33 breeds · $3,288–$10,888 · licence BR25052
Dog Breeds in Singapore, Compared for Real Homes
Choosing a dog breed in Singapore is a housing decision first and a lifestyle decision second. Every breed below carries the same four facts on its card: HDB status, size, shedding and the published price, with a full guide one click deeper.
Which dog breeds can you keep in an HDB flat in Singapore?
HDB allows one dog per flat from its list of about 62 approved small breeds, including the Toy Poodle, Maltese, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, Dachshund and Chihuahua. Larger breeds like the Corgi, Golden Retriever and Siberian Husky are not approved and need a condo or landed home. Small crosses of approved breeds sit in a grey zone worth verifying.
The HDB pet rules are the authority; our full list of HDB-approved dogs with the one-dog rule sorts every breed we carry.
Flat-friendly breeds
HDB-approved breeds, plus small crosses of approved breeds (labelled honestly — verify crosses with HDB).
HDB-approvedA cheerful cotton-ball with a spring-loaded happy streak.
Small · Low shedding · $3,888–$5,988
HDB-approvedA tri-colour silk ribbon of a dog, dainty and devoted.
Toy · Low shedding · $3,888–$5,388
HDB-approvedA silky-eared romantic who wants to be wherever you are.
Small · Medium shedding · $5,588–$6,588
HDB-approvedSpaniel warmth wrapped in poodle curls and soulful dark eyes.
Small · Low shedding · $3,288–$5,988
HDB-approvedThe world’s smallest dog with the world’s largest opinions.
Toy · Low shedding · $4,288–$4,888
HDB-approvedA low-riding sausage with a nose that files reports on everything.
Small · Medium shedding · $4,288–$6,088
HDB-approvedA pocket rocket with an engine that never idles.
Small · Medium shedding · $3,888–$5,988
HDB-approvedA pocket-sized snow cloud with a permanent smile.
Small · Medium shedding · $4,888–$5,088
HDB-approvedSilk-white and feather-light, a lapdog bred for exactly that.
Toy · Low shedding · $4,288–$5,988
HDB-approvedA living teddy bear with a fleece coat and a soft-focus face.
Toy · Low shedding · $3,288–$5,988
HDB-approvedA bearded, eyebrowed gentleman with a terrier’s spark.
Small · Low shedding · $4,888–$5,388
HDB-approvedA tiny mop of silk with a personality several sizes too big.
Toy · Low shedding · $3,288–$5,388
HDB-approvedButterfly ears on a bright little brain that loves a challenge.
Toy · Low shedding · $4,088–$6,088
HDB-approvedA double-shot of fluff and attitude that thinks it’s a Rottweiler.
Toy · Medium shedding · $4,888–$5,388
HDB-approvedA wrinkled comedian who snores like a tiny lawnmower.
Small · High shedding · $4,588–$5,288
HDB-approvedA miniature collie with a flowing mane and a scholar’s focus.
Small · High shedding · $4,988–$6,500
HDB-approvedA flowing-coated little emperor bred purely to be adored.
Small · Low shedding · $3,988–$5,288
HDB-approvedA cloud of curls with the brain of an honour-roll student.
Toy · Low shedding · $3,488–$5,988
HDB-approvedA brilliant-white terrier with a spring in every step.
Small · Low shedding · $4,688–$5,988
HDB-approvedA silk-coated terrier with the swagger of a dog ten times its size.
Toy · Low shedding · $4,688–$5,388
Condo & landed breeds
Larger breeds that are not on HDB’s approved list and need a condo or landed home.
Not HDB-approvedA silky-eared sweetheart with a wagging, sunny disposition.
Small · Medium shedding · $4,588–$5,988
Not HDB-approvedA nose on four legs, powered by curiosity and snacks.
Small · Medium shedding · $3,588–$4,500
Not HDB-approvedThe valedictorian of dogs, forever asking for the next assignment.
Medium · High shedding · $5,880–$6,988
Not HDB-approvedA muscular couch cushion with a heart of pure devotion.
Medium · Medium shedding · $6,988–$9,988
Not HDB-approvedA blue-tongued lion-dog with the aloof dignity of a cat.
Medium · High shedding · $6,888–$10,888
Not HDB-approvedShort legs, tall opinions, a bakery-fresh loaf on the move.
Medium · High shedding · $3,688–$5,500
Not HDB-approvedA bat-eared charmer built like a tiny tank of affection.
Small · Medium shedding · $6,800–$8,800
Not HDB-approvedHoney-gold, floppy, and convinced everyone is a friend it just hasn’t greeted yet.
Large · High shedding · $4,588–$5,500
Not HDB-approvedA cheerful mop of a dog with retriever heart and poodle smarts.
Medium · Low shedding · $3,488–$4,800
Not HDB-approvedAn endlessly optimistic retriever who never quite grew up.
Large · High shedding · $4,588–$5,500
Not HDB-approvedA fox-faced stoic with a cat’s sense of personal space.
Small · High shedding · $4,788–$6,500
Not HDB-approvedA blue-eyed sled dog with a wolfish howl and a mischievous grin.
Large · High shedding · $5,088–$6,088
Not HDB-approvedAn elegant athlete disguised as a show dog, sharp as a tack.
Large · Low shedding · $3,488–$5,988
Not sure? Match a breed to your life, not a list
Popularity lists tell you what other people bought. Your shortlist should start from your home, your hours and your household. Find your row.
| Your situation | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| HDB flat | Toy Poodle, Maltese, Shih Tzu, Dachshund | Named on the approved list; small, corridor-polite sizes |
| Allergies at home | Toy Poodle, Maltipoo, Cavapoo, Bichon Frise | Low-shedding curly or fleece coats; less dander spread |
| Out at work ~8 hours | Maltese, Shih Tzu, Cavalier King Charles | Lower-energy companions that nap through a workday, with a midday break arranged |
| First dog ever | Toy Poodle, Maltipoo, Cavapoo, Cavalier | Forgiving temperaments, trainable, well-documented needs |
| Young children | Golden Retriever, Labrador, Cavalier, Beagle | Patient, sturdy family breeds; the larger two need condo or landed housing |
| Away 12+ hours daily | Honestly, no breed | No puppy thrives alone that long; solve the schedule before the breed |
Every shortlisted breed's guide covers its real grooming load, energy and monthly cost. Budget-first? Compare published puppy prices for every breed before you shortlist.
The breeds Singapore actually asks for
Search demand here is unambiguous: the Toy Poodle cluster leads by thousands of monthly searches, with the Maltipoo, Cavapoo, Shih Tzu and Maltese close behind. The pattern is not fashion. Flats select for small size, the climate selects for single coats, and allergy-prone households select for curly low-shedding coats, so Singapore keeps arriving at the same shortlist.
The Corgi and Golden Retriever stay heavily searched too, and both need condo or landed housing. Wanting one is not the same as being allowed one; check housing before you fall in love.
Coats and the Singapore climate
- Double coats (Husky, Chow Chow, Shiba): built for winters that never come; these breeds live their best lives in airconditioned rooms with dawn and dusk walks.
- Curly low-shed coats (Poodle and its crosses): the local favourite trade, less shedding in exchange for grooming every 4 to 8 weeks.
- Smooth short coats (Dachshund, Beagle, Chihuahua): the lowest-maintenance option in this heat; a weekly brush does it.
Singapore's restricted list: scheduled (specified) breeds
Beyond the HDB list sits a second regulation most breed articles skip. AVS designates certain breeds as specified dogs, with extra licensing conditions that include muzzling in public, a banker's guarantee and insurance coverage. The list includes the Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, German Shepherd and its related breeds, and the Mastiff family; the Pit Bull class and Akita are effectively not importable at all.
We do not carry specified breeds, and we would rather tell you that than have you discover the conditions after falling for a photo. The full current list lives on the AVS list of specified dogs.
Choosing a breed in Singapore, answered
What is the most popular dog breed in Singapore?
By search demand and what walks out of local farms, the Toy Poodle leads Singapore, followed closely by its crosses, the Maltipoo and Cavapoo. All three are small, HDB-approved or HDB-practical, and carry low-shedding curly coats, which is exactly the combination flat living and allergies select for.
Why is the Corgi not allowed in HDB flats?
HDB approves only breeds on its list of about 62 small breeds, and the Corgi is not on it. The rule follows the list, not weight logic, so even a small Corgi does not qualify. Corgis need a condo or landed home in Singapore; nobody who tells you otherwise is doing you a favour.
Which dog breed is best for a first-time owner in Singapore?
Pick from the small, even-tempered, trainable group: Toy Poodle, Maltipoo, Cavapoo or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They are forgiving of beginner mistakes, small enough for local homes, and their guides on this site walk the real monthly cost and grooming load before you commit.
What are the calmest dog breeds for a flat?
Among breeds we carry, the Maltese, Shih Tzu, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Pug are the steadiest in a flat, content with short walks and long naps. Calm is also raising, not just breed: crate routine and the 3-3-3 settling rule matter as much as the name on the pedigree.
Which dogs are banned or restricted in Singapore?
AVS lists specified (scheduled) dogs that carry extra conditions such as muzzling in public and insurance requirements: Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, German Shepherd and related breeds, Mastiffs and others. The Pit Bull class and Akita are effectively not importable. We do not carry specified breeds.
Are Maltipoos and Cavapoos HDB-approved?
They are crosses of two approved breeds, small in size, but not named on HDB’s pure-breed list. In practice they are kept in flats across Singapore; the honest step is to verify your specific case with HDB before purchase, and our breed pages label this status plainly rather than pretending it is settled.
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