Good with children, not much grooming, and exercise needs a normal person can meet. There is no such thing as an easy dog, but these ask less of a beginner.
| Breed | Size | Lifespan | Energy | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airedale Terrier | Large | 10-13 years | High | As the largest terrier breed, the Airedale keeps a full terrier prey drive and stubborn streak in a 50-plus-poun… |
| Basset Hound | Medium | 12-13 years | Low | Those long ears and low-slung body are not just a look, they are a direct cause of the breed's biggest health pr… |
| Beagle | Small | 10-15 years | High | A Beagle's nose runs the dog, not the owner — bred to follow a scent trail for miles regardless of what the hand… |
| Bloodhound | Large | 10-12 years | Moderate | This dog's nose overrides its recall almost every time — once a Bloodhound picks up a scent trail it will follow… |
| Boston Terrier | Small | 11-13 years | High | Boston Terriers are brachycephalic too, just milder than a Pug, so expect real breathing limits in heat and a ja… |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Toy | 9-14 years | Moderate | Heart disease isn't a risk for Cavaliers so much as a near-certainty — about half develop a heart murmur from mi… |
| English Bulldog | Medium | 8-10 years | Low | Most Bulldogs can no longer mate or whelp without human help — the vast majority of litters are delivered by pla… |
| French Bulldog | Small | 10-12 years | Moderate | Most French Bulldogs cannot breathe, cool themselves, or give birth the way a normal dog can — the flat face tha… |
| Great Pyrenees | Giant | 10-12 years | Moderate | Bred to guard livestock alone through the night, a Great Pyrenees will bark for hours at anything that moves aft… |
| Labrador Retriever | Large | 11-13 years | High | The 'always hungry' Labrador stereotype is partly genetic, not just bad training — about a quarter of the breed … |
| Pug | Toy | 13-15 years | Low | Pugs cannot breathe like a normal dog, and in the largest UK vet-record study of the breed they were found about… |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Medium | 12-14 years | High | Despite the breed's own gentle, people-focused temperament and its old nickname 'the nanny dog,' its bull-and-te… |
| Whippet | Medium | 12-15 years | High | A Whippet's skin is almost paper-thin with almost no fat or coat to protect it, so ordinary scrapes, thorny brus… |
Pick two and put them side by side, then read the full dog guide for costs and daily time.