My dog

Schedules, units and retailers all change with this.

Best breeds for

Calm, low energy dog breeds

The breeds with a low published energy score. Every puppy is busy, so calm here means the adult dog.

8 breeds. The rule: Energy low.

Toy (2)

Bolognese 2.7 to 4.5 kg · 12 to 14 years PeekapooCross 1.8 to 9.1 kg · 10 to 15 years

Medium (1)

Basset Hound 18.1 to 29.5 kg · 12 to 13 years

Large (2)

Presa Canario 38.1 to 49.9 kg · 9 to 11 years Romanian Carpathian Shepherd 31.8 to 45.4 kg · 12 to 14 years

Giant (3)

Broholmer 40.8 to 68 kg · 8 to 10 years Neapolitan Mastiff 49.9 to 68 kg · 7 to 9 years Pyrenean Mastiff 54.4 to 86.2 kg · 10 to 12 years

Other lists

Families with childrenFirst time ownersApartmentsPeople with allergiesLow maintenanceRunners and active ownersHomes with other dogsSmall dogs for familiesBig dogs for familiesLongest lived

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How we worked this out

This list is worked out from the breed data, not picked by hand: Energy low. Energy, grooming and the good with children and good with other dogs scores are the kennel club's own published ratings for the breed (for most breeds the American Kennel Club's one to five scores), and each breed's guide links to where its figures came from. A breed with no published score for a rule is left out rather than guessed.

A rating describes a tendency across a breed, not a promise about one puppy. Every dog needs socialisation and training, and every dog needs supervising around young children. Meet the parents, ask the breeder about temperament and health tests, and consider an adult dog from a rescue whose temperament is already known.