Different breeds of dogs come with different energy levels. Depending on whether you want an energetic dog or a laid back one, given below, is a list of small dog breeds with low energy levels. Low energy levels don’t however, directly translate to no exercise. Every dog needs their fair share of exercise.
7 Dog Breeds With Low Energy Levels
The English Toy Cocker Spaniel
If you’re looking for a family dog with the perfect combination of low energy and excellent around children, the English Toy Cocker Spaniel is the right fit. They love nothing more than being your constant companion and cuddling up near you. These Cocker Spaniels are known to be gentle dogs, which does not work in their favor of being a good watchdog; they don’t bark very often, simply because they are shy! If they feel threatened overwhelmed, they might bite; to avoid this, you might want to get them into the habit of having people outside of their family around them.
The Shih Tzu
A dog that thrives on love and affection directed solely at it, the Shih Tzu will happily cuddle with you on the couch for a nap or sit on your lap while you watch some TV. If you’re looking for a dog that requires the most minimal exercise your answer lies here. An indoorsy breed if there ever was one, the Shih Tzu is more than happy to be cuddled and petted instead of going for a walk or playing a game of fetch. That being said, a walk a day is a must, as they do tend to get a little lethargic and lazy if they don’t exercise. The Imperial Shih Tzu is particularly sensitive to hot weather. So in case you’re planning to take them along with you on a trip to a hot place, you might want to think again.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles is a quintessential family dog. Not only do the Cavalier Spaniels get along with children of all ages, they also adapt extremely well to other pets in the house. Their sociable nature does not make them good watchdogs sadly, but if you’re looking for a kid-friendly dog, your search ends here!
Another point that goes in their favor is their obedience. Nothing works faster than food motivation, making it easy to train them. This is also a reason for using the King Charles Cavalier Spaniel for assisted animal therapy. Being family dogs, they’ll express extreme happiness when they see you and jump around and wag their tails and make you want to play with them. Keep in mind that they don’t require a lot of exercise. A daily walk and an occasional game of fetch should do the job.
The American Cocker Spaniel
One of the best family dogs you could ever have, this breed of Cocker Spaniels are lively, playful and devoted and thrive on human companionship. If you leave them alone for too long, they get lonely and start looking at things around them for entertainment. There are times when they might even resort to urination to convey their distress and unhappiness. Sensitive by nature, these Spaniels are always looking to do things that will please you. Their sensitive nature needs to be taken into account while training them. Fairly easy to train, you will seldom come across any difficulty is teaching them the commands. You might, however, experience some challenge is housebreaking them. The key here is to be gentle in the face of any challenging scenario.
The Havanese
The Havanese make for good watchdogs as well. They bark when they sense a stranger and will look to you for a signal for whether they should go and make friends with the stranger or continue barking! Even though they are completely attached to their owner and won’t leave their side for the world, the Havanese do need their share of exercise. A daily walk or a nice run in the yard is more than enough. For their indoor activity, you could buy them a squeaky toy, which will help channel their indoor energy in a positive direction.
The Lowchen
In their attempt to protect the people they love, the Lowchen do tend to bark a little more than necessary. They can be taught to control their barking when training them. Since they are eager to please, it makes it really easy to train them. That being said, once they know that the stranger possesses no threat to the family, they are quick to make friends – be it people, other dogs, cats or other house pets.
The Lowchen is known to adapt comfortably to other house pets and children of all ages. With an affinity for chasing squirrels, while taking them for a walk outdoors, it’s best to put them on a leash, lest they bring back a dead squirrel or two.
The Coton De Tulear
The Coton De Tulears are always ready to play and perform tricks if that will make their owners happy. When it comes to their exercise, a daily walk is all they need and if you have an enclosed backyard, to run around in. They love to swim, which can also be a wonderful form of exercise for them and their stamina allows them to follow you steadily while you cycle if you’re looking for a companion.
Final Words
If you don’t have a lot of energy yourself, then one of these breeds is an excellent choice as a pet. However, do not cut down on their exercise completely, they still need their fair share of play time in order to maintain a healthy and bouncy lifestyle. These breeds of low energy dogs are intelligent and affectionate and seek to be always by your side. Be sure to respond in kind and not ignore their daily needs.
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