landlords worry about damage and liability. Small dogs feel like less risk."
For renters with no other options, that policy dictates the decision.
But the size-equals-better logic breaks down when temperament enters the picture. Dr. Alan Chen, a Portland veterinarian seeing hundreds of city dogs annually, points out the gap. "People assume small dogs need less exercise, training, and space. Sometimes true. Often completely wrong." He's treated knee injuries in Pomeranians bouncing off furniture all day and anxiety in Chihuahuas whose owners never socialized them.
Energy level matters more than size. A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, bred as a lap dog, will happily spend afternoons on a couch. A Miniature Pinscher, packed with terrier drive, will tear through that same couch. The American Kennel Club lists Jack Russells, Miniature Schnauzers, and some Dachshunds as high-energy breeds requiring serious daily stimulation. Their small frames don't change that wiring.
Noise is another miscalculation. Small breeds aren't quieter by default. Beagles howl. Terriers bark at everything. Toy Poodles alert to every building sound. Compare that to a Greyhound, Mastiff, or Great Dane - breeds known for calm, quiet temperaments despite their size. Lisa Morales, a Chicago dog trainer, says the smallest dogs she sees cause the biggest neighbor problems. "Not because they're bad dogs, but because owners picked them for size and ignored personality."
Who actually benefits from going small? Owners who travel frequently and need a dog fitting under an airline seat. People with limited strength who can't manage a 70-pound dog on a leash. Apartment dwellers who researched low-energy small breeds like Shih Tzus, Bichon Frises, or Havanese. Those dogs thrive in tight spaces when matched correctly.
The mistake is treating "small" as shorthand for "low-maintenance." Kevin Wright adopted a Boston Terrier in San Francisco after reading they were perfect apartment dogs. His Boston, Rudy, is perfect—but only because Kevin commits to two 30-minute walks daily, puzzle feeders, and weekly dog park trips.
"Rudy's 18 pounds, but his personality is huge. Without outlets, he'd be impossible."
The urban dog boom isn't slowing. More people want dogs, fewer have yards, and building policies push toward smaller breeds. That's fine. But size is a starting point, not a solution. Temperament, energy, and training needs don't shrink with body weight.