Fetch FinderIf you want a dog that's happy with a couple of short walks and plenty of couch time, look at Bulldogs, Basset Hounds, Shih Tzus, Pugs and, surprisingly, Greyhounds, which are sprinters who spend most of the day asleep.
Breeds rated 1–2/5 for energy (the calmest)
Medium · 40–50 lb👪 Good family dogBulldogCalm, sweet and famously lazy. Bulldogs are easygoing companions, but come with real health costs.
Small · up to 14 lbBetter with adults or older kidsPekingeseA dignified, lion-like toy breed from imperial China. Loyal, independent and happy to lounge.
Large · 110–150 lbBetter with adults or older kidsNeapolitan MastiffA massive, wrinkled Italian guardian. Loyal and calm at home, intimidating to strangers.
Small · 16–28 lb👪 Good family dogFrench BulldogPlayful, quiet and built for apartment life. Frenchies need little exercise, but their flat faces make them sensitive to heat and cold.
Small · 9–16 lb👪 Good family dogShih TzuA calm, cheerful lap dog bred purely for companionship. Shih Tzus are easygoing and great for first-time owners.
Small · 14–18 lb👪 Great family dogPugFunny, loving and happy to nap all day. Pugs are excellent apartment dogs but their flat faces need careful handling in heat.
Medium · 40–65 lb👪 Great family dogBasset HoundLaid-back, patient and great with kids. Bassets are low-key at home but have one of the best noses in dogs.
Medium · 45–70 lbBetter with adults or older kidsChow ChowDignified, independent and cat-like. Chows are quiet and clean, but aloof with strangers and best with experienced owners.
Large · 85–100+ lb👪 Good family dogGreat PyreneesA calm, patient guardian bred to protect flocks in the mountains. Pyrs are gentle with family but independent and loud at night.
Large · 100–150 lb👪 Great family dogNewfoundlandA sweet, patient giant famous for water rescue and gentleness with kids. Newfies are calm but very big and very hairy.
Large · 120–180 lb👪 Good family dogSaint BernardA famously gentle mountain rescue dog. Saints are calm and loving, but their size, drool and cost are serious commitments.
Large · 60–70 lb👪 Good family dogGreyhoundThe fastest dog breed, but a famous "45-mph couch potato." Retired racing Greyhounds make gentle, quiet pets.
Small · 12–18 lbBetter with adults or older kidsLhasa ApsoA long-coated watchdog from Tibetan monasteries. Confident, independent and wary of strangers.
Medium · 45–60 lbBetter with adults or older kidsChinese Shar-PeiA wrinkly, hippo-faced guardian from China. Calm, loyal and devoted, but aloof with strangers.
Large · 120–230 lb👪 Good family dogMastiffOne of the heaviest breeds: a calm, dignified guardian. Gentle with family, very protective.
Large · 100–130 lb👪 Good family dogBullmastiffA powerful guardian bred to stop poachers. Calm and loving at home, fearless as a protector.
Large · 99–110+ lb👪 Good family dogDogue de BordeauxA huge-headed French mastiff that's loyal and calm, made famous by the movie Turner & Hooch.
Large · 55–85 lb👪 Good family dogClumber SpanielA calm, heavyset spaniel with a gentle, easygoing nature. Clumbers are mellow at home and steady in the field.
Medium · 35–45 lb👪 Good family dogSussex SpanielA low, long, golden-liver spaniel with a calm, cheerful nature. Rare, mellow and devoted.
Large · 75–110 lb👪 Good family dogScottish DeerhoundA huge, gentle sighthound with a wiry coat, bred to hunt deer in Scotland. Calm and dignified indoors.
Large · 60–105 lbBetter with adults or older kidsBorzoiA tall, silky Russian wolfhound built for speed. Quiet, gentle and catlike in its independence.
Large · 105–180 lb👪 Good family dogIrish WolfhoundThe tallest dog breed, gentle and calm despite its size. Wolfhounds are sweet-natured but have a very short lifespan.
Small · 7–11 lbBetter with adults or older kidsJapanese ChinA dainty, catlike toy breed bred as a companion for Japanese nobility. Charming, quiet and devoted.
Small · 8–14 lbBetter with adults or older kidsEnglish Toy SpanielA gentle, flat-faced toy spaniel and close cousin of the Cavalier. Quiet and affectionate.
Small · 4.5–11 lb👪 Good family dogRussian Tsvetnaya BolonkaA fluffy, colorful lap dog from Russia, newly AKC-recognized in 2026. Gentle, happy and easy to live with.
Large · 70–150 lbBetter with adults or older kidsTibetan MastiffAn ancient Himalayan guardian with a lion-like mane. Aloof, independent and very protective.
Small · up to 14 lbBetter with adults or older kidsPekingeseA dignified, lion-like toy breed from imperial China. Loyal, independent and happy to lounge.Large · 110–150 lbBetter with adults or older kidsNeapolitan MastiffA massive, wrinkled Italian guardian. Loyal and calm at home, intimidating to strangers.Small · 16–28 lb👪 Good family dogFrench BulldogPlayful, quiet and built for apartment life. Frenchies need little exercise, but their flat faces make them sensitive to heat and cold.Small · 9–16 lb👪 Good family dogShih TzuA calm, cheerful lap dog bred purely for companionship. Shih Tzus are easygoing and great for first-time owners.Small · 14–18 lb👪 Great family dogPugFunny, loving and happy to nap all day. Pugs are excellent apartment dogs but their flat faces need careful handling in heat.Medium · 40–65 lb👪 Great family dogBasset HoundLaid-back, patient and great with kids. Bassets are low-key at home but have one of the best noses in dogs.Medium · 45–70 lbBetter with adults or older kidsChow ChowDignified, independent and cat-like. Chows are quiet and clean, but aloof with strangers and best with experienced owners.Large · 85–100+ lb👪 Good family dogGreat PyreneesA calm, patient guardian bred to protect flocks in the mountains. Pyrs are gentle with family but independent and loud at night.Large · 100–150 lb👪 Great family dogNewfoundlandA sweet, patient giant famous for water rescue and gentleness with kids. Newfies are calm but very big and very hairy.Large · 120–180 lb👪 Good family dogSaint BernardA famously gentle mountain rescue dog. Saints are calm and loving, but their size, drool and cost are serious commitments.Large · 60–70 lb👪 Good family dogGreyhoundThe fastest dog breed, but a famous "45-mph couch potato." Retired racing Greyhounds make gentle, quiet pets.Small · 12–18 lbBetter with adults or older kidsLhasa ApsoA long-coated watchdog from Tibetan monasteries. Confident, independent and wary of strangers.Medium · 45–60 lbBetter with adults or older kidsChinese Shar-PeiA wrinkly, hippo-faced guardian from China. Calm, loyal and devoted, but aloof with strangers.Large · 120–230 lb👪 Good family dogMastiffOne of the heaviest breeds: a calm, dignified guardian. Gentle with family, very protective.Large · 100–130 lb👪 Good family dogBullmastiffA powerful guardian bred to stop poachers. Calm and loving at home, fearless as a protector.Large · 99–110+ lb👪 Good family dogDogue de BordeauxA huge-headed French mastiff that's loyal and calm, made famous by the movie Turner & Hooch.Large · 55–85 lb👪 Good family dogClumber SpanielA calm, heavyset spaniel with a gentle, easygoing nature. Clumbers are mellow at home and steady in the field.Medium · 35–45 lb👪 Good family dogSussex SpanielA low, long, golden-liver spaniel with a calm, cheerful nature. Rare, mellow and devoted.Large · 75–110 lb👪 Good family dogScottish DeerhoundA huge, gentle sighthound with a wiry coat, bred to hunt deer in Scotland. Calm and dignified indoors.Large · 60–105 lbBetter with adults or older kidsBorzoiA tall, silky Russian wolfhound built for speed. Quiet, gentle and catlike in its independence.Large · 105–180 lb👪 Good family dogIrish WolfhoundThe tallest dog breed, gentle and calm despite its size. Wolfhounds are sweet-natured but have a very short lifespan.Small · 7–11 lbBetter with adults or older kidsJapanese ChinA dainty, catlike toy breed bred as a companion for Japanese nobility. Charming, quiet and devoted.Small · 8–14 lbBetter with adults or older kidsEnglish Toy SpanielA gentle, flat-faced toy spaniel and close cousin of the Cavalier. Quiet and affectionate.Small · 4.5–11 lb👪 Good family dogRussian Tsvetnaya BolonkaA fluffy, colorful lap dog from Russia, newly AKC-recognized in 2026. Gentle, happy and easy to live with.Large · 70–150 lbBetter with adults or older kidsTibetan MastiffAn ancient Himalayan guardian with a lion-like mane. Aloof, independent and very protective.Calm doesn't mean no exercise
Every dog needs daily walks and some play, or it gains weight and gets bored. Low-energy breeds just need less: often 20–40 minutes a day instead of an hour or more.
A few things to know:
- Puppies of every breed are energetic. Most dogs calm down noticeably between 1 and 3 years old.
- Many calm breeds are flat-faced (Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs), so they overheat easily. Keep walks short and cool in summer.
- Giant breeds are calm but big. Newfoundlands and Saint Bernards still need room, and cost more to feed.
Consider an adult dog
If calm matters most, adopt an adult dog from a shelter or rescue. With a grown dog, you can see its real energy level before you commit, instead of guessing from the breed. Retired racing Greyhounds are a classic choice.
Find your best low-key match with the breed quiz: choose "Short walks, mostly relaxing" or "Not very active."