You enter your home after a long 12-hour shift and witness a calm and cozy family environment, accompanied by one of the calmest dog breeds waiting for you. This breed loves to cuddle you while you enjoy hot coffee sitting on the balcony and enjoying the cool breeze in the evening.
Relieved?
This is the exact purpose an easygoing dog is designed: to please you and provide a constant peace of mind
As Konrad Lorenz once said, “The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth will ever be.” One wrong selection, and your life will be a constant headache, and your home will be a wrestling ground.
According to the American Pet Product Association, over 65 million U.S. households own at least one dog. That is a lot of leashes. But not all dogs are built for the easy life. These seven breeds? They absolutely are.
Easy‑Going Dog Breeds for a Stress‑Free Family
1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The first Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, kept a similar breed in the 18th century as a hunting companion. Later, he discovered that this affectionate dog was able to keep up with a trotting horse.
Changes were made to the original breed, and today we have the modern version of the dog, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, named after King Charles I and II because of their immense affection for the breed, according to Wikipedia.
The dog is neither shy nor aggressive and is perfect for households with children and other pets. Petting a dog like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel reduces cortisol and releases oxytocin, lowers blood pressure, and enhances mood. Because of its velcro nature and high food motivation, it is easy to train the breed.
It has moderate exercise needs (20-30 minutes a day): daily walks and indoor play sessions are enough for physical and mental stimulation. While it may bark when there is a knock on the door or a stranger is approaching, it is usually not a barker and makes good friends with strangers.
2. Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound, or the Piccolo Levriero Italiano, is an Italian breed, originally bred to hunt small game, such as hare or rabbit. It belongs to the sighthound category, where it tends to track the prey with a strong sense of sight, and chase and catch the prey with high speed (25-30 mph).
The breed has a long history as a companion dog as well, such as Frederick the Great of Prussia and Queen Victoria. The short and glossy coat consists mostly of hair, thus, less shedding, and it has minimal grooming needs. It remains clean and has zero dog odor, making it perfect for clean homes.
It weighs around 7-14 pounds and has short bursts of energy for a few minutes before going back to the original state. This makes it ideal for compact apartments and spacious mansions. Since it has a short coat, it is not meant for colder environments and prefers to stay indoors, mostly on your couch.
It forms strong bonds with the owner and mirrors their emotions, being a highly emotionally sensitive dog. Left alone for too long, it will develop separation anxiety.
3. Pug
One of the ancient dog breeds, the Pug, originated in China some 2,000 years ago. This gentle canine has been warming the laps of royalty for ages. It weighs around 14-18 pounds and stands 10-13 inches tall.
This most recognizable breed has a wrinkly face, bulging, round eyes, a curly tail, and a short coat that comes in tan or black colors, as per PetMD.
This is a brachycephalic breed that has a flat face and narrow airways, making breathing difficult. It makes funny and loud voices while sleeping and tends to stay indoors since it is not meant for intense physical activities: a daily walk for 20 minutes is enough. This highly adaptable dog sleeps up to 14 hours a day and thus gets along with small kids.
Despite being calm and quiet, it is known to have “laughter therapy,” since it makes funny facial expressions, zoomie behavior, and the “panting play.”
It is highly affectionate and loves to cuddle and kiss its owner. This behavior helps lower heart rates, reduce cortisol, and release oxytocin. This extremely intelligent breed learns complex tasks easily, such as opening a cabinet and reading your body language.
4. Whippet
This versatile companion dog has been performing various tasks for centuries: amateur racing, competitive showing, and hunting, etc. It was originally bred as a hunting and racing dog; thus, it has a strong prey drive and tends to chase small animals. It has a balanced temperament: serene and calm indoors, and active and energetic outdoors.
It is also known as one of the fastest accelerating dogs in the world (35-40 mph). The breed is sensitive to cold temperatures because it has a short coat that lacks an undercoat. It has minimal grooming needs: occasional brushing is enough.
This medium-sized dog lives up to 12-15 years because of its less hereditary characteristics and pure breeding. Though it has moderate exercise needs and is termed a “couch potato,” it needs to be leashed outdoors because of the high prey drive. It thrives on human companionship and is gentle with kids; however, it needs to be supervised around small kids since it can hurt them while playing.
5. Bulldog
Purina UK mentions that the modern Bulldog originated in England. It was widely used as a hunting breed in Assyria, Greece, Egypt, and Rome to knock down wild animals. The ancestral breed, Bullenbeisser, used to be more aggressive and was used for bull-baiting. Later in 1835, the breeders started selective breeding to eliminate aggressiveness, creating a good family pet, the Bulldog.
This breed has a “mushball” personality and is known to have high patience and a gentle temperament. It has low energy levels, and a daily activity for 15-20 minutes is generally enough. Having the history of a farm breed, it sees its family as a pack, making it suspicious of strangers and a natural guard dog.
The breed is prone to obesity due to being a couch potato; daily brisk walks and indoor play, such as fetching, tug-of-war, are suggested along with a controlled, healthy diet.
It can sometimes be stubborn; the puppies must be given obedience training and early socialization. Despite being protective, this gentle dog is naturally calm and has an easygoing nature. This, too, is a brachycephalic breed and enjoys lounging.
6. French Bulldog
This breed was developed in France in the mid 19th century by crossing local Parisian ratters and Toy Bulldog. The breed was widely used for blood sports (bull baiting), but is now kept as a companion dog. This dog has a calm demeanor and is susceptible to various health problems because of the wrinkly skin and flat face.
It has low maintenance and requires weekly brushing and occasional baths. The breed tends to bark less and has minimal exercise requirements (10-15 minutes). The breed weighs 28 pounds, and its easygoing nature makes it adaptable for all sorts of environments and first-time dog owners. It is considered a “social butterfly,” as it gets along with strangers and other animals.
It is known to have a “clownish personality,” since it zooms around the house and rolls on its back. The funny sleeping posture makes it even more adorable: it sprawls out and stretches its hind legs while sleeping. It craves human attention, but may be stubborn if left alone and not trained properly.
7. Shih Tzu
The breed was originally developed in Tibet by crossing the Lhasa Apso and the Pekingese. The Chinese name translates as “lion,” since the animal is considered sacred and aristocratic in Chinese culture. The dog has also been used as a political symbol by various Chinese leaders.
It has a hypoallergenic coat and is ideal for families with allergy issues. This breed is rarely aggressive and has low-to-moderate exercise requirements (60-90 minutes): daily short walks and indoor play sessions. The breed lives up to 10-16 years, ensuring to be a long-term family member.
The Shih Tzu weighs around 9-16 pounds, making it portable and able to be carried to buses, coffee shops, and vacation spots. It has a squished muzzle, smooth fur, floppy ears, and large, round, expressive eyes. Unlike other small breeds, this dog is quite energetic and needs to be trained at a young age to prevent destructive behavior.
Conclusion
An easygoing dog breed does not mean a dummy that does nothing and gains weight lying on the sofa. It provides a sense of loyalty, constant companionship, and emotional support. The breed needs to perfectly match your lifestyle, demands, and daily schedule.
Provide it love, attention, and exercise, and it will shower upon you all the love and entertainment you desire.
Whether it is a Pug’s innocent facial expressions, a Bulldog’s natural protective instincts, or the Cavalier’s charming lapdog behavior, all you need is to go for a breed that matches your vibe. And this article has everything covered. Do some research, and make your life a living heaven.
