Lazy Dogs - The five laziest dog breeds

Every dog owner knows that dogs need plenty of exercise to keep them fit and healthy, and to avoid them piling on the pounds! However, it is also very true that different breeds and types of dogs have very different exercise requirements, and some dogs are significantly more lively than others! Any dog owner who owns a lively dog such as the Collie or the Husky may find it hard to believe that some other owners actually have to sometimes work hard to motivate their dogs to take a walk, but nevertheless, it is true!

In this article, we will introduce you to five of the very laziest dog breeds: these are breeds that on the whole require less than an half an hour of exercise twice per day.

1. The English Bulldog

The English Bulldog is simply not built for extended periods of vigorous exercise! Not only are they short legged and very stocky, but they also have brachycephalic faces, which are not designed to support a lot of running around. The English Bulldog at a flat-out run is unlikely to be able to overtake most joggers, and other than when they first get out on their walk and have some energy to burn, they are unlikely to be very motivated to run at all! The Bulldog does enjoy being outside and playing with other dogs, but they do not require long walks, or multiple walks per day. If you are looking for a slow, lazy dog to match your lifestyle, the English Bulldog should be at the top of your list!

2. The Greyhound

The Greyhound is of course the fastest dog breed in the world, and even a relatively unfit Greyhound will soon be able to overtake the fastest human runner! However, the Greyhound is built and bred for short bursts of very high speed, not for endurance, and they are unlikely to be able to maintain a fast running pace for more than a couple of minutes. While the Greyhound certainly does need to be walked a couple of times a day, and needs plenty of room to be able to run and get their speed up, other than this the Greyhound is a very quiet, sedentary dog. They are not known as the couch potatoes of the canine world for nothing, and if you are on the lookout for a quiet dog that will be happy to laze around on the sofa with you, the Greyhound is the perfect pick!

3. The Italian Greyhound

The Italian Greyhound is not as well known within the UK as the standard tall Greyhound, but they share a lot of the same mood and personality traits with their taller counterparts. The Italian Greyhound is a petite, light boned and small dog, pretty much like a normal Greyhound but in miniature! They are often mistaken for Whippets, but they are in fact a pedigree breed distinct from the Whippet and all on their own. The Italian Greyhound suits people who love the Greyhound personality, but may not have room for a tall, long legged Greyhound within their homes! Like the standard Greyhound, other than a short burst of speed once or twice when out walking, they are very laid back and lazy, and do not require hours and hours of exercise.

4. The Chihuahua

The little Chihuahua is a petite, short-legged dog breed, and is in fact the smallest dog breed in the world! While the Chihuahua has a lively, alert personality and is full of beans and loves to play, the fact that they do have only very little legs means that what is a sedentary walking pace for us will be a full-out jog for them! Chihuahuas do love to go out walking and have the opportunity to play and run around a couple of times a day, but when walking alongside of their handlers, they will soon be completely tired out! So if you are looking for a lively and fun dog that likes to play but won’t be undertaking a marathon any time soon, the Chihuahua might be for you.

5. The Bullmastiff

The Bullmastiff is a giant, solidly built dog that is renowned for its loyalty to its family, and its prowess as a guard dog. They share some common ancestry with the English Bulldog mentioned earlier on, and also, they share the Bulldog’s love of laziness! They are not high-energy dogs, and while they do like to be outdoors and might quite happily entertain themselves for a couple of hours in the garden, when it comes to exercise they have a slow pace, and only need to be able to stretch their legs a couple of times a day. Ideal for sedentary families that do not want to spend their time on walks chasing after an exuberant dog!