Your first dog
Calm dogs for first-time owners
A calm dog gives a new owner room to learn. These breeds are low in energy and at least moderately forgiving of first-timer mistakes. Calm isn't the same as easy in every way, though, so do read the trade-offs before you fall in love.
- Every breed here scores low for energy and at least moderate for first-time suitability.
- We ranked them by beginner-friendliness first, then by how calm they are.
Gentle breeds for a first dog
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
A small, soft-natured companion that wants to be wherever you are. Calm company rather than a project.
- Energy
- Low
- First-time owner suitability
- Very high
- Trainability
- High
- Tolerance of being alone
- Very low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,000
French Bulldog
A compact, comic and deeply attached city companion with modest exercise needs and real health considerations.
- Energy
- Low
- First-time owner suitability
- High
- Trainability
- Moderate
- Tolerance of being alone
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,500–€2,600
Greyhound
A sprinter that sleeps most of the day. Quiet, clean and surprisingly well suited to calm homes.
- Energy
- Low
- First-time owner suitability
- High
- Trainability
- Moderate
- Tolerance of being alone
- Moderate
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,100–€1,900
Maltese
Tiny, lively and devoted. A Maltese fits small spaces easily, but the coat, teeth and need for company require steady care.
- Energy
- Low
- First-time owner suitability
- High
- Trainability
- High
- Tolerance of being alone
- Very low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,100–€2,000
Pug
Comic, affectionate and shadow-close. A Pug asks for company far more than exercise.
- Energy
- Low
- First-time owner suitability
- High
- Trainability
- Moderate
- Tolerance of being alone
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,100
Shih Tzu
Made to be a companion, and very good at it. Happy on a lap, happy in a small flat.
- Energy
- Low
- First-time owner suitability
- High
- Trainability
- Low
- Tolerance of being alone
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,100–€1,900
English Bulldog
Affectionate and comical, but the familiar shape can make breathing, movement and temperature control genuinely difficult.
- Energy
- Very low
- First-time owner suitability
- Moderate
- Trainability
- Low
- Tolerance of being alone
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,900–€3,400
Basset Hound
A gentle household clown governed by an exceptional nose. Low speed does not mean easy recall or low medical care.
- Energy
- Low
- First-time owner suitability
- Moderate
- Trainability
- Low
- Tolerance of being alone
- Low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,300–€2,300
Calm dogs still need a plan
Calm breeds are lovely to live with indoors, but several of them — the Cavalier, Maltese and Shih Tzu — find time alone genuinely hard. If you'll be out at work, that matters more than energy. The Basset Hound and English Bulldog are calm too, yet stubborn about training: patience works, force never does.
In our data these breeds cost roughly €1,100–2,600 a year, except the English Bulldog, which can reach €3,400 because of its health needs.
Please don't choose from this list if…
- You're out for long days — several of these calm breeds struggle alone.
- You'd like a dog to run or hike with.
- You're not ready for the vet costs that come with flat-faced breeds.
Questions people ask us
What is the calmest dog breed for a beginner?
In our data the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel stands out: gentle, forgiving and calm. The Greyhound is another lovely first dog if you don't have small pets.
Are calm dogs less work?
Less intense, not less work. They still need walks, training, grooming and company every day.
Will a calm puppy become a calm adult?
Not always — every puppy goes through a lively adolescence. Breed tendencies show more clearly from around two years old.
Your week is the other half of the match
A list can only get you so far. The Find My Dog quiz sets your home, your hours and your limits against every breed, and shows you the reasoning behind each score so you can judge it for yourself. It takes two minutes and it's free.
For when your dog comes home
DoggMatch+ helps with the practical side of the first year: training week by week, food portions worked out from your dog's weight, a care calendar and a printable Dog Pack. It's entirely optional, and everything on this page stays free.
See what DoggMatch+ includes