I want to get a black chow chow for my 30th birthday this december. I would prefer a dog that's a LITTLE smaller (like beagle size), because I live in a studio condo (575 square feet) with a balcony (however I live in Chicago, & my balcony doors are drafty, so I need to cover them in the winter with this plastic wrap to stop cold air from blowing into my condo & it makes the balcony inaccessible). I would keep the balcony door open all summer while I'm home for the chow chow to traverse freely & have more space. I would obviously walk it 3 times a day as well & I would try to make the walks relatively long, i wouldn't be one of those people who rush back in the house once the dog goes to the bathroom.

I like how chow chows look, my family had one when I was younger. I also have taken into consideration that they are dogs that are considered good apartment dogs & are not very energetic. They also rarely bark, (i literally never remember the chow chow from my childhood barking haha).

I'm just worried my studio won't be enough space for the dog & I am worried it will get bored while I am at school/work/outside the house. I would just get 2 dogs to kind of alleviate this, but I don't think my condo is big enough for that, nor would my HOA approve 2 dogs.

When I see single apartment/condo living people have dogs, it's usually girls who have those little dogs they can carry around & they're usually untrained but it doesn't matter because of how small they are.

Any single people living in a condo/apartment have a dog? How is your experience? Any breeds you recommend?