Imagine having a tiring day and being greeted by a cute yet gentle-hearted four-legged friend, who is capable enough to wash away its humans’ stress. Calm dog breeds with a kind and friendly disposition are known for their calm temperament that does not get riled up easily.
These puppies are more interesting and attractive for dog lovers due to their laid back nature, which just want rest and their favorite family members to flourish.
However, introducing your companion to new situations and people will reinforce its good traits, making you a proud pet parent with a healthy and happy pooch.
The American Kennel Club recognizes certain breeds that offer calmness, serenity, and a tension-free lifestyle. We have enlisted some of them who are adept at maintaining their composure and smart enough to understand the feelings of their owners; let’s uncover them.
Fun Fact: The wagging tails and comical tricks of your calm companion can lower anxiety and depression, lowering their blood pressure and encouraging a healthy life.
Amazing Dog Breeds For a Stress-Free Family: Top Picks for Harmony
1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Sweet and friendly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks among the most popular dog breeds. This lapdog was bred for companionship and also remained a hot favorite of British royalty. These beautiful, adaptable, and small dogs get along with people of all ages.
Their calm demeanor and eagerness to be loved make them great and easygoing companions for families. These calm dogs form strong bonds with their family members and tend to develop separation anxiety if left alone for a long time.
If you have a busy lifestyle or live in an apartment, this low-maintenance dog breed, in terms of minimal exercise needs, is capable of being your excellent canine friend. Cavs are considered highly trainable and intelligent dogs, and also make therapy dogs.
2. Boerboel
Regardless of its intimidating appearance, the Boerboel makes its name among calm dog breeds, kudos to its soft heart and affectionate nature. Also called the African Mastiff, the Boerboel was originally bred as a protection dog for farm animals against the big predators.
Their devoted and amiable personalities help them to carry an image of being excellent companions in family settings. However, due to their sheer size, these quiet dogs are better suited to families with older children. They also do well in multi-pet households if grown earlier and together, says PetMD.
Boerboel’s mental and physical activities are manageable; all they need is daily long walks and play sessions in the fenced yard. Their short to medium coat requires minimal grooming needs, like weekly brushing. Early socialization is vital for these calm dogs due to their strong protective instincts.
3. Saint Bernard
Almost a millennium ago, the dead and missing travelers were buried in the mountains of the Swiss Alps. There were wonderful canines who served as rescue dogs to find the dead bodies and save the lives of the people; today we call them Saint Bernards.
This wrinkly dog breed, due to its wrinkly eyebrows, carries a smiley face, and its gentle demeanor is proven by its magnificent history. They are smart dogs who easily learn and obey the commands of their owners, making great companions.
Saint Bernards are gentle giants, but they are well-suited to those households that have ample time for them. These friendly dogs have a remarkable attraction towards kids with a watchful presence. Despite having big size, these low-energy dogs are content with daily walks of 30 minutes.
4. Tibetan Spaniel
Tibetan Spaniels were once great canine companions of Buddhist monks, providing them with working abilities of providing protection and warmth to the same community, thanks to their lively and calm temperament, as mentioned by the AKC.
These beautiful dogs have flat and luxurious coats of many colors and combinations with a famous lion-like mane.
Though the Tibetan Spaniel makes a good low-maintenance breed, the hair on the bottom of their feet needs regular trimming, and behind the ears is prone to matting, making daily brushing essential.
Being a small pooch who thrives on human companionship, the Tibetan Spaniel prefers spending time with its pet parent and also makes a good match for apartment dwellers. This calm and affectionate dog tends to be a perfect couch potato, but also enjoys daily walks with its owner.
5. Irish Wolfhound
Irish Wolfhounds excel in a wide range of therapy work thanks to their affectionate and gentle temperament, which enables them to understand human emotions. This calm dog breed with a lot of size is celebrated as a loyal companion in families who have ample space and time.
Though these wonderful companions carry a patient and calm personality around children, this breed is better suited to young kids who know how to interact with big dogs. They were bred as hunting dogs and have a strong prey drive. Early socialization and obedience training can work best in this regard.
According to WebMD, these even-tempered furry friends need moderate exercise, but generally, they like their snoozing time the most. Their wiry and medium-length coats of different color patterns do not need extensive grooming, as they are mat-resistant and can be stripped by hand.
6. Basset Hound
Basset Hounds, while having a sharp sense of smell, remain calm and chill dogs. Their French-driven name “Basset” suits their compact sizes, which means low set. These small pooches are highly adaptable to various living environments.
Due to their petite size and short legs, Bassets are not a great choice for dog sports, like agility. However, regular exercise and play sessions are significant factors in living a healthy and happy life. Being low-energy dogs with an affectionate nature, Bassets also make perfect lap dogs.
These calm dogs have short and smooth coats, which overall minimizes their maintenance needs. With early introduction and socialization, Basset enjoys the company of children and other dogs in the house. Unfortunately, they have loud barking and baying, making them unsuitable for a peaceful lifestyle.
7. Clumber Spaniel
If you want a calm dog breed that adores outdoor activities as much as you do, the Clumber Spaniel is one active dog in our list for you. Originally bred for hunting purposes, these furry friends have playful, affectionate, and lively personalities.
This white dog with lemon and orange contrast is not a good addition to city living, and has a gentle and laid-back temperament. These calm dogs need a good amount of physical and mental stimulation, including walking, retrieving, and chasing. Their glamorous coat is easy to care for as well.
Clumber spaniels typically get along with other pets and kids if the puppies are socialized and trained well. If your furry pal is barking, it means it is alerting you about something unusual, though Clumber does not bark frequently. Positive reinforcement methods in training can minimize this behavior.
Conclusion
Calm dogs provide you with an easygoing life and wonderful companionship. With that said, these sensitive-natured breeds require your quality time, love, and attention in return.
If pet parents want to enjoy long years of their canine friendship, they must be very vigilant and responsible for their health. There are some other breeds as well that bring affection and devotion together with low grooming needs, such as Great Danes, French Bulldog, Boston Terrier, and Shih Tzu.
