10 calm dog breeds with chill to spare

10. Irish wolfhound

Is the Irish wolfhound big? You betcha. In fact, it’s the tallest dog breed in the world — standing on its hind feet, it could measure in at an impressive 7 feet tall. Still, it’s known as the gentle giant for good reason. These dogs are sweet-natured, calm, patient and affectionate. While capable of great speed and power, they tend to save it for outside and are reserved and easygoing inside.

Simply due to size, a super tight space such as a small apartment isn’t a good idea. But if you have a larger space, they make great indoor dogs. And although they’re wonderful with children, just remember they have a short life span (only six to eight years), which might be tough for the kiddos.