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Last Updated on November 7, 2023
Before you decide on a canine companion, it will be good to understand if the dog suits your lifestyle. Quite interestingly, after reading many articles and reviews, not many owners realize that some of their dogs are meant to be inactive. They tend to overexercise their dogs, hence creating a multitude of problems for them. To help create awareness, we have scoured the internet, talked to many veterinarians and compiled a list of the top 10 inactive dog breeds.
The 10 Least Active Dog Breeds: Perfect for Couch Potatoes
1. Bulldog
Bulldog, or commonly known as the English Bulldog, is widely known to be pretty inactive. It is medium-sized but at the same time quite a stocky dog. Due to its size, this breed is prone to having health issues. Because of their very short face, the English Bulldog suffers from the brachycephalic syndrome, which leads to severe respiratory distress in the dog. This is why English Bulldogs are not meant to be your exercise buddy. They should be kept in a cool room. Much like a child, human supervision is needed when they wander outdoors. They, however, make very good pet companions for your child. Check out the video below for some of the compelling reasons for you to get the Bulldog as a companion.
2. Pug
Pug is another stocky dog that suffers from brachycephalic syndrome. They can have severe breathing problems, resulting in a lack of oxygen, which can be detrimental to them. Their inability to exercise much also gives them a plethora of issues. The only way to curb this is to provide a high-quality diet to them, and not simply overfeeding them. As per the British Bulldog, they are meant to be kept in a cool environment, so watch out for your pug during summer. Pugs are very popular amongst homeowners, and perhaps the video below can give you some of the reasons for that!
3. Chow Chow
Another stocky dog, Chow Chow is a large-sized dog that is prone to having hip dysplasia, which can cause severe arthritis when it gets older. Not only that, in an American study done, Chow Chow has a 46% of developing elbow dysplasia. It is prone to cruciate ligament rupture because of the tight ligaments in their extremely straight hind legs. Although Chow Chows can be extremely lazy, do note that they do need their regular exercise too, but it is strictly limited to short walks only. The below is a video done by bestbreedever.
4. Clumber Spaniel
This breed is the largest in the Spaniel family. It is also the laziest of them all! It may take you extra effort to get it to exercise in the yard. Clumber Spaniel is not meant to run. They require just the regular walks for its exercise routine. It is also susceptible to hip dysplasia and can be obese really easy. Note that although they are a total couch potato at home, they can be pretty on the outside. Just make sure to watch its diet.
5. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu is purely meant to be a family companion more than anything else. It has a double coat, so it can be pretty warm for them. They are at high risk of getting Entropion, Patellar Luxation or Arachnoid Cysts. It may sound scary, but rest assured that this is just a rough guide, and not all of them will be filled with diseases. All the conditions can be treated upon, so don’t let this be an issue to you. Otherwise, Shih Tzu makes the perfect companion at the couch as it requires little or no walks at all. Just remember to watch its diet for the fear of getting her into the obesity range. Due to their double-coat, ensure that they do not overheat under the sun during summer as it can get very warm for them. If you really need to exercise them, choose timings like in the morning or late evening when the sun isn’t too glaring.
6. English Mastiff
English Mastiffs are huge dogs that are known to be very lazy. Being inactive dogs, owners do not need a big yard to accommodate it. Although considered an inactive dog, they tend to be good guard dogs, even though they do not bark often. This huge dog is prone to having bloat, so feed them in smaller portions per day. It is common for them to develop hip and/or elbow dysplasia. They do require regular exercise and walks, but they are not known for being highly energetic or requiring a lot of physical activity. They have a tendency to be couch potatoes, enjoy being around the family and tend to be quite lazy. They are also known for being good with children and other pets.
7. Saint Bernard
This is another large breed that does not require much exercise. Saint Bernards are known to be very popular amongst owners who want a homely dog. Having said that, do keep the dogs indoor during summer as their thick coats can be too warm for them. Also, due to them being inactive, you would need to feed the dog appropriately as overfeeding will surely result in obesity in the dog.
8. Chihuahua
Perhaps a surprise to many, Chihuahuas is actually one of the top 10 inactive dog breeds! Other than the usual walks outdoors, they do prefer to enjoy being at home with the owner, thus being the perfect lapdog. Chihuahuas have a thin coat, so it might not be too suitable for outdoor walks during winter. Special precaution will be needed.
Having said this, Chihuahua’s are known to be fierce barkers, and you might need to control it using bark collars for chihuahuas. You can also read up on other bark collars for small dogs.
9. Newfoundland
Yes, you are reading this right. There is actually a breed called the Newfoundland. It is a large, working-class dog that is pretty inactive, and it doesn’t require much exercise. It is commonly used as a therapy dog, and they are pretty good with children too. However, they too are susceptible to hip and/or elbow dysplasia.
10. Greyhound
Yes, again you are reading this right when we say that Greyhounds is actually one of the Top 10 inactive dog breeds. They were initially bred for hunting and racing, but they are more comfortable lying on the couch doing absolutely nothing! In fact, it is common knowledge that they are one of the biggest couch potatoes! They still require a place to play around though.
For dogs who are in the Top 10 inactive dog breeds, perhaps you might want to find out the proper diet for them too.
