Gentle breeds

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#1
What are some inherently gentle breeds? Not very excitable or highly energetic. A dog that seems to know when he/she needs to be gentle.
 

CamzKees

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#2
To be honest hon, every breed of dog has an ability to be either gentle or aggressive. Pit bulls can be great family dogs, but like any other dog, require training.

I'd say you're looking for an older, already trained dog. Any puppy will be energetic and playful. Plus, puppies don't have a sense of when to be gentle because they're so young.

You have to train them to know when to be gentle.

Good luck on your search. Look in your shelters for an older dog.
 

Zoom

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#4
It really does depend on the induvidual dog. My Aussie can be incredibly gentle and loving when the time calls for it, or rough and tumble. This is a breed that most people think of as hyper and crazy, but he's very much got a soft side.
 

Whisper

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#5
I also think you can find a wonderful, gentle dog in every breed. One of the great things about shelters is that you can find a dog to match your needs. I think a trip to your local shelter will help you decide what dog will suit you best. (I'm assuming this is a dog for you/your family.) Good luck with everything! :)
 

bubbatd

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#8
Puppies will be puppies ... whatever breed . I am very prejudice though . A well bred Golden is easy to train and is a joy from then on . Otherwise I'd rescue .... try to find an adult dog that has been surrendered due to moving/ allergies/ divorce etc.... not behavioral problems . Our club had 2 wonderful Goldens surrendered due to his elder being put into a nursing home .... both had been shown and loved.... luckily they were adopted together.
 

RD

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#9
Great Danes and Goldens are two of the most gentle breeds I've encountered. Whippets and Greyhounds are also very calm, gentle and dignified but the ones I know are not as "lovey" as Danes and Goldens.

I agree that any dog can be gentle. My Border Collie can be very gentle and quiet at times, despite the breed's reputation for being insane and hyper.
 
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#10
they aren't called "gentle giants" for nothing ;)
Same with Irish Wolfhounds. IW's are very gentle, especially with children.

They always want to be where you are. If I walk to another room in the house Binn always follows me. He's very laid back and is happy to be where you are. :p
 
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#11
What are some inherently gentle breeds? Not very excitable or highly energetic. A dog that seems to know when he/she needs to be gentle.
The gentlest dog I've ever known was a Bearded Collie - she could be very energetic and excitable, but she was always beautifully calm when someone was sick or frail. She was also an adult dog when I got her, and I believe she considered me - and most humans - to be puppies in need of looking after. Which is why I think a grown, female dog of the smaller herding and sporting breeds would be the best bet for finding a gentle dog.

Not to start WWIII, but many varieties of dogs have drawbacks in terms of gentle. Terriers are so feisty - they're vibrating the whole time they're sleeping, and like many working breeds, when they spot something awry they WANT TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE RIGHT NOW. Not very relaxing. Large dogs have a reputation for calm and gentle personalities, but I think they are just too freaking heavy - when a dog is over 45lbs, their physicality is unavoidably strong. The tiny breeds, while they can be demons, have a much-deserved reputation for being excellent lap dogs. Still, if I was looking for a dog to do therapy work with, I'd start looking for a female dog about 3 years old, 35lbs or less, who was a spaniel or collie mix.
 

showpug

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#12
I agree with everyone who said puppies will be puppies...oh so true!

Honestly though, IMO the most gentle and calm breed I have ever known is a newfie. They are incredibly gentle and calm once they reach maturity. I have known some very calm and gentle bullmastiffs as well.
 

Senna

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#13
i think that japanese chins are very gentle cause rascal will be full of pis$ and viniger when im playing with him but as soon as i stop and want kisses hes one step ahead of me honestly

but others such as golden retriever and great danes are also very calm
 

Amstaffer

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#15
I think it has more to do with how the dog was raised and it life experiences.

My two Amstaffs are as gentle with kids and physically possible. I have grandchildren who are kind of scared of dogs (that is changing) but they love playing with my two dogs. Sal even kisses them softer than he does adult humans. He kind of tickles them with his wiskers..barely touching them when he kisses them.
 

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