Top 10 Laziest Dog Breeds Ranked: Perfect Companions for Couch Potatoes!
Rocky Kanaka
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Some dog breeds need a lot of daily exercise—so much so that it almost becomes a full-time job. These dog breeds are wonderful for runners, hikers, and people who work from home and lead an extremely active lifestyle. For the rest of us, a quick walk around the block and a leisurely weekend on the couch sounds more realistic.
Luckily, the laziest dog breeds are happy to loaf on the sofa for hours! Couch potato dogs prefer relaxing to almost anything else, but it’s still important that they get regular walks and light exercise. While lazy breeds might be some of the most low-maintenance dogs in terms of exercise, they aren’t always the easiest dog to take care of. Some of these dogs still have particular and unique needs, they’re just dogs that don’t need a lot of exercise.
Here, we’ll be counting down the top 10 laziest dog breeds! From little dogs to gentle giants, our lazy dog list runs the gambit of laid-back pups. If you’re also searching for the best low-maintenance dogs for apartments, many of the breeds on this list fit the bill.
Remember that even the lowest maintenance dogs still need to go for walks, play with toys, and get their zoomies out. Dogs that live in apartments especially need to be taken for walks since they have no yard to run or play in. The exercise needs we’ve listed here are for low-impact exercises like brisk walks and playing with toys.
10. Great Dane
Quick Facts
- Height: 28-32 inches
- Weight: 110-175 pounds
- Lifespan: 7-10 years
- Breed Group: Working
- Exercise Needs: 1-2 hours per day
You might not immediately think that the Great Dane belongs on our list of laziest dogs and most low-maintenance dog breeds. The enormous Great Dane looks like a dog that would want a lot of exercise, and that’s sort of true. Friendly, calm, and patient dogs the Great Dane makes a great companion, and when not exercising is a total couch potato.
To keep your Great Dane happy and healthy, you’ll need to walk them at least twice a day for 30 minutes. Others might want up to 2 hours of exercise per day, but once they’ve been tired out, these lazy big dogs are ready to nap for the rest of the day,
9. Basset Hound
Quick Facts
- Height: 15 inches or less
- Weight: 40-65 pounds
- Lifespan: 12-13 years
- Breed Group: Hound
- Exercise Needs: 1 hour per day
The charming though often stubborn Basset Hound is a low-rider dog breed once bred to track game. Basset Hounds can have amazing stamina, and when trained for tracking work can easily spend hours searching for their goal. As family pets, most Basset Hounds are dogs that are low maintenance and require little exercise. A few brisk walks per day is all a Basset Hound needs to stay healthy, and this breed loves to lounge on a soft spot when not being active.
Be aware that some hounds like the Basset are prone to overeating, which, paired with low energy levels, can lead to unwanted weight gain. Carefully portioning your dog’s food and making sure you take at least one walk per day can prevent this. Low-maintenance medium-sized dogs like the Basset also do well in apartment buildings.
8. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Quick Facts
- Height: 12-13 inches
- Weight: 13-18 pounds
- Lifespan: 12-15 years
- Breed Group: Toy
- Exercise Needs: 45-60 minutes per day
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are true lap dogs who love spending time with their pet parents more than anything else. Typically reserved and a little shy around strangers and newcomers, Cavaliers like to choose one person and stick to them. As long as they can be near their human, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels rarely want for anything else.
While we don’t like to say that Cavaliers are the best dogs for lazy people, this is a fantastic dog for busy families with kids or folks with limited mobility or who might be looking for a gentle, low-energy breed.
7. Italian Greyhound
Quick Facts
- Height: 13-15 inches
- Weight: 7-14 pounds
- Lifespan: 14-15 years
- Breed Group: Hound
- Exercise Needs: 45-60 minutes per day
Italian Greyhounds might be super fast—like their larger cousin, the Greyhound—but that doesn’t mean they’re high energy! Alert and naturally athletic, the Italian Greyhound is surprisingly uninterested in exercise and would rather spend its days wrapped in a soft blanket or napping in the sunshine.
Deceptively low-maintenance small dogs, we recommend Italian Greyhounds if you’re looking for small lazy dog breeds with short hair that want to be with their humans all the time.
6. Shih Tzu
Quick Facts
- Height: 9-10.5 inches
- Weight: 9-16 pounds
- Lifespan: 10-18 years
- Breed Group: Toy
- Exercise Needs: 40-60 minutes per day
Shih Tzus are affectionate, social, and goofy little dogs filled with personality. While they love to be in the midst of the action, Shih Tzus are also happy to nap the day away! When you have visitors over, be ready for your Shih Tzu to take full advantage of new laps to snuggle on.
Shih Tzus are also relatively easy dogs to take care of and make great low-maintenance dogs for first-time owners.
5. Bichon Frise
Quick Facts
- Height: 9.5-11.5 inches
- Weight: 12-18 pounds
- Lifespan: 14-15 years
- Breed Group: Non-Sporting
- Exercise Needs: 30-60 minutes per day
Playful and social, the Bichon Frise is a fun little dog who gets short bursts of energy that burn out quite quickly. If you love small lazy dogs but still want a dog that will play with you on occasion, the Bichon might be your perfect companion. Beyond their energy levels, Bichon Frises are one of the most low-maintenance dogs thanks to their low-shedding coats. Second only to Poodles, Bichon Frises barely shed and are often considered hypoallergenic.
4. French Bulldog
Quick Facts
- Height: 11-13 inches
- Weight: 28 pounds or less
- Lifespan: 10-12 years
- Breed Group: Non-Sporting
- Exercise Needs: 20-40 minutes per day
The French Bulldog was recently crowned America’s most popular dog breed thanks to its adorable good looks, hilariously goofy personality, and social mannerisms. People also love the Frenchie because it’s a relatively low-maintenance breed, and needs no more than 40 minutes of light exercise per day.
Unfortunately, one of the reasons French Bulldogs have lower energy and don’t need very much exercise is poor health. Frenchies are prone to a huge number of health issues, several of which make exercise risky for the breed. Because of this, Frenchies are also one of the most lazy puppy breeds and are very sleepy as babies.
Of the couch potato dog breeds, the French Bulldog is also the breed that looks most like a little potato!
3. Bullmastiff
Quick Facts
- Height: 24-27 inches
- Weight: 100-130 pounds
- Lifespan: 7-9 years
- Breed Group: Working
- Exercise Needs: 30-45 minutes per day
As far as big lazy dog breeds, the Bullmastiff is pretty darn big and pretty darn lazy! A dog notoriously hard to drag out of bed in the morning, the Bullmastiff’s affectionate nature means this gentle giant thinks it’s a lap dog. Don’t be deceived by the giant muscles Bullmastiffs are formidable dogs, but they’re also total snuggle bugs.
While they are very calm and gentle with their families, some Bullmastiffs are territorial and protective of their humans and territory—this can translate into agitation or uncharacteristic energy spikes when nervous or in new situations.
2. Saint Bernard
Quick Facts
- Height: 26-30 inches
- Weight: 120-180 pounds
- Lifespan: 8-10 years
- Breed Group: Working
- Exercise Needs: 30-60 minutes per day
When it comes to large lazy dog breeds, Saint Bernards reign supreme! Reaching weights of nearly 200 pounds and built for challenging work that harnesses their strength, you might think Saint Bernards would be a powerhouse of energy and activity. Think again—these big lazy dogs are serious about their nap times, and you might have a hard time convincing a Saint Bernard to go on a walk at all!
1. English Bulldog
Quick Facts
- Height: 14-15 inches
- Weight: 40-50 pounds
- Lifespan: 8-10 years
- Breed Group: Non-Sporting
- Exercise Needs: 20-40 minutes per day
The winner, and our number one laziest dog on our list of laziest dog breeds is the English Bulldog! Calm, slow-moving, and generally friendly but not excitable, the English Bulldog is a couch potato’s dream. One walk a day is all this breed needs, and you’ll have a tough time convincing an English Bulldog to do much more than walk around the block. If you need a buddy to settle into the sofa and watch TV, the English Bulldog will be more than happy to oblige.
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