Some live life in the fast lane, treating every minute as a sprint. Others operate at a marathon intensity—slow, steady and determined not to stop. However, some people prefer to move at a leisurely pace with plenty of margin to stop and smell the roses. For these folks, a loving dog breed with "grandpa energy" is just their speed.

"When families talk about wanting a pet with 'grandpa energy,' what they’re really describing is a dog that matches their lifestyle: calm, endearing and low-key," shares Dr. Abel Gonzalez, DVM, the clinical director and veterinarian at Dutch. "Slower, sillier dogs make calm, low-drama companions—great for apartments…people working from home, or anyone who wants a steady shadow on the couch."

If you're looking for this type of loving dog breed, Dr. Gonzalez says that one way to shift the odds in your favor is to adopt a senior pet. Bonus points if the shelter's elder states-dog is one of these seven loving—slightly goofy, typically totally slow-moving—grandpa energy dog breeds listed below.

These hounds won't leave you crying—and if they do, it'll be happy, laughing tears that you found such a loving dog for a friend.

"They are slow-moving, droopy-faced and endlessly charming," says Dr. Nita Vasudevan, DVM, an Embrace Pet Insurance veterinarian contributor. "They thrive in homes that don’t mind a lot of lounging, which is why they are considered a dog with grandpa energy."

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