Caring for Your Calm Companion: Health and Wellness

Choosing a low-energy dog is just the first step. Providing excellent care is a lifelong commitment. While their exercise needs may be lower, their requirements for preventive health care, mental stimulation, and proper nutrition are just as important as any other dog’s.

A Worked Example: Weight Management and the Body Condition Score

Let’s consider a 60-pound (27 kg) adult Bulldog who is slightly overweight. A common mistake is to feed the amount recommended on the dog food bag, which is often an overestimate. Instead, a vet can calculate the dog’s ideal daily caloric intake. For weight loss, this might be around 800 calories per day.

If his food has 350 calories per cup, his daily portion would be about 2.25 cups (800 / 350). This should be split into two meals. Critically, all treats must be accounted for. If he gets a dental chew worth 80 calories, his kibble must be reduced by that amount. The rule of thumb is that treats should make up no more than 10% of the total daily calories. Regularly using the Body Condition Score chart and feeling for the dog’s ribs and waist will be more accurate than relying on the scale alone.

Mental Enrichment: The Unseen Need

A bored dog is an unhappy dog, regardless of energy level. Mental exercise is just as tiring as physical exercise. Instead of feeding from a bowl, use a puzzle feeder or a snuffle mat to make your dog work for their food. This engages their brain and natural foraging instincts. Short, 5-minute training sessions a few times a day can also provide excellent stimulation.

A Calm Training Script: Teaching “Settle”

The “settle” cue is perfect for low-energy breeds. It teaches them to relax on a specific mat or bed on command.

Step 1: Choose a specific mat or bed. Toss a high-value treat onto the mat. When your dog steps on the mat to get it, say “Yes!” in a happy tone and give another treat.

Step 2: Repeat this a few times. Soon, your dog will start offering to go to the mat. The moment they put a paw on it, say “Yes!” and reward.

Step 3: Once they are reliably going to the mat, wait for them to lie down. The instant their belly hits the floor, have a “jackpot” of several treats. Now, add the verbal cue “Settle” just as they are about to lie down.

Step 4: Practice in short, fun sessions. Gradually increase the time they must stay on the mat before getting a reward. This simple exercise builds confidence and provides a valuable tool for managing your dog’s behavior calmly.