25 Dog Breeds That Aren’t Meant to Be Kept Indoors

This adorable small dog was bred to be a lapdog of the nobility both in England and Japan. However, the breeding for companionship does have a downside. While they are certainly adorable to look at, they are extremely high-maintenance, turning jealous and demanding if they feel ignored. They can even be prone to anxiety attacks when left alone. Plus, when you’re not keeping them company, you’ll be busy cleaning up all their hair from your furniture, as these dogs are known to shed their weight’s worth in fur.

Friendly, playful and lovable, French bulldogs seem like they would make ideal family pets. The fact that they are hypo-allergenic and shed minimally has made them a favorite as pets for people with asthma or allergies. However, these pups are extremely demanding; if you don’t cater to their needs or give them maximum attention – let’s say, in favor of babies or children – they will let you know very clearly that they are not happy about it.

This giant, soft and friendly dog originating from Italy and Switzerland is a beloved breed, generally very friendly to adults and children alike. Having been represented in numerous books, movies and video games over the years, the famously droopy, sleepy face of the breed is universally recognizable. These dogs are usually not aggressive when trained well. But their huge size makes them difficult to keep indoors, as they are prone to clumsily knocking over valuables and even children.

The stunning blue eyes and glowing coat of the Siberian Husky have made it one of the most cherished breeds. Originating in Asia, they have been exported all over the world but are partial to snowy environments. But because they are an active breed that needs a lot of exercise, they can become restless and destructive if kept indoors. They get lonely if they’re left alone for too long, yet they also love to escape wherever they are housed, so only adopt one if you’re ready for all of that!

The Skye Terrier is a British breed that is feisty and very loud. Although it sure is cute, there are numerous downsides to keeping one around. Their long hair needs to be brushed often and their faces need to be cleaned as well. If you have other small pets around, this is definitely a breed to stay away from, as they tend to attack and even kill smaller creatures. Unless well-trained, these small but ferocious dogs can also be hostile to strangers.

With its long flowing coat and majestic profile, Afghan hounds are very appealing when it comes to looks. But these creatures were bred to be long, lean hunting machines, making them less than ideal to keep as indoor housepets. If you don’t have a giant backyard for them to run around in, it would be unfair to keep one of these beauties. They are also difficult to train and, of course, there is that long silky coat that will mean hours of brushing.

If you thought dog fighting was a thing of the past, this breed is evidence to the contrary. Tosas were bred in Japan to be fighting dogs, where they are still used as such to this day. The fact that they were bred for fighting means that unfortunately, they are mostly mistreated and do not make ideal home pets. They can be quite dangerous and are not meant to be kept indoors, and several countries including Denmark, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany have even banned them.

The Great Pyrenees is a gigantic breed hailing from Europe, where it was bred to be a shepherd dog. Although Pyrenees gravitate towards the outdoors, they don’t mind being kept inside. They are kind to children and small animals thanks to their protective instincts. But these high-maintenance animals require brushing several times a week and may drool a lot. They can also develop ear and tooth infections if not groomed carefully by their owners. They can overheat easily, which makes them sleep for hours.

Thanks to the hit Disney film 101 Dalmatians, the popularity of this breed peaked between the 1960s through the 1990s. The Dalmatian’s distinctive spotted coat makes it the most recognizable breed worldwide, but there are little-known facts about Dalmations that could cause problems. Many Dalmatians are affected by varying degrees of deafness, making them difficult to train. Often their owners aren’t aware of their hearing problems which can lead to misunderstanding and mistreating the animal. These dogs are very energetic and prefer the outdoors.

The Jack Russel Terrier seems like a good option for a housepet, but this breed should come with some warnings. This breed is highly energetic and needs a decent amount of exercise, and does not play nicely with other dogs. Jack Russell Terriers are very defensive breed and won’t allow any sort of abuse against them – even accidental abuse. That makes even the best trained of them difficult to have around children and other small animals.

This Chinese breed is a popular house pet, but don’t let their popularity fool you; these little pups can be a handful. Shih Tzu’s are extremely hard to housebreak, so if you value your floors, they are not great to have around until they’re trained. Their short snouts, though adorable, are the source of numerous health problems that develop due to their inability to breathe properly. They’re also at risk for eye diseases and skin allergies, and taking care of them can get pretty expensive.

Despite its name, this breed actually originated in the United States several decades ago. “Aussies” are very “outdoorsy” dogs and require a great deal of exercise and attention, needing to always be occupied with something. They can become extremely restless if they don’t get a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes of outdoor exercise a day, posing a hazard to their health and your home. They can be great pets, but only if you have enough time and energy to run around with them every day.

Popularly referred to as a wiener dog or sausage dog, the Dachshund is a popular pet. However, despite their small size, Dachshunds were originally bred to be hunting dogs and therefore are one of the most aggressive breeds out there. Children, especially small ones, tend to play with dogs, but this can make Dachshunds really aggravated if they haven’t been trained properly. Dachshunds aren’t friendly to strangers either, and tend to cling to people they’re already used to.

We’re sure you’re disappointed to see the English Toy Spaniel on this list, as they’re one of the cutest dog breeds out there. This sweet animal can be a perfect addition to your household, but only if they have proper training – and you dedicate all your time to them. English Toy Spaniels have dependent personalities and develop separation anxiety if they don’t have companionship for most of the day. They are also a shy and quiet breed, meaning they don’t warm up to strangers quickly, if ever.

Doberman Pinschers are highly intelligent dogs that learn and are trained quickly. The problem is, they were bred to be guard dogs, which gives some validity to the stereotype that they are a dangerous breed. They are incredibly loyal to their owners if trained properly, but maybe a little too loyal; visitors and friends are only safe around these dogs if their owners are present. Dobermans need to get frequent exercise to prevent their energy and aggression from building up and being expressed.

This tiny Mexican breed is small but ferocious. Chihuahuas are one of the most aggressive breeds out there, often becoming overly loyal to their owners and lashing out at anyone else who comes near them. They are so small, however, that they can barely inflict real harm on anyone. But you might run into real problems with keeping a Chihuahua in your house if there are children or seniors around – they notoriously dislike children and short people in general.

The striking eyes of this breed make them appealing, but these dogs are a real handful unless very well trained. This energetic hunting dog is unfortunately prone to chasing other animals. They are also extremely high-maintenance and tend to have pronounced separation anxiety. Leaving these dogs alone for too long at home could lead to them destroying property, sometimes even hurting themselves in the process. They also have a tendency to bark and howl while their owners are away.

The sleek, athletic Greyhound was originally bred for racing, making it a less-than-ideal choice for a family pet. Their large size means they can easily knock over babies and toddlers, and generally, their large forms are problematic for confined spaces. Unless you have a giant backyard for this dog to frolic in, the inside of your house would quickly turn into a disaster with a Greyhound. Also, you wouldn’t think it by looking at them but Greyhounds shed a lot! Not ideal for any family members with asthma or allergies.

This popular toy dog breed originated in China, and can actually be a really good house dog. But as the Pekingese is prone to both emotional and physical trauma, they can pose some serious problems, especially if you have a house with lots of stairs. Their physique makes getting down them very difficult, and are prone to falling down and injuring themselves. They also have breathing problems and are prone to a host of other diseases, making them not ideal to have around children.

You might think the Basenji, originally of African descent, would be a good dog to have around as it doesn’t bark. But the barking is replaced by a distinct yodeling sound which can be just as annoying. Originally used as hunting dogs, these active dogs still maintain that instinct, making them unsafe around cats and other small pets. The Basenji is also one of the most difficult of any dog breeds to train, and are prone to escape by jumping over fences.

Due to their history and public perception as the most dangerous dog breed, Pit Bulls have become a somewhat controversial subject. Some people claim that their potential for being dangerous is only due to how they were trained. That may be true, but there’s no denying that they are powerful, high-energy dogs that are capable of inflicting significant injuries to humans. Some places even have restrictions on Pit Bulls, and some airlines have even banned them from travel.

Hailing from the Swedish Alps, Bernese Mountain Dogs were imported from Rome hundreds of years ago and bred as farm dogs, and were sometimes trained to pull carts for their owners. Bernese Mountain Dogs can adjust pretty well to home life, but they are much happier outside and need plenty of exercise to stay healthy. Unfortunately, they have one of the shortest life expectancies at only seven to eight years, and have a high rate of death from cancer compared with other breeds.

The Shar-Pei is one of the most ancient breeds, being traced back to China. Originally bred to be guard dogs, Shar-Peis still hold on to those instincts, which can potentially make them a bit of a handful. If they aren’t exposed to people and animals early in their lives, they can get aggressive and territorial when approached by outsiders. Unless you raise one from a very young age and train them to accept outsiders, they can be very difficult to keep as pets.

Although this pet favorite is playful, affectionate and loves humans, there are just as many cons to owning a beagle as there are pros. These hounds were trained to hunt, and although they’re not aggressive, they follow their noses to such an extent that they are prone to running away if an interesting scent piques their interest. Their barks are also incredibly loud, and they are known to be very stubborn, often repeatedly backtracking on things they were trained to do.

It is not recommended that you adopt dogs with tails coming out of their foreheads. The most obvious downside is that they might frighten anyone who comes into contact with them. Just kidding! This pup, whose name is Narwhal, is a mutt who was born with an unusual birth defect, which scientists suspect might have originated from absorbing a parasitic twin in the womb. Whatever the case may be, Narwhal has become a viral sensation and most people think his extra tail, or “unicorn horn”, is adorable!