The Calmest Dog Breeds for the Whole Family

October 15, 2020

If you are looking for calm dogs, there are many factors to take into consideration. While some dog breeds have a reputation for being more relaxed than others, an animal's temperament depends a lot upon their upbringing. If a dog has had a lot of negative and scary experiences in their life, they are more likely to be scared and timid.

Contrary to popular belief, size is not the most critical factor in determining the calmest dog breed. Small dogs get a bad rep for being neurotic or barking a lot, but truthfully, quiet dogs can be both large and small. Instead of size, it comes down to breeding, upbringing, and personality.

Here, we go over the top dog breeds that have a reputation for being calm and chill, including their distinct characteristics and dog care tips. Whether you live in a small space, have kids, or simply value quiet time, this guide will help you find the best, calmest dog breed for your unique situation.

1. Great Dane

Great Danes are some of the largest dogs in the world, and their size can make them seem scary. However, this breed is actually one of the most kid-friendly dogs. 

Great Danes are incredibly friendly and well-mannered around small children. Also, because they do well with other dogs, it is easy to take Great Danes on walks and socialize them. However, make sure to buy the most oversized jumbo dog bed you can find, because these gentle giants love to stretch out!

2. Neapolitan Mastiff

Breeders created the Neapolitan Mastiff to protect families. They make excellent guard dogs. However, they are also incredibly friendly and lovable! 

Neapolitan Mastiffs are fiercely loyal to their family and will do anything to protect them, making them excellent family dogs. Just watch out! These patient dogs love to drool and cover you in slobbery kisses.

3. Bull Mastiff

Bull Mastiffs are calm, quiet dogs but with a defensive side. They will protect everyone in their house by taking down any intruder swiftly. Since they do such a great job in this role, Bull Mastiffs are always wary of strangers. 

This breed needs daily exercise, but a nice walk or time playing in the yard will suffice. While you may have to put up with some snoring and drooling from a Bull Mastiff, they are otherwise low-maintenance. You won't have to do much in terms of grooming for these gorgeous animals. 

4. Newfoundland

The Newfoundland ranks at the top for the calmest dog breed. These friendly dogs love everyone but can get protective if they feel there is a threat toward their family. Daily exercise is necessary for this breed, and they love to swim! 

These kid-friendly dogs require more intensive grooming. Their coats need brushing at least twice weekly.

5. Leonberger

The Leonberger breed is one of the biggest around, with some being up to 200 pounds. Despite their huge size, these are well-mannered, affectionate, loving family dogs. While they are not specifically a guard dog, they can be protective of their owners and cautious toward strangers. 

A lot of brushing is necessary for this breed, mostly when shedding occurs. However, all the work will be worth it to have this gentle giant by your side. 

6. Great Pyrenees

For people looking for quiet dogs that are good with kids, protective over family, and mild-mannered, the Great Pyrenees is an ideal option. This breed is cautious around new dogs and strangers but otherwise relaxed and gentle.

To raise this dog correctly, they need an owner that is firm, attentive and uses a lot of positive reinforcement training methods. With all the right tools, the Great Pyrenees can shape up to be the perfect family pet.

7. Greyhound

Greyhounds are fast, agile, and smart. They love to run and play when they are outside, but calm down once they head inside. When calmed down, Greyhounds tend to be timid but friendly dogs, and the right family can help them gain confidence through care and positive reassurance.

Daily exercise is not too much of a hassle. At most, you'll need to factor in some daily playtime in the yard or a longer walk. Another advantage of these dogs is that they require minimal grooming or brushing. 

8. Bulldog

While the appearance of a bulldog may be intimidating, they are one of the calmest dog breeds around. They can be stubborn but are exceptionally friendly when meeting new children, adults, or other dogs. 

It is essential that you don't take this breed out when the weather is hot as it is terrible for their health. The daily exercise needs call for short amounts of playtime in the backyard. Another advantage of bulldogs is that grooming is not a significant concern.

9. Basset Hound

Basset Hounds are some of the most fun-loving, family dogs out there. Their personality makes them perfect for playing with children, other dogs, or adults. 

Something to note is that this breed has an unusually long back. Because of this, children need to learn how to play nicely and safely with the pet. Basset Hounds are a unique and lovable breed.

10. Cavalier King Charles

If you are looking for apartment dogs, look no further. The Cavalier King Charles breed is extremely playful, gentle, and sweet. These animals are great on a leash and love curling up to cuddle on the couch. They also are especially good with kids since they are not too big to overwhelm them, but not too small to where the dogs could get hurt. 

This breed loves the outdoors and daily exercise. It would be best if you exercise this breed by taking the animal on healthy walks and letting them romp about in the backyard. Once you bring this breed home, you will immediately fall in love.

11. Pug

Pugs have the whole package: they are cute, playful, and confident in themselves. They have a very calm temperament but love to show off to the entire family. They do not require tons of exercise, making them excellent apartment dogs. 

A short walk daily will meet their exercise needs. However, note that hot weather and long walks are not suitable for pugs. They can become tired or exhausted because of the harsh sunlight. Otherwise, these adorable family dogs are one-of-a-kind.

12. Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu is one of the most lovable, and calmest dog breeds you'll find. They are sweet little lapdogs who like to stay by their owner's side at all times. 

A full-grown Shih Tzu is rather muscular and large-boned, making them safe to play with children. Since they are so small, exercise from running around the house all day is enough for a Shih Tzu

One of the most intensive aspects of owning a Shih Tzu is coat care. These dogs need brushing at least several times a week and taken to the groomer regularly to take care of their coat correctly.

13. Boerboel

Breeders originally developed Boerboel dogs to protect their owners, much like bull or mastiff-type dogs. The Boerboel is actually the product of cross-breeding of the bull and mastiffs. 

These calm dogs are friendly, and intelligent. However, while they may seem easygoing, this breed is not for people who are new to having a dog.

14. Tibetan Spaniel

Tibetan Spaniels trace their origins back to when they were companions of Buddhist monks. They worked both as watchdogs and on top of Tibetan monasteries. 

Some of the most typical characteristics of Tibetan Spaniels are independence, intelligence, and an overall calm demeanor. This temperament makes these dogs stand out in obedience and agility.

15. Irish Wolfhound

Irish Wolfhounds are enormous, and their size came to be when bred from larger dogs in Britain with hounds from the Middle East. One of the essential traits of this breed is its intelligence. They are quick-witted and learn fast, making them easy to train.

Another unique characteristic of Irish Wolfhounds is that they are empathetic to human emotions. These friendly dogs are excellent candidates for therapy work.

16. Saint Bernard

Saint Bernards were a breed as early as 1050 AD. In the past, they helped monks find missing travelers. These animals learn quickly how to obey commands and respond to their owners. 

One of the things this breed benefits the most from is training classes. They don't always realize their size, so they can accidentally knock over small children. Training can help with that. This calm, gentle, yet playful dog is perfect for the whole family. 

Never Judge a Dog by Its Size

If you are on the hunt for the perfect mild-mannered, calm dogs, look past their size alone. A dog's breed can say a lot about their potential temperament.

That said, you never know for sure until you meet the dog face-to-face. Upbringing and training are also significantly influential factors when owning any dog. 

The breeds listed above are some of the calmest dog breeds. These animals exhibit quieter, gentler attitudes and friendlier dispositions by nature.

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