The most placid, easy going breeds

[WetRainbowRoses]

In your experience?
Any size, colour, coat type, breed group, the only criteria is ‘generally placid and easy going’

We have two dogs already, two breeds known for being high strung and feisty!
They are both great dogs in their own ways but they are hard work.
One is quite old and I have commented to DH that I’m not sure I want another dog really when she passes, but DH pointed out that our younger one probably would not cope without a companion dog and will be absolutely devastated when the old girl goes so we probably should get him a companion when that happens.

I 100% do NOT want another ‘hard work’ breed with a reputation for being ‘challenging’, ‘feisty’, ‘headstrong’, ‘experienced owner’ etc.

I want something with a reputation for being laid back, relaxed and easy.
I don’t care about trainability/desire to please as long as they are friendly and relaxed in temperament.

Mulled over the possibility of a Leonberger for a big breed and a Shih Tzu or Tibetan Spaniel for a small breed.

I've heard lovely things about Leonbergers.

Newfoundlands have a reputation for being calm and easygoing. We've not fully found this with our girl, so personalities don't always breed true! She has been easy to train, overall, but she is far too interested in people so not brilliant at recall, and at nearly 4 she's still a lot more excitable than I expected.

Pug.
They mainly sleep but are super affectionate and can do long walks if they build up gradually.
I’d never buy one though, as I don’t agree with the breeding of this type of dog.
There are always some looking for a home.

Greyhound every time.
Placid, laid back, lazy. Ours loves walks and can be let off lead. Some can't or need a muzzle as they are trained to chase.
We got a non-racer so she has no prey drive
They're great with kids and just want love (and a comfy sofa bed)

Cavaliers from fully health tested parents (important as the breed needs very knowledgeable breeders to try and reduce/ avoid hereditary conditions; our own one is fit as a race horse and very good at agility).

They are just the gentlest, kindest dogs and ours is so undemanding and fits in enthusiastically with everything we do. I wouldn’t recommend the breed to someone who works away from home as they love their people so much , ours is like our shadow and just the best dog ever . And clever and hilarious.

We have a rough collie. He is so laid back he's almost horizontal. In fact most of the time he is horizontal. He's also very very gentle.

I don’t even have a greyhound but everything you’ve suggested screams greyhound to me!

I've heard lovely things about Leonbergers
Me too, DH really likes the look and sound of them too.
They are probably the one we’d most lean towards at the moment

Newfoundlands have a reputation for being calm and easygoing..at nearly 4 she's still a lot more excitable than I expected
She sounds lovely 😊
They are all individuals I guess but I too have heard they are typically very calm

pug. I’d never buy one though, as I don’t agree with the breeding of this type of dog
Good possibility, thank you

Greyhound every time
Our younger one is a chihuahua so I’d be very nervous of a typically prey driven breed like a grey injuring him as he’s so small.
He does have an (enormous) greyhound friend however who is unbelievably kind and placid and lovely.

Cavaliers from fully health tested parents (important as the breed needs very knowledgeable breeders to try and reduce/ avoid hereditary conditions
I love these little dogs but yes, unfortunately very aware of the health issues they face

I wouldn’t recommend the breed to someone who works away from home as they love their people so much
I’m home all day so no issue there

We have a rough collie. He is so laid back he's almost horizontal. In fact most of the time he is horizontal. He's also very very gentle
So beautiful too.
Our old neighbour had two, competed at Crufts with one of them!
They were lovely once you were in the house but very territorial, lots of aggressive barking and lunging when you initially approached which rather put me off them.

Golden Retriever
If he knows where his people are nothing else matters (or his temporary people if he’s staying somewhere else when we are on holiday)

We've a (rescue) pug

He is the sweetest, most peopley dog ever and is a total go-anywhere dog

Occasionally he takes against a dog in the park though and he screams like a banshee (it's very funny)

I think my Scottie is even easier though - she loves buses/boats - and she doesn't take against other dogs (just squirrels)

No idea why it wouldn't let me post my pretty girl

Shih Tzu - mine is so chilled. Easy to manage, she is lying on my knee in the car now, while waiting for DS to leave school.

But if you want a larger dog, Golden Retriever can be easy going, as can a Labrador.

Irish wolfhounds can be very laid back. Adore Newfies & Leonbergers. Have met some very chilled ones.

I know someone who's chihuahua was killed by their (ex racer) greyhound so wouldn't go there.

Golden Retriever
This was one breed that DH suggested but aren’t they quite ‘full on’ and puppyish until maturity?
How did you find adolescence with yours?

We've a (rescue) pug
He is the sweetest, most peopley dog ever and is a total go-anywhere dog
He’s gorgeous laurie

I have a lab/poodle cross and she’s very chilled. I walk miles with her mind, but she’s soft as anything and extremely affectionate. When not walking she’s happiest at my feet or on my knee (not fully aware of her size - she’s huge!). Very intelligent and easy to train too.

Pugs, every time. But only ever rescues, please do not buy and encourage breeding them, lots of older ones need homes through rescues.

I was you a few years ago. I’ve always had rescue GSD or collies and no longer had the time with small DC and to be honest I wanted something less driven. I had always competed and trained dogs but just wanted something easy for a change. I had one GSD left that wasn’t coping as an only dog and so along came the leonbergers.

They are honestly so easy compared to more working type breeds. Anything they throw at me makes me laugh because it’s about 1/10th of what the GSDs have put me through over the years

They have a much lower exercise requirement to some breeds but the personality is the thing that’s the main difference, their pace of life is just a lot more relaxed.

I also looked at Newfie’s, saints and bernese which all fit the bill but leonbergers don’t drool and that’s what swung it for me.

There’s obvious cons to a giant breed so if I was ever do go smaller (doubtful but you never know) I would go for a cavi which seems like a good chilled out alternative!

DSis has a Shar Pei and it’s the calmest dog I’ve ever met. It can be a bit antisocial though and takes itself off to another room for some peace and quiet when I visit with my children! Don’t blame it.

We have a Basset Hound and she is the most easy going and laid back breed. More than capable of 6+ mile walks but also happy to snooze at home.

Great with children and just wants to be friends with everybody.

Just fantastically relaxed and easy going. I love the hound attitude and outlook on life.

Golden Retriever
If he knows where his people are nothing else matters (or his temporary people if he’s staying somewhere else when we are on holiday)

My 2 are completely mental.

Basset hound. Patient ,loyal, lovable. Enjoy all the attention and absolutely love kids and are so patient with children. I wouldn't have any other breed now .

There’s the most amazing basset near us, his owner tries to walk him and he just sits down and watches the world go by instead

@Inthesameboatatmo we are the same now, our basset is our first and there's no way I'd have any other breed now. She's so laid back, and while ours isn't lazy she still loves a good snooze (snoring away now).

Cavalier King Charles

I'm with the basset hound brigade. Such lovely affable, placid funny dogs who are great with the family. They are not lazy (well some are) and actually have a lot of stamina, they are low and slow though. I used to take mine for 4-5 miles a day but she's a lot older now so has slowed down. They are just very laid back, take anywhere dogs who spent most of the time asleep or snoozing. They love children, mostly get on with other dogs.