The American Kennel Club recognizes many dog breeds, each having its own unique physical and behavioral traits. If you are looking for a canine companion that adapts well to your lifestyle and is not high maintenance, you should opt for an easygoing dog breed.
Easygoing dog breeds are content to have a stroll beside you, nap through the day, or simply be a quiet companion when you are feeling low. They maintain composure in difficult situations and usually do not have high exercise needs.
Easiest dog breeds require minimal grooming, little training, and moderate physical activity to stay healthy and happy. However, they do require attention and affection from their pet parents and can even develop separation anxiety when left alone for too long.
Here are the top 7 easiest-going dog breeds for families.
Easiest Going Dog Breeds For Families
1. Pug
With their big sparkling eyes and wrinkled faces, Pugs are sociable and easygoing dogs. They are typically friendly with everyone, including their family members, kids, and other pets. Their short coat is easy to maintain and does not require extensive grooming.
According to the American Kennel Club, Pugs are playful and lively, but can also happily spend most of their time napping in a comfortable corner. They require moderate exercise every day, including walks or play sessions in the yard.
These fun-loving canines live to please their people and are easy to train. Their adaptable nature allows them to adjust well to different living environments. These adorable lapdogs are great with children and make the best family dogs.
However, Pugs are prone to obesity thanks to their love for food. Also, they are brachycephalic and can develop breathing issues. So, make sure you do not over-exercise your dog.
2. French Bulldog
French Bulldogs are sturdy sweethearts known for their affectionate nature and adaptable personality. Recognized by their large “bat ears,” Frenchies are alert, playful, and completely irresistible. They are not excessive barkers, but make excellent watchdogs due to their alertness.
Their short coat does not shed much and requires brushing once a week to stay in good condition. French Bulldogs’ high adaptability, obedience, and good temperament make them the easiest dog breed. These happy little dogs make great companions.
They don’t have high energy levels, meaning they do not require extensive exercise for physical and mental stimulation. Frenchies adapt well to apartment living and are loving and patient around kids.
French Bulldogs love human company, so make sure your schedule allows you to spend time with them, explains PetPlan. Lack of attention and affection can lead to behavior problems and separation anxiety. Like Pugs, French Bulldogs are also brachycephalic.
3. Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are eager to please, little dogs with high intelligence. These small dogs make great lapdogs and travel partners. Chihuahuas don’t require lots of space for exercising or roaming around. Having a sassy personality and confident demeanor, Chihuahuas make ideal city dogs.
Chihuahua is a good low-maintenance dog breed, having a short coat that needs minimal grooming. Occasional brushing can help keep the coat in top-notch condition. These charming dogs make adorable companions thanks to their sassy personality and spunky nature.
Chihuahuas are highly adaptable and easygoing, capable of thriving in various living situations. They have fiercely loyal spirits and form strong bonds with their owners, but are reserved toward strangers. Proper socialization is important to prevent aggression towards unfamiliar people and animals.
Due to their small size, Chihuahuas have low exercise needs compared to other breeds. Typically, half an hour to one hour of daily exercise would suffice.
4. Dachshund
Dachshunds are recognized for their long silhouette and stubby legs. Having a brave and energetic personality, these pooches are quite curious and always up for new adventures. Originally bred to hunt badgers, Dachshunds are easygoing and friendly dogs that make great pets for novice owners.
Smooth-coated Dachshunds are fairly low-maintenance dogs and require minimal grooming. They only need a little more than a wipe-down or quick brushing once a week. Dachshunds require only half an hour of regular exercise, including daily walks and playtime, to stay fit.
These traits make them well-suited for individuals looking for a low-maintenance breed. However, Doxies are often independent and willful, explains PetMD. So they can be a bit challenging to train. Try using positive reinforcement methods and keep the training sessions short.
Doxies have an excellent sense of smell and a strong prey drive. Therefore, they might not do well in homes with smaller pets.
5. Greyhound
Greyhounds are known for their calm and gentle nature. Despite being the world’s fastest dogs, this hunting breed is surprisingly laid-back. Greyhounds have a wonderful temperament, but their sensitive side makes them a perfect fit for calm households.
Greyhounds do not shed much and are fairly low-maintenance. They require only one hour of moderate exercise every day, and that too in short bursts. These traits make them well-suited for individuals looking for an easygoing dog breed.
Greyhounds are extremely affectionate dogs that make excellent companions for all sorts of people. They can be wary and shy of strangers if not well socialized. Greyhounds have a cat-like demeanor and are content to snooze for the rest of the day.
6. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a gentle and calm dog breed, known for its easygoing personality. These friendly canines get along nicely with everyone. Cavaliers are highly adaptable dogs who do equally well with couch potatoes as well as active families.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were bred to serve as lapdogs and need only moderate exercise for physical and mental stimulation. They are highly trainable and do well in city and country life. However, their coats require little more than regular grooming to stay in top-notch condition.
These smart dogs are eager to please their owners, making them easy to train. Cavaliers also excel in a variety of canine sports like obedience training, rally, and agility. Cavaliers need constant human attention and get very upset when left alone.
7. Whippet
Resembling a Greyhound in appearance, Whippets are a perfect combination of a couch potato and an athlete. These adaptable dogs love to run and play, but are equally happy to snooze the day away. Whippets are incredibly gentle and amiable dogs.
Whippets are considered a low-maintenance breed. They require at least one hour of daily exercise every day to stay healthy and content. Daily activity can be split into short walks and play sessions. Their short coats also require minimal grooming.
Like other sighthounds, Whippets also have a sensitive nature, so a calmer and quieter home is a wonderful choice for them. Playful and cheery, Whippets benefit from positive reinforcement-based training methods.
Conclusion
Some dogs require lots of exercise, mental stimulation, and attention to stay happy and healthy. However, some other dogs are relatively low maintenance. Their coats require minimal grooming, and they have moderate exercise needs.
These easy-going canines are quite adaptable and adjust well to a variety of living environments. Many of them are shameless couch potatoes who can spend their entire day dozing off. However, they thrive on human companionship and love to have their owners’ attention.
