If you’re looking to add a pooch to your family, you’ve likely spent a lot of time considering what breed is the right one for you. With breeds available in every shape, size, coat type, and color, it can be very difficult narrowing down the selections to just one dog. Most families maintain extremely busy schedules, meaning they have limited free time to devote to rigorous activity or high maintenance grooming requirements at the end of a busy work day or week. For lots of families, a low energy dog breed is just what they are looking for. If you’re on the hunt for your next great pooch, which breeds are the best ones for a family seeking a low energy dog?
Top Eight Breeds Known for Low Energy
Low energy breeds make wonderful companions. Make no mistake; you will still need to give your dog regular exercise to keep them healthy and happy. However, lower energy breeds often prefer shorter walks, meaning you won’t have to invest a significant amount of time trying to wear your new pooch out. If you’re looking for breeds that enjoy a short amount of activity followed by a large amount of couch potato time, one of our top eight low energy dogs just might be the breed for you.
Great Dane
The Great Dane is considered a giant breed and has a relatively short life expectancy. This true gentle giant is soft-natured and affectionate. The Great Dane requires some activity to remain in good health condition but is generally quite content to lounge around the house with his family. This low energy breed is protective of those he loves and is known for his calm, quiet ways.
Irish Wolfhound
Though the Irish Wolfhound’s original purpose was to assist soldiers to remove men from horses and chariots during wartime, this breed is one pooch who will surely capture your heart. Shaggy and unkempt in appearance, the Irish Wolfhound moves with soft, deliberate steps which are in keeping with the breed’s sensitive nature. Irish Wolfhounds thrive in a home characterized by quietness. If you take your Irish Wolfhound for a walk of average length each day, you will find he is most content to spend the rest of his time by your side, doing whatever it is you feel like doing.
Basset Hound
The Basset Hound is a dog of excellent nature. He is well-renowned for his easygoing, friendly ways. A dog who enjoys taking life at a relaxed pace, the Basset Hound prefers to move and live slowly. Your Basset Hound will enjoy going for a walk but prefers to take an easy pace and keep the length of the activity to a minimum. A breed characterized by its love of children and its desire to be close to its people, the Basset Hound is also intelligent but stubborn, making him a challenge to train. A true hunting dog driven by his nose, you will need to keep your Basset securely contained. Basset Hounds possess strong feet they will use for digging if they sense the presence of prey. Nuisance barking can also be an issue with the breed.
Newfoundland Dog
The intelligent working pooch known as the Newfoundland Dog is another breed that can be described as a gentle giant. Though large and powerful, the Newfoundland is soft in nature and makes an excellent family companion. As with all breeds, you will need to make sure your Newfoundland gets regular activity, but swimming is typically his favourite sport. The Newfoundland is happy to lounge around his home particularly if his favorite people are close by for comfort and companionship.
Pekingese
The Pekingese is small on size but big when it comes to personality. The Pekingese is a dog that is surprisingly active; however, walks must be kept to a short duration to prevent breathing difficulties as a result of the snub-nosed construction of the Pekingese’s face. When it comes to exercise, the Pekingese does enjoy a walk with his family; however, the breed is quite content to fulfill its own activity requirements in the peace and quiet of your own backyard. Care must be taken not to leave a Pekingese outside for long periods of time in hot and humid weather as they lack the breathing capacity to cope well with those types of weather conditions.
Bulldog
A stately gentleman, the Bulldog is an amiable little fellow who loves to spend time in the company of his family. As with other breeds with snub-nosed faces, the Bulldog cannot tolerate hot and humid conditions well. The Bulldog does require some activity to remain healthy; however, a walk of moderate length per day is more than sufficient. You will find your Bulldog’s favourite place is by your feet or snuggled up on your couch.
Chow Chow
The Chow Chow is one breed who would choose the couch over a nice long walk any day of the week. A breed that bonds very deeply to its owner, the Chow Chow is intelligent and strong-willed, making them a challenge to train. The Chow Chow is an aloof breed, preferring to be near to his family but not cuddled up against them. This is one pooch who is also reticent of strangers, making early and frequent socialization of this breed an absolute must. Due to the breed’s more introverted nature, the Chow thrives in a home that is quiet.
Greyhound
Though many people associate the lithe, graceful Greyhound with racing, this pooch is actually a breed that most enjoys taking long naps next to the ones they love most. Greyhounds are naturally extremely gentle and are not known to be barkers. They are extremely well-suited to apartment living as their exercise requirements are low and can easily be fulfilled with short, daily walks and/or access to a small fenced in yard. Those who own a Greyhound affectionately refer to them as “couch potatoes” as that is their preferred locale and activity in the house.
Looking to add a low energy canine pal to your home?
Check out our list of the top eight low energy breeds and contact a reputable breeder to inquire about one of them today. You just might find the perfect pooch for you!
