Not Labradors, boxers or pugs – dog trainer names 3 ‘calmest’ breeds

It can be tough to choose a dog breed, especially if you’ve never owned one before. But you need to know what sort of life you want to lead before opting for a pooch.

If you’re looking for a dog that’s high energy, you’ll want a giddy dog that needs a lot of walking and wants to be played with a lot. But if you’re more relaxed and want a chilled-out dog, then you may want to consider one of these three breeds.

On Will Atherton’s TikTok page, another dog trainer, Ellie, explained three dog breeds that “rarely” have any behaviour problems.

She did note, however, that any dog in “the wrong hands” can be problematic, so you need to know before you sign up to get a dog that you’re going to be able to handle all its needs, urging research before adoption.

“Any dog can go wrong. With the wrong handling, lack of structure, or bad socialisation. But these three are generally stacked in your favour,” she reassured.

English Mastiff

She said: “When they’re bred well and raised with calm leadership, they tend to be naturally steady, affectionate, and emotionally soft. They’re not looking for conflict. Most of the issues you see are actually size-related and have to do with management”.

The American Kennel Club describes the English Mastiff as “A massive, heavy-boned dog of courage and prodigious strength, the Mastiff is docile and dignified but also a formidable protector of those they hold dear”.

It’s worth remembering that Mastiff breeds can often outweigh people, with male dogs potentially being as big as 230 lbs.

They need around 30 to 60 minutes of walking per day.

Retrievers

Ellie recommended labradors and golden retrievers because they’re “typically brilliant with people and other dogs”.

She said: “If they do struggle, it’s usually excitement. Pulling, jumping and over-friendly behaviour. Things that are very fixable once you add structure, and impulse control”.

Pet Plan writes: “With a friendly, playful temperament and willingness to please, we can see why these dogs are family favourites. The Golden Retriever’s history as a gundog means this highly intelligent breed is popular as a guide dog, and also as a member of search and rescue teams”.

They need one to two hours of exercise a day.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Ellie said: “They’re generally really sweet, sociable, and easy to live with. Good energy levels, great family dogs, and they rarely come with that intense edge you see in some other small breeds”.

They need 45 to 60 minutes of exercise per day.

She did note that these dogs all need structure, calmness, manners, and good socialisation to make them nice, well-rounded dogs.

Please note that it’s important to do your research properly before committing to a dog.