Big dogs that suit apartments: 10 giant and large breeds that settle indoors well

Working group · 50 to 79 kg · 7 to 10 years

Great Danes are proof that size alone does not determine apartment suitability: despite weighing up to 79 kg, an energy score of just 3 and a genuinely calm, laid back indoor temperament mean this breed is often happier lounging across a small living room than many higher energy medium sized dogs. Their short coat also needs minimal grooming, a real plus given the size of the dog being groomed. The honest caveat is space for the basics: a crate, a bed, and turning room for a dog this size still takes real square footage.

Hound group · 25 to 34 kg · 10 to 14 years

Greyhounds are famously described by their own breed clubs as forty five mile an hour couch potatoes, and an energy score of just 2 backs that up completely: most spend the overwhelming majority of the day asleep, making a large sighthound a surprisingly practical apartment fit once its one proper daily sprint is covered. Their short coat needs minimal grooming too. The catch is finding that sprint: a securely fenced field, not a city street, is the only safe place for this breed's genuine full speed instinct.

Working group · 54 to 100 kg · 6 to 10 years

English Mastiffs bring an enormous, gentle presence to apartment living, and a low energy score of just 2 combined with genuine indoor calm means this giant breed, up to 100 kg, often settles onto a single dog bed and stays there for most of the day. Their short coat needs little grooming. The honest caveat is drooling, a full 5 out of 5, and sheer physical scale: doorways, furniture, and a small apartment's layout all need real consideration for a dog this size.

Working group · 45 to 70 kg · 8 to 10 years

Newfoundlands combine a low energy score of 2 with a naturally calm, gentle temperament that suits apartment living better than the breed's size, 45 to 70 kg, might suggest. Their low barking score of 1 also matters in a shared building with close neighbors. The honest caveat is heat and space: a heatTolerance score of just 1 means this breed struggles in a warm apartment without good air conditioning, and its heavy drooling, a score of 5, means walls and furniture need real, regular cleaning.

Hound group · 45 to 70 kg · 6 to 8 years

Irish Wolfhounds are, despite being one of the tallest breeds in existence, genuinely gentle giants indoors, an energy score of just 3 and calm, dignified temperament that suits apartment living better than many people expect from a dog this size. Their coat needs only moderate grooming, a score of 2. The honest caveat is a short lifespan, typically just 6 to 8 years, and simple practicalities like fitting a dog this long into a small elevator or hallway that need real advance thought.

Working group · 45 to 59 kg · 7 to 9 years

Bullmastiffs bring real physical bulk, 50 to 59 kg, but a low energy score of just 2 and naturally calm indoor temperament mean this breed tends to settle into apartment life better than its size suggests, especially once past an active puppyhood. Their low barking score of 1 also suits close neighbors well. The honest caveat is drooling, rated 4 out of 5, and a genuinely short 7 to 9 year lifespan, both realities that matter more in a compact living space.

Hound group · 20 to 29 kg · 10 to 12 years

Basset Hounds are a genuinely practical big apartment dog, a low energy score of 2 and a body built low to the ground rather than tall, which can actually make navigating tight apartment hallways and furniture easier than a taller large breed would. Their short coat needs minimal grooming. The catch is drooling, rated 4 out of 5, and a barking score of 4: this breed's baying voice carries, and neighbors in a shared building will notice an interesting scent trail just as much as the dog does.

Hound group · 34 to 50 kg · 8 to 11 years

Scottish Deerhounds carry a genuinely calm, low energy temperament indoors, a score of just 3, that belies their considerable size, 39 to 50 kg, and long legged build. Much like other large sighthounds, they spend most of an apartment day resting quietly rather than pacing. Their wiry coat needs only moderate grooming, a score of 2. The honest caveat is a short 8 to 11 year lifespan and genuine need for a securely fenced space to run at speed periodically.

Working group · 54 to 82 kg · 8 to 10 years

Saint Bernards bring calm, low energy temperaments, a score of just 2, to a genuinely massive frame, up to 82 kg, that settles well into apartment life once the dog is past an active, clumsy puppy stage. Their moderate coat needs regular but manageable brushing. The honest caveat is drooling, a full 5 out of 5, and heat sensitivity, a heatTolerance score of just 1: this breed genuinely struggles in a warm apartment without strong air conditioning.

Hound group · 27 to 48 kg · 10 to 12 years

Borzoi bring a genuinely calm, low playfulness indoor temperament, reflected in a low energy score of 3 and a general preference for quiet observation over activity, which suits apartment living despite their considerable size, 34 to 48 kg. Their coat needs moderate, regular brushing, a score of 3. The honest caveat is a low barking score of 1 paired with real sighthound prey drive: off leash time needs to happen only in securely fenced spaces given the breed's instinct to chase anything that moves fast.