Can I keep a dog in my HDB flat? Which breeds are allowed?

HDB only allows ONE dog per flat and it must be an approved breed/small type, plus you must license it with the authority (used to be AVA, now NParks Animal & Veterinary Service). The Project ADORE scheme also lets you adopt certain local mixed breeds/Singapore Specials for HDB even if slightly bigger. The big dogs you see could be in condos, or approved under ADORE, or honestly unapproved (risk of complaints). Steps: 1) check the current HDB-approved small breed list on NParks, 2) apply for the dog licence online, 3) microchip and sterilise as required. Please verify the latest list directly with NParks/HDB before you commit, rules and approved breeds do get updated.

Licence is cheap and mandatory, please don't skip it thinking small dog no one will know. My neighbour kena a complaint because the dog was barking when they were at work AND it wasn't licensed, whole thing snowballed with the town council and got messy and stressful. A sterilised dog also gets you a cheaper licence fee, so there's a real incentive to do it properly. Licensing takes ten minutes online with Singpass. While you're at it, get pet insurance quotes or start a vet fund early, because the licence is the cheapest part of dog ownership by far. Do it right from day one.

One dog rule for HDB, that's the big one people always forget, you cannot have two dogs in a flat no matter how small. If you already have a cat, note the rules for cats differ (there's a separate licensing scheme now) so check both. Also think about your flat layout and the dog's energy, a 4-room is fine for a small breed but you'll need to commit to walks daily, especially in HDB where a bored barking dog quickly becomes a neighbour complaint. Double check the NParks site because it's the official source and it updates the approved breeds and conditions from time to time.

Adopted a Singapore Special through Project ADORE and he's fully HDB-legal, super good boy, best decision we made. If you want a bigger local mix and stay in HDB, that scheme is the proper route rather than sneaking one in. Do note there are conditions: max height/weight limits, you must go through an approved adoption/welfare partner, microchip and sterilise, and complete the required steps. The dogs are already assessed for temperament too, so you're not gambling. It also does real good since these are local rescues that struggle to get adopted. Just follow the ADORE conditions properly and you won't have to worry about complaints or enforcement.