Dogs for Lazy People: Laidback Dog Breeds

Dogs can be your active companion, from long walks to play fetch. There are breeds that have boundless energy to catch up with your busy schedule and physical demands.

Wherever you are or whatever plans you have in mind, they are always there – even if your definition of hanging out is right at the comfort of your own couch. With lots of dogs available right now, it is certain that some breeds can be considered as the best dogs for lazy people.

The main problem of some pet parents that are not physically active and prefer to stay at home is that they select the wrong breed to meet their companionship needs. Some pet parents pigeonhole smaller breeds, thinking that the smaller the breed, the lower the need for exercise. This is usually wrong.

There are a lot of dog breeds that are small, but they are bursting with energy that needs to be channeled properly or else they will become a household headache. Some of the dog breeds that are quite small but extremely active are listed below:

• Toy Poodle. Toy Poodles are dainty-looking and charming dogs that are often labeled as low-energy dogs. Well in fact, they are one of the most active dogs out there. Despite their small size, they share the same exercise needs with the miniature and standard varieties. Grooming is also a chore for pet parents that don’t want to do this on their own.
• West Highland Terrier. Westies, as they are fondly called, are trained to hunt small rodents. Despite their size, they are not classified as toy dogs. Their energy levels are boundless, and if this will not be properly channeled into something productive, then you might end up having a worn and torn couch. West Highland Terriers are very active dogs, and it is a must that they receive an ample amount of exercise each day.
• Pomeranian. These cute fur babies can be small, but they are small dogs with big personalities and big energy as well. They tend to be very yappy, and they have the tendency to bark excessively. The excessive barking will become a distraction from your normal movie marathons, and their vivacious personality is not generally compatible with a quiet afternoon watching your favorite TV show. Pomeranians are also heavy shedders, which can lead to troublesome cleaning around the house if you are the type of person that does not clean the rooms and areas inside at a regular basis.

• Beagle. Beagles may look and act a bit bashful, but these personalities do not mean they lack the energy. Once acclimated, beagles can be very active dogs, which may interfere with your current lifestyle.
• Golden Retriever. This is probably the most mislabeled breed on the list. Golden Retrievers have the ideal demeanor that will complement their couch potato parent’s needs. They have the tendency to please, and they are very loyal. The bad thing that makes them incompatible with low-activity owners is that daily exercise is integral part of their system to keep them healthy.
  Dog experts have noted that there has been an increase in cases of obesity for Golden Retrievers because their exercise requirements are not met, and they are being overfed at home which allows their bodies to store the unused calories from the food they eat.
• Labrador. This breed shares the similar characteristics with the Golden Retriever, as well as the similar misconception. They have the perfect behavior for pet parents that would like to have long hours of just hanging around. Sadly, this is not very helpful for the Labrador because like the Golden Retriever, they have been bred and developed to be physically active.

How lazy is lazy?

Now, you might ask how can we determine which dog breed suits your quite inactive lifestyle. The answer to that question depends on how lazy is being lazy. In selecting the most compatible breed that will complement your lifestyle, you must be able to identify several factors in your current routine. As a pet parent, we all have our fair share of lazy moments. However, if this becomes something chronic, that is where the problem starts.

The pet parent’s activity level

Before jumping into the conclusion that there are several factors that the dog needs in order to have the best dog for lazy owners, the assessment should go towards the pet parent first. How much physical activity is he willing to do on a daily basis? How much space does he have at home?

It cannot be decided from the dog’s perspective first because you might end up having a dog that is more athletic than you and as a dog owner you fail to provide the daily needs of you dog.

It is very important to assess the physical limits of the pet parent. There are dog owners that cannot provide the physical activities needed by their fur babies, simply because they are physically challenged to do so.

Your veterinarian will be more than willing to have these details discussed to make sure that it will be a mutually-fruitful relationship between you and your dog. The sad scenario that occurs in some homes is that the dog is more athletic than the owner but they end up being lethargic and sluggish because of the lifestyle they were able to create for themselves.

Physical activity needs

Physical activity will be the deal breaker for the selection of the most suitable breed. For less active pet parents, the less physical activity there is in your daily routine, the narrower the choices that you can have. The narrowing of choices will definitely involve dog size, color, appearance, and personality.

In general, dogs need exercise, even just a little bit. The good thing about it is that there are some breeds that require significantly less physical activity, walking around the house already fills this need.

Grooming needs

As a pet parent, grooming is still part of the responsibilities even if you are a couch potato. Grooming promotes canine hygiene and well-being, and if you do not want to do the grooming yourself or pay for grooming services, this further filters your selection.

Selecting shorthaired breeds will save you up from the trouble, but they still need grooming at a less challenging and less frequent manner. Their coats still need some work.

Home hazard precaution

Because it is already a given that lazy dog owners are highly likely to stay at home for extended periods of time, they must be responsible enough to make sure that the hazards at home are properly taken care of. These hazards range from small toys, to pesticides and aerosols that are harmful for dogs that roam around the house.

Weight watching

Just like humans, dogs are also prone to weight gain that eventually leads to obesity. Due to the lack of activity, the excess calories can build up and dogs can become obese. Living in a world of being a couch potato should be discussed properly with your veterinarian to minimize the tendency of having an obese dog.

Diet modification, proper dog food selection, and other management that will be recommended by the veterinarian will be very important to prevent obesity-related health problems that may occur in the future. There are dog food variants that are absorbed more effectively by the body compared to other food preparations, and they come in smaller, more controlled servings.

Selecting the ideal home buddy

These dogs might have been bred to serve a particular purpose, or aesthetic appeal for that matter, without the tedious physical activity requirements to be able to function well. These breeds love to chill – that’s what they are very good at. These dogs vary in personality, size, and needs that should be reviewed carefully before coming up with the decision to choose your home friend.

Chihuahua

We start out list with the smallest dog breed in the world. The Chihuahua is a pint-sized dog new dog owners may have the wrong impression that this is one of those “small dog – big personality” types.

Chihuahuas have low exercise requirement, and they are more suited to indoor living or apartment and condominium living. Couch potato dog owners will love the fact that this dog breed is a one person dog breed, and will keep you company for the years to come.