Calm Dog Breeds

Calm does not mean lazy, silent or maintenance-free. A calm dog is usually one whose exercise needs, arousal level and daily rhythm are easier to manage in an ordinary home.

Top Breed Matches

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Small · Purebred

1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Meet the four-legged embodiment of “everyone is my best friend.” The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel moves through life with gentle optimism, silky ears bouncing and a tail that rarely stops wagging.

Cavoodle

Medium · Crossbred

2. Cavoodle

The Cavoodle — known as the Cavapoo in North America — is a cross between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle — typically the Miniature — and it has become one of the most popular crossbreeds in t…

Cockapoo

Medium · Crossbred

3. Cockapoo

The Cockapoo has been around since the 1960s and has spent the decades since proving that some crossbreeds just work.

Boston Terrier

Small · Purebred

4. Boston Terrier

Boston Terriers look like they’re permanently dressed for a black-tie event. The crisp markings, square build and alert expression give them the air of a small dog expecting cocktails at any moment.

Mal-Shi

Small · Crossbred

5. Mal-Shi

Developed in Australia, The Mal-Shi is a Maltese crossed with a Shih Tzu, and it does exactly what you’d expect from that pairing.

Moodle

Small · Crossbred

6. Moodle

The Moodle — known as the Maltipoo in North America and the UK — is a Maltese crossed with a Toy Poodle, and it delivers very much what it promises: a small, gentle, affectionate companion well-suited to quiet…

Poodle (Toy)

Medium · Purebred

7. Poodle (Toy)

The Toy Poodle is the smallest of the Poodle lineup, but no one told it that. The intelligence, adaptability, and sharpness of the breed come through at full strength, just in a much smaller body.

English Bulldog

Medium · Purebred

8. English Bulldog

The English Bulldog looks like a dog designed by someone who valued determination over aerodynamics.

English Toy Spaniel

Small · Purebred

9. English Toy Spaniel

The English Toy Spaniel — known in the UK as the King Charles Spaniel, not to be confused with the Cavalier King Charles — is a small, domed-headed, flat-faced companion dog with a history of royal patronage a…

Greyhound

Large · Purebred

10. Greyhound

The Greyhound is a 40 kg couch potato wrapped in silk pyjamas and built like a piece of aerodynamic engineering.

Peekapoo

Small · Crossbred

11. Peekapoo

The Peekapoo is a cross between the Pekingese and the Poodle — two very different dogs whose combination produces a small, affectionate companion with a calm but slightly opinionated temperament.

Poochon

Small · Crossbred

12. Poochon

The Poochon — a Bichon Frise x Poodle — is built to be liked, and it usually is. Small, soft, and convincingly low-shedding, it’s the kind of dog that slots easily into apartment life and assumes everyone it m…

How These Breeds Were Chosen

  • Lower to moderate energy
  • Manageable barking
  • Good indoor settling ability
  • Temperament suited to quieter homes

Common Questions

Are calm dogs still playful?

Yes. Calm breeds still need exercise, play and training; they are just less intense overall.

Can puppies be calm?

Some are quieter than others, but puppy behaviour is usually more active and unsettled than adult temperament.

What creates a calm dog?

Breed tendencies matter, but routine, training, sleep and exercise are just as important.