We humans are experts at being lazy; there are moments when we don’t even feel like getting out of bed or facing the demanding day that lies ahead. Dogs are totally different from cats. Although they enjoy napping on the couch and require a lot of sleep, the word “lazy” is just not in their lexicon. Which is odd because sometimes it seems to be the complete opposite.
All dogs love to play, walk, and sniff outside. Dogs sleep an average of 14 to 18 hours a day, with puppies sleeping even longer. Naturally, energy levels vary by breed and age. However, man’s best friend hardly qualifies as being lazy. So why does your dog act like such a couch potato at times?
Dogs, unlike people, don’t moan. Therefore, we often fail to notice when they experience pain, discomfort, or anxiety. Your tail wagger will nevertheless make an effort to inform you in his own canine manner. For instance, by whimpering, panting, yawning, or displaying other stress symptoms. And while EVERY dog enjoys nothing more than a stroll outside for a good old snuffle, there is undoubtedly a problem if yours doesn’t. And you, as the owner or pet sitter, are responsible for determining the precise problem. Here are some potential choices:
Your dog is suffering. Is your dog acting drowsy and lacking the normal excitement for his walk? The likelihood that he is in pain then increases. Dogs are unable to express their discomfort by saying “ouch!” or grunting. If your animal buddy suffers from persistent joint or muscular pain, for instance, you probably won’t even notice. However, a dog in pain will not enjoy walking, playing, or sprinting! Unfortunately, a lot of dogs experience hidden discomfort. Therefore, you should always look for physical discomfort in your dog. Any uncertainty can be dispelled with a trip to the veterinarian or osteopath, and happily many issues can be resolved with diet, medication, or physical therapy.
Your dog is anxious. When you take your dog outdoors, he refuses to respond when you call. “Come on boy, Fido, Fiiiiiido!” Fido, though, is firmly fixed in place. You question, “Hey, what’s the issue? Just come here,” Fido said, “but I saw something awful.” He might be afraid of a different dog, a crowd of people, a cyclist, or something else else. Keep an eye on his body language, including the posture of his tail and ears and his general attitude. Is he yawning or panting, looking away indifferently, trying to shrink himself, or are his ears bent backwards? All of these signs of tension convey the message, “I want to leave this circumstance as soon as possible!” Your dog is afraid, not lazy. You want him to come because he wants to, not just because you’re going to yell at him, so try to reassure him instead of yelling at him.
Your dog is dejected. “My dog prefers to lounge about rather than go on walks.” Alternatively, “My dog is quite comfortable at home, just rolls up and goes to sleep.” As a result of his sluggishness and lack of activity, many people assume that their dog is lazy. But causality and consequence are sometimes misunderstood. Dogs enjoy to explore the outdoors by nature. A dog will undoubtedly experience depression if he spends a lot of time at home alone. Yes, pets do experience depression. Without enough stimulation, a dog will become withdrawn and listless. Because there is nothing else to do, he will sleep throughout the day. No one wants to play with him or go for a stroll with him. Do you think your dog may be a touch depressed? Then gradually increase his level of exercise by taking him on additional walks and trying different routes so he can discover new scents. He will quickly revert to his joyful former self if you give him plenty of stimulation and playing.
Your dog is too fat. Yes, just like people, dogs may get overweight. A dog that is overweight will have trouble moving. He will try, but he won’t quite be able to! If you’re not careful, your dog, who was formerly healthy and active, will become sluggish and put on extra unwanted weight. But how can you determine whether your beloved dog is overweight? He should have a great trim tummy and his ribs should be easily palpable but not visible, according to a reasonable rule of thumb for a healthy weight. Is your dog starting to get a touch too fat? After that, reduce the amount of food you feed him. Actually, you’ll be doing him a huge favor! Additionally, if you play with him frequently and take him for as many walks as you can, your vivacious and active companion will soon reappear.
A healthy, content dog enjoys exploring new places and going on adventures.
Of course, not every dog is an athlete by nature. While senior dogs are typically more calm, some breeds are less physically active than others. A healthy, content dog, however, is constantly energetic, attentive, and most definitely ready for a walk. Does your dog—or the dog you’re pet-sitting right now—appear to be “lazy”? Then pay attention to what he is saying and seek out the underlying problem. You’ll realize what a naturally happy and inquisitive animal your four-legged pal truly is as soon as you start working on that.
Can I have a dog that is sluggish?
Does your dog enjoy nothing more than passing the afternoon in a cozy spot of sunlight or curled up next to you on the couch as you watch TV? Does she generally need a lot of encouragement to do anything other than eat, sleep, or lay around? Does she walk rather than run? Does she sit rather than stand?
If so, your dog might be a sluggish Lassie. There is nothing inherently wrong with this; after all, people range greatly in their personalities, so why shouldn’t our dogs? However, you must take care to prevent your dog’s idleness from harming her health. You can prepare your lazy dog for many happy years of living life at her own speed by making sure she receives lots of regular exercise and eats healthy.
Which canine breed is the most lazy?
The 15 Most Sluggish Dog Breeds, Complete Couch Potatoes
- sixteen. Bulldog. These adorable children certainly match the dozing stereotype.
- Saint Bernard, age 16.
- Basset Hound, age 16.
- French Bulldog, age 16.
- of Pekingese 16.
- Bernese Mountain Dogs, 16,
- Chow Chow, age 16.
- of 16. Pug.
How can I train my dog to be more active?
Many dogs match their activity level to that of their owners. Additionally, if your dog is attached, you will have a better chance of getting him to move if you do. You cannot expect your dog to catch the ball if you throw it while sitting on a park bench. He’ll probably lie down next to you on the ground.
If you’re both fit, you can jog around the neighborhood with your dog or go for walks together. Think of going kayaking, hiking, or camping with your dog.
Afghan Hound
According to The Intelligence of Dogs, the Afghan Hound is the dumbest dog breed, but Afghan enthusiasts undoubtedly disagree. Afghans were developed to hunt utilizing their exceptional speed and vision since they are sighthounds. Afghans, like many sighthounds, can be aloof, even a touch reserved and standoffish, especially around strangers. They may also be independent and stubborn. Afghans are difficult to train because of these characteristics, but that doesn’t mean they are stupid. Simply said, they favor independent thought and doing things their way. When training an Afghan, you might need to get a little more creative, but they make for unique companions thanks to their elegance, regal demeanor, and dedication to their owners.
Basenji
Due to their independence and aloofness, sighthounds like the Basenji are among the stupidest canine breeds. This breed has been compared to cats, and many Basenjis will groom themselves in the manner of cats. Despite the fact that ease of training is not usually a reliable predictor of intelligence, the breed has developed a reputation for being “untrainable.” Contrarily, Basenjis are witty, inquisitive, and lively. They are intelligent enough to cause trouble if you don’t watch them attentively, just like curious babies. A Basenji’s upbringing might occasionally resemble taming a wild animal. They are cautious and watchful, and while they bond with their owners in most cases, they might or might not like your companions. Conclusion: Basenjis can be trained, but they are headstrong and not always obedient. Positive approaches work best.
Bulldog
The Bulldog is another type on the list of stupidest dog breeds that is renowned for its stubbornness. The phrase “bullheaded” perfectly describes the Bulldog. Because of this, bulldogs can be challenging to teach, but dumb? It only takes one of the well-known Bulldogs who excels at skateboarding or surfing to understand that they can learn. Bulldogs are sometimes associated with laziness, however some of them like more active pursuits than simply lounging around.
Chow Chow
Although they may have a cute teddy bear appearance, chow chows are not typically the most cuddly of dogs. Chows are somber, independent, and distant because they were originally intended to be guard dogs. They are among the stupidest dog breeds because they are strong-willed and headstrong, making them more challenging to train. Chows are bright; they merely have independent brains. Chows may challenge their humans for authority if they are improperly trained, which can be problematic. Because of these factors, Chows need intensive socializing beginning at a young age as well as tough but fair training. Chows are noble, obedient, and faithful friends when reared properly.
Borzoi
The Borzoi is an independent freethinker and another sighthound. Since this breed can also be stubborn, it makes the list of the dumbest dog breeds. Training a Borzoi requires patience. Instead of classes lasting an hour, frequent, brief training sessions tend to work best for borzois. They are typically quite well-behaved, serene, clean, and affectionate inside the home, especially with their special people.
Bloodhound
You may be able to comprehend how a scenthound like the Bloodhound “sees the world with his sensitive nose” if you have ever seen the aurora borealis, the vibrant northern lights display that turns the night sky into a breathtaking sight to see. Because they are so distracted by the many wonderful scents that are just waiting to be discovered, bloodhounds rank among the dumbest canine breeds and are challenging to train. Additionally, they are extremely energetic, independent, and stubborn, and they pursue scent trails with unrelenting tenacity. When combined, the Bloodhound’s distinctive abilities can make these dogs difficult to live with, but put a Bloodhound in a tracking competition and see his unique qualities show.
Pekingese
Because they resemble sloths in several ways, Pekingese may be perceived as being fairly slow by some people. They like to lounge around the house and look over their territory. This may be a result of their physical makeup or be at least in part a legacy of their past as revered Tang Dynasty pets in eighth-century China. Because members of the Imperial household carried their beloved pets around snuggly curled in their voluminous sleeves, Pekingese were indeed known as “sleeve dogs.” Can you really blame the Peke for taking it easy? Additionally, Pekingese are resistant and challenging to housebreak. They are not stupid because of this, but it does present some training issues. Begin your workouts early and consistently.
Beagle
Beagles enjoy following their noses, much like Bloodhounds, which can occasionally put them in trouble and place them on the list of dumbest dog breeds. The Beagle may give the impression that he is unintelligent due to his lovely, friendly attitude and upbeat perspective, yet this breed is everything but. Beagles should ideally be led at all times. They are driven by an insatiable want to discover, smell, and hunt for little animals.
Mastiff
The big, mellow Mastiff is a very relaxed dog. He’s actually so laid-back that you could think he’s a little dim. Additionally, they might be a little headstrong and harder to teach than some breeds. Once more, level of activity and ease of training are not always reliable measures of intellect. Mastiffs are intelligent animals. In order for Mastiffs to grow up to be well-behaved and discerning companions, owners must begin training and socializing early in the puppy stage due to their size and innate wariness of strangers.
Basset Hound
Basset Hounds, like Pekingese, can be a little lethargic. They may have long, low bodies or laid-back personalities, which contribute to this. Like their scenthound cousins the Bloodhounds and the Beagles, Bassets can be a little stubborn and may find it difficult to focus on learning for lengthy periods of time if there are great odors all around them. Bassets do, however, react well to training since they have a strong desire to please their owners and are highly motivated by food. However, don’t mistake the Basset’s laid-back demeanor for a lack of intelligence. They are intelligent and devoted dogs.
The bottom line on the dumbest dog breeds
It’s unfair to categorize any breed or specific dog as being stupid. Yes, some dogs are smarter than others, but you just have to figure out what because most dogs are brilliant at something.
According to Dr. Dodman, some dogs are better at doing some things than others and exhibit distinct habits.
Because they are simple to train, German Shepherd Dog and Malinois breeds are frequently used as police and army dogs. Does that imply they’re intelligent? Or does the fact that they always go along with what others say and don’t think for themselves imply that they aren’t very smart? It is subject to both arguments.
Do dogs that are bored sleep a lot?
A frequent question that brand-new dog owners ask their friends who have had dogs for a while is why dogs sleep so much.
Although dogs sleep more than people do, they also wake up more frequently. Their amount of activity has a big impact on how much sleep they get.
In comparison to a dog that works for a living, such as a search and rescue dog or a dog working on a ranch or farm, a dog that lives in a home as a pet sleeps more. Dogs can readily change their sleep schedule so they can be awake when there is work to be done and sleep soundly the rest of the time.
Many indoor dogs occasionally doze off out of plain boredom. If you think your dog could be getting bored during the day, you can provide it with plenty of stimulation by providing it lots of toys to play with or by taking it on multiple walks. If your dog has enough to do during the day, it will typically remain up and sleep when you do at night.