Seeking a serene canine companion to complete your tranquil home? Look no further. While all dogs offer unconditional love, some breeds are naturally predisposed to a calmer, more relaxed demeanor. Discover 13 breeds known for their gentle nature and low-key energy levels, perfect for individuals or families seeking a peaceful, harmonious living environment. From cuddly lap dogs to dignified giants, these breeds offer a calming presence without compromising on the joys of pet ownership. Let’s find your perfect zen pup!
I’m a big fan of saying that there’s a dog out there for everyone; you simply have to find one that fits into your lifestyle. For example, if you’re very active and enjoy hiking, jogging, or biking on a regular basis, you’ll want a pup that can keep up with you.
However, if you live in an apartment or you live a sedentary lifestyle, you’ll want one of the calmest dog breeds that can seamlessly blend in.
There are a number of pups considered to be the calmest dog breeds, but it truly depends on the actual dog itself. There are always exceptions to the rule, so be sure to do your research before adopting. Getting some insight from a breeder if you’re adopting a purebred pup is also a great idea.
But if you’re looking for a list of the calmest dog breeds to start your research, we’ve got you covered.
Calmest Dog Breeds
There are many dog breeds that people consider to be calm, but we’ve narrowed that list down for you.
1. Pug
| Group | Toy |
| Height | 10″ to 13″ |
| Weight | 14 to 18 pounds |
| Fur and Color | Smooth, short coat; black or fawn |
| Lifespan | 13 to 15 years |
The first one on our list of calmest dog breeds is the Pug. The Pug is known for its easy going nature, and it loves to be a well-mannered companion. Pugs are great in that they love to play but prefer to lounge with their humans over strenuous activity.
However, it has a mischievous side that sometimes likes to come out and play, much like the French Bulldog, which is up next.
2. French Bulldog
| Group | Non-Sporting |
| Height | 11″ to 13″ |
| Weight | under 28 pounds |
| Fur and Color | Short, smooth coat; brindle, fawn, cream, white, black and white, or combinations thereof |
| Lifespan | 10 to 12 years |
The French Bulldog, also known as the Frenchie, is a playful pup. According to the American Kennel Club, the French Bulldog is also the second most popular dog breed in the US.
Frenchies have adorable ears that stand up, and when it comes to their personalities, you can expect nothing but the best. French Bulldogs are like Pugs in that they’re easygoing and absolutely devoted to their owners.
3. Whippet
| Group | Hound |
| Height | 18″ to 22″ |
| Weight | 25 to 40 pounds |
| Fur and Color | Smooth short coat; red, white, fawn, brindle, black, or blue |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 years |
The Whippet Dog is very well known for its speed, which is why some people find it surprising that the Whippet frequently lands on the list of calmest dog breeds.
However, this energy comes in bursts, so as long as you’re willing to take your Whippet for a walk or to the dog park for some daily exercise, you’re golden. Whippets look like mini Greyhounds and are too cute for words.
4. Poodle
| Group | Three sizes: Non-Sporting (Standard and Miniature); Toy (Toy) |
| Height | Over 15″ (Standard); 10″ to 15″ (Miniature); up to 10″ (Toy) |
| Weight | 40 to 70 pounds (Standard); 10 to 15 pounds (Miniature); 4 to 6 pounds (Toy) |
| Fur and Color | Long curly coat; Apricot, blue, black, cream, brown, red, silver, white, gray, Cafe au Lait |
| Lifespan | 10 to 18 years |
The Poodle comes in three different sizes: Standard, Miniature, and Toy Poodle. Poodles are very mellow, one of the calm dog breeds that stand out for its hypoallergenic fur.
The Poodle loves to learn and is very intelligent. They are content to laze about on the couch but do need moderate activity each day to keep them in shape.
5. Saint Bernard
| Group | Working |
| Height | 26″ to 30″ |
| Weight | 120 to 180 pounds |
| Fur and Color | Smooth or rough short double coat; many color combinations, including brown and white, orange and white, mahogany and white, brindle and white, rust and white, and others |
| Lifespan | 8 to 10 years |
It’s hard to mention Saint Bernard without thinking of the movie “Beethoven.” Saint Bernards are furry beasts known for their massive amounts of drool, but did you know they’re also one of the calmest dog breeds out there?
The Saint Bernard is a giant, but it’s so sweet and good-natured to its family. Saint Bernards are also amazing with children and don’t require a lot of exercise.
6. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
| Group | Toy |
| Height | 12″ to 13″ |
| Weight | 13 to 18 pounds |
| Fur and Color | Medium to long sleek, silky coat; Blenheim, ruby, black and tan, and tricolor |
| Lifespan | 12 to 14 years |
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is characterized by one feature above all: its soulful eyes that draw you in and make you do their bidding. They won’t demand anything terrible from their family, though; they simply love to play, and when they’re done, the Cavalier Spaniel enjoys nothing more than the simple act of laying on your lap.
With their sweet expression and gentle demeanor, the Cavalier Spaniel is born to be a companion, and the Cavalier makes for great therapy dogs.
7. Basset Hound
| Group | Hound |
| Height | up to 15″ |
| Weight | 40 to 65 pounds |
| Fur and Color | Short, smooth coat; brown, tan, mahogany, lemon, red, black, white |
| Lifespan | 12 to 13 years |
The Basset Hound is one of the dog breeds that always catches my eye because this calm dog breed, with its short legs and droopy eyes, just looks so sad you want to scoop it up and cuddle.
Originally bred to hunt, the Basset Hound uses its sniffing capability to seek out prey. At home, though, the Basset Hound is calm and devoted to its humans. Basset Hounds shed a lot and drool even more, so you’ll find that you spend quite some time grooming.
8. Irish Wolfhound
| Group | Hound |
| Height | at least 30″ to 32″ |
| Weight | 105 to 120 pounds |
| Fur and Color | Medium-length wiry coat; black, brindle, gray, cream, red, silver, wheaten, blue, white |
| Lifespan | 6 to 8 years |
The Irish Wolfhound is one of the biggest, calmest dog breeds on our list and hails from the Irish countryside. Known as gentle giants, Irish Wolfhounds need a lot of space (lest they take up your whole couch), but they’re very sweet, loving dogs.
The Irish Wolfhound will require early socialization and training due to its sheer size, but that will help him learn to behave and give you control before your Irish Wolfhound gets so big you can’t.
9. Newfoundland
| Group | Working |
| Height | 26″ to 28″ |
| Weight | 100 to 150 pounds |
| Fur and Color | Double coat, medium length; black and white, gray, brown, or black |
| Lifespan | 9 to 10 years |
The Irish Wolfhound is one of the biggest, calmest dog breeds on our list and hails from the Irish countryside. Known as gentle giants, Irish Wolfhounds need a lot of space (lest they take up your whole couch), but they’re very sweet, loving dogs.
The Irish Wolfhound will require early socialization and training due to its sheer size, but that will help him learn to behave and give you control before your Irish Wolfhound gets so big you can’t.
10. English Bulldog
| Group | Non-Sporting |
| Height | 14″ to 15″ |
| Weight | 40 to 50 pounds |
| Fur and Color | Short smooth coat; fawn, red, red brindle, white, fallow, or a combination thereof |
| Lifespan | 8 to 10 years |
The English Bulldog is a well-mannered companion that seems to draw attention everywhere you go with their cute underbites. If you’ve never seen an English Bulldog on a skateboard, get to YouTube immediately.
One of the calmest dog breeds, this pup is content to just be and is even-tempered, even in a house with rambunctious kids. They adapt very well whether you live in a house with a big yard or choose apartment living.
11. Great Pyrenees
| Group | Working |
| Height | 25″ to 32″ |
| Weight | 85 to 150 pounds |
| Fur and Color | Double coat, thick; white with reddish-brown, tan, gray, or badger markings |
| Lifespan | 10 to 12 years |
The Great Pyrenees is a great fit (see what I did there?) for any home that loves a big, calm dog breed. These larger-than-life pups are friendly and highly intelligent and learn quickly — so much so that they’ll probably try to outsmart you as my foster pups did (they were Newfoundland and Great Pyrenees mixes – talk about a handful!).
They do need weekly grooming but are otherwise easy to care for. The Great Pyrenees is very affectionate and drawn to children but must be socialized early if you want to raise them with other pets. This breed also makes for great therapy dogs.
12. Boerboel
| Group | Working |
| Height | 22″ to 27″ |
| Weight | 150 to 200 pounds |
| Fur and Color | Short, smooth coat; brown, cream, brindle, tawny, red, reddish brown |
| Lifespan | 9 to 11 years |
The Boerboel is one of the most laid-back, calmest dog breeds that I’ve not really heard much about. However, the Boerboel is a very intelligent and obedient one of the calm dog breeds.
The Boerboel is very affectionate towards its family, but reserved and territorial with strangers. Additionally, you’ll want to assert dominance over the Boerboel early on. The Boerboel is a big dog, a mastiff type that is often used as a guard dog.
13. Great Dane
| Group | Working |
| Height | 28″ to 32″ |
| Weight | 110 to 175 pounds |
| Fur and Color | Smooth, short coat; black, blue, black and white, brindle, Harlequin, fawn, mantle, white, merle |
| Lifespan | 7 to 10 years |
Goofy, loving, and playful are three adjectives that describe Great Danes to a T. These dogs are a gentle giant type that will gladly try to make its home on your lap – size be darned.
They are affectionate dogs to their families and often serve as a great deterrent to those who would do you harm simply from their size alone. They’re great with other pets and children and can even live in apartments.
14. Greyhound
| Group | Hound |
| Height | 27″ to 30″ |
| Weight | 60 to 80 pounds |
| Fur and Color | Smooth, short coat; brindle, fawn, red, black, white, or blue |
| Lifespan | 10 to 13 years |
The Greyhound is frequently heralded as the fastest dog in the world. It’s also showcased in our list of Hound dog breeds. Despite the fact that Greyhounds will sprint when they get the chance and they’re often used as racing dogs, they can be one of the calmest dog breeds out there.
They’re known for their welcoming disposition and are content to just lounge when they’re not “working.” They make great companions as they really love to cuddle.
15. Tibetan Spaniel
| Group | Non-Sporting |
| Height | 10″ |
| Weight | 9 to 15 pounds |
| Fur and Color | double coat, medium length; black, cream, gold, red, white, sable, silver sable, or black and tan |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 years |
The Tibetan Spaniel looks a lot like the Chinese dog breed Pekingese with its flattened face and round eyes. Their history dates back to ancient times when, centuries ago, Tibetan monasteries used the breed as watchdogs.
These pups are curious and also lively. If you take them on a walk, they’re more than happy to sniff and explore. Don’t be surprised if their roots as watchdogs show. They will warn anyone who gets too close and keep an eye on the neighborhood for you, but they are known for being well-behaved.
FAQs
What Is the Calmest Dog?
While there are many calm dog breeds, there are two that particularly stand out. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel stands out the most, and the Basset Hound is a close second.
There are others, like clumber spaniel dogs, who are calm dog breeds but not included in our list.
Which Dog Is Very Gentle?
Any dog has the penchant to be gentle, especially since they all have different temperaments, even if they belong to the same calm dog breeds.
However, if you’re looking for an all-around even-keeled dog that fits in everywhere, you’ll appreciate the Golden Retriever. It’s not on this list, but it’s definitely one you should entertain.
What Puppy Breed Is the Calmest?
Every puppy differs, but the calmest dog breeds, at least from this list, would be the Basset Hound or the Cavalier Spaniel.
Wrap-up
While the pups listed above definitely belong to the calm dog breeds, don’t be surprised if you get an ornery one who likes to play and won’t settle down. Each dog has its own unique personality that it loves to show off, whether that’s calm and cool as a cucumber or wired beyond belief.
Do your research and look at the traits and characteristics outlined on authority websites such as the American Kennel Club before adopting.
Now that you’ve learned about our calm dog breeds check out these lazy dog breeds to know the real couch potatoes of the canine fraternity!
Ultimately, finding the perfect calm dog breed depends on individual lifestyle and home environment. While these 13 breeds are known for their laid-back temperaments, remember that every dog has its own personality. Proper training and socialization are crucial for any breed, even the calmest. Thorough research and careful consideration of your living situation will ensure a harmonious match, resulting in a truly peaceful and loving home shared with a canine companion.