Are you someone who is already caught up in a chaotic life, just wishing for your home to be a peaceful sanctuary? Maybe all you want is a cozy escape at home and to enjoy it best with a calm pup who doesn’t bounce off the walls at every given chance. No constant demands, no wild energy!
Not that being energetic is bad at all, it’s just that everyone has different priorities that align best with their lifestyles. If that sounds relatable to you, you’re in the right place.
Some dogs are naturally more laid-back and easy-going. They tend to be easier to train, less prone to destructive habits, and more adaptable to quieter lifestyles. Let’s dive intothe 7 most calm dog breeds that are low maintenance and just make your life a bit easier.
Best Calm Dog Breeds
1. Basset Hound
Quick Facts
Size: Medium
Personality: laid back, gentle, loving
Exercise Needs: low
The Basset Hounds are instantly recognizable with their long ears, droopy eyes, and a low-to-the-ground body. Their eyes literally give a lazy look. Basset Hounds spend most of their time relaxing and lounging indoors. Their favorite tasks include napping and following their humans from room to room.
Originally bred for hunting, they follow their noses more than they follow their owners while outdoors. They walk slowly, gathering the scent from the ground. Hence, their exercise needs are minimal. Daily walks, leashed, are enough to make them happy. They would happily spend the rest of the day indoors with minimal activity.
Training them can be a bit challenging as they trust their tracking abilities a bit too much and may not want input. But consistency and patience work well, especially when treats are involved.
2. Bernese Mountain Dog
Quick Facts
Size: Large
Personality: Gentle, Affectionate, loyal
Exercise Needs: Moderate
The Bernese Mountain dog comes from the snowy mountains of Switzerland. Working on the farms, it was used to pull carts and help with cattle. Even though they are strong working dogs, they are incredibly gentle and laid back at home.
They are calm, patient, and great for homes with kids. They love being outdoors too, especially in cold weather, but they are fine without constant activity. A few play sessions and regular walks are enough.
As they have thick double coats, they are more comfortable in colder regions and may need trimming in warmer climates. Their grooming needs may be a little more as they shed a lot, especially in shedding seasons.
Training a Berner is a breeze. Calm, intelligent, and eager to please, they are a perfect breed to teach. For a breed as large, it is really important to start training and socializing them from puppyhood so that they are aware not to accidentally knock over kids and even adults.
3. French Bulldog
Quick Facts
Size: Small
Personality: Quiet, easy-going, affectionate
Exercise Needs: Low
As of 2024, the French Bulldog holds the title of America’s favorite dog, and we are not surprised. They don’t bark much, are calm, and love spending time indoors, passed out on the couch. Perfect for city life, they don’t need a backyard to be happy.
Frenchies do not need much exercise; a short walk or two in the pleasant weather is enough for them. Because of their short noses and flat faces, they do not tolerate exercise well. So it is best to keep them cool and calm.
They are great for homes with children, never rough. Positive reinforcement works great with them, but as they gain weight pretty fast, it is best to keep food-based rewards minimal.
4. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Quick Facts
Size: Small
Personality: Affectionate, people-loving
Exercise Needs: Low to moderate
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is one of the most affectionate dog breeds you will ever meet. This tiny dog lives to love and be loved. Perfect for people of all ages, they do well in homes with children, the elderly, other dogs, and other animals. They are calm indoors and rarely cause any trouble.
Even though they are a quiet dog breed, they aren’t typically lazy. They love short play sessions and enjoy a couple of walks each day. They are ideal for apartment dwellers but also do well in homes with yards.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), they are easy to train and excel in dog sports such as obedience and agility. Early socialization ensures that they are well-rounded pups who get along well with everyone.
5. Great Dane
Quick Facts:
Size: Extra Large
Personality: Calm, kind, and gentle
Exercise Needs: Low to moderate
Great Danes may look larger than life, huge and powerful, but they are one of the calmest and sweetest dogs that you can bring home. They are often called gentle giants for a reason. They are kind and incredibly patient, especially around kids.
Their large size comes with a lot of responsibility. Due to their large stomachs, they are prone to Bloat, which can be deadly. Hence, taking care of their food intake and limiting exercise around meal time is really important.
They enjoy relaxed walks, soft beds, and easy-going humans. They are pretty powerful dogs, hence, obedience training is necessary from a young age. The good news is that they are eager to please and learn really fast, making training easy.
6. Saint Bernards
Quick Facts
Size: Extra Large
Personality: Gentle, Calm, affectionate
Exercise Needs: Low
Saint Bernards were once used as rescue dogs in the snowy mountains of the Alps, saving the lives of lost travelers. Today, their role is shifted to being therapy dogs and performing other service work due to their gentle and calm personality. They may be massive, but they are total softies at heart who love nothing more than being around their people.
They are not jumpy, loud, or impatient. They think before they act and prefer quiet homes. Due to their thick coats, they are best suited for colder climates and need plenty of space to move around. Their exercise needs are also quite straightforward. A few walks and some outdoor time are enough.
Saint Bernards are great with kids because they are very tolerant of typical kid behavior, but their large size means that they may accidentally knock things over. Still, for those with a preference for a big yet calm dog, who is well capable of babysitting (under supervision), the Saint Bernard is a great choice!
7. Greyhounds
Quick Facts
Size: Medium to Large
Personality: Calm, quiet, and low-key
Exercise Needs: Low to moderate
It is true that Greyhounds are fast and great racing dogs, but most people don’t know that off-track, they are one of the calmest, most chill dog breeds ever! Most Greyhounds are happy to nap for hours, following their owners around the house, or curling up in cozy spots. They are quiet, polite, and do not demand much attention.
Greyhounds need short bursts of running daily, but once they get the energy out of their system, they are back to relaxing. As per Dogbreeds.org, older or retired racing Greyhounds make amazing pets too; they are trained, used to calm routines, and very gentle indoors.
While they are low-maintenance in terms of grooming, training may require a bit of patience. They may seem headstrong ,but with positive reinforcement and early training starting from puppy years, they do really well.
Conclusion
Not every dog needs to be a powerhouse of energy to be a great companion. The breeds listed above prove that calm and gentle dogs can bring a lot of love to any home. Whether you live in a quiet neighborhood or just prefer an easy-going buddy, calm dog breeds can offer you a lot of peace indoors.
While calmness sometimes depends on an individual dog’s temperament and not just a specific breed, there are other calm dog breeds that offer just the same qualities. Dogs like Golden Retrievers, Shih Tzu,s and Clumber Spaniels are great examples of gentle dogs who love their families.
With a little bit of care and a few leisurely walks, these good-natured pooches can help in maintaining the calm and relaxed environment of your home, and fill it with a lot of happiness too!
