Dogs are truly one of the best pets and companions one could hope for. But in exchange for this endless affection, dogs need a lot of time, care, attention and maintenance. find a low maintenance dog breed is not a simple process. There are no categorically “low” or “high” maintenance dogs; rather, dogs vary in the amount of time and expense required to deal with different grades (eg, grooming or training). So when looking for a low maintenance dog, what should you keep in mind?
I spoke to dog trainer Derek Anovick about barkbusters los angelesCertified Master Groomer Joy Bonehill from The Barking Lot in San Franciscoand Sharon Town Lee, owner of Paws & Effect Pet Spa, for their opinion on which breeds of dogs they have found require less maintenance than others. . One thing all the experts agreed on is that low maintenance will mean something different for everyone. Anovick advised prospective owners to think about the different aspects of dog grooming and figure out which traits are important to your individual lifestyle. “Temperament, energy level, personality, the climate you live in, your lifestyle (for example, if you are an athletic person, a sheep or sport dog is perfect for you, if you are sedentary, get a sedentary dog) are all important things to consider,” he says, adding, “Every dog has the same basic needs: food, security, entertainment, and shelter.
Grooming is another important factor to include when considering maintenance.
“The most important thing about grooming is to do your homework before you get a dog, and if you’re getting a full breed or a mix of Poodles, they’ll need grooming, and you’ll want to know how much that’s going to be. costs you,” says Bonehill.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean that short-haired dogs are automatically easier.
“Pick the thing you like to tolerate the most,” says Sharon Town Lee, owner of Paws & Effect Pet Spa.
“The truth is that short-haired dogs shed and tend to smell worse, so they should be bathed regularly, although they usually don’t need a haircut. Long-haired breeds tend to have hair instead of body hair, and when you have long hair they will need to groom themselves.”
Both groomers I spoke to suggested looking up breeds on AKC (they have a great tool for finding out which breed of dog best suits your lifestyle), or get advice from your local ASPCA. That said, here are some commonly suggested low-maintenance dog breeds, with information on which traits make them easier to care for, as well as which traits they have that will need more attention.
1
yorkies
The summary: low shedders, low energy needs, moderate grooming, potential special medical needs.
Yorkies are adorable, tiny breeds that have long hair (rather than short hair) that tends not to fall out. As a small breed, they have lower exercise requirements than larger dogs, but will still need walks and playtime. Their grooming needs, depending on the dog, can be moderate.
“A Yorkie, if you get used to combing him, you can get away with having him groomed three times a year, because his hair doesn’t grow as fast as a Bichon Frize or a Poodle,” says Joy Bonehill. But if you can’t comb that long coat regularly, you’ll need to take your Yorkie in for regular grooming, or risk mats and tangles.
Yorkies can also increase your vet bill if you’re unlucky. “Yorkies have the strongest susceptibility to liver shunts,” warns Derek Anovick.
2
english bulldog
The summary: low activity, quiet barkers, high grooming, predisposition to medical problems.
The English Bulldog may seem grumpy, but they have a shy and quiet personality. “If you live in town, some breeds don’t bark: Bulldog breeds don’t bark much, while terriers bark more,” Bonehill explains.
Anovick says Bulldogs require less exercise, but they tend to have medical issues that can be costly: “This dog is low maintenance from a walk and activity standpoint, but at the Conversely, maintenance of pre-existing congenital and health issues requires money and maintenance – they tend to have heart murmurs and arthritis.”
Also, despite their short coat, they need to be brushed regularly: “Old English Bulldogs need to be groomed weekly,” says Joy. The Daily Puppy recommends brush your Bulldog three times a weekwith particular care to clean their wrinkled faces.
3
french bulldog
The summary: low activity, quiet barkers, moderate grooming, prone to medical problems.
“The French Bulldog is hugely popular, so entertaining and hilarious, and they don’t require a lot of exercise (they actually refuse to exercise). Plus, they’re not bad barkers,” Joy tells me. . Like the English Bulldog, they will need regular facial cleaning and some amount of skin care and brushing.
4
dwarf poodle
The summary: minimal shedding, moderate/high grooming, moderate/high energy level.
Poodles and doodles are popular breeds due to their intelligence and good looks, but they can be high maintenance when it comes to grooming. “Families are really excited about the doodle and poodle breeds, they’re really friendly, they’re fun to train, and they see their friends with these types of dogs and they want one too. But any type of doodle or poodle poodle needs monthly services, with baths and a haircut alternating every four weeks.It’s usually about $149 for a haircut for a large poodle or doodle, and it takes about half a day,” Sharon Town Lee tells me.
If you like the poodle look, Sharon advises you to go for the mini version: “Which I wish people who love doodles and poodles (especially when they have small children and busy lives) , is that there is an option to get a small dog.A miniature or toy poodle is much easier to maintain, grooming is cheaper and easier, easier to clean up afterwards.You need to determine if the money and time will fit your lifestyle.
Although they are smaller than a Standard Poodle and therefore require less exercise, Toy Poodle still needs regular exercise according to DogTime. And since they are very intelligent, they will need extra mental stimulation.
5
Miniature breeds
The summary: reduced weight loss, lower grooming needs, lower energy levels, potential special medical/physical needs.
The smaller the dog, the lower the grooming costs and overall time spent grooming/cleaning up after your dog, and generally the less exercise and space they will need. Miniature breeds offer advantages in these areas, but there may be medical issues specific to smaller breeds. For example: the anal glands. The anal glands are located near the dog’s anus and are filled with a smelly substance that helps them mark their territory. In small dogs, they sometimes have to be manually emptied or they risk being impacted. “Large dogs express their anal glands when they have a bowel movement. But small toy breeds sometimes can’t express them, and the groomer will check to see if they’re full and express it,” says Joy Bonehill.
6
Irish Setter
The summary: family oriented, good temperament, high moult, moderate to high grooming needs.
While the Irish Setter has a glorious coat that demands attention (and sheds a lot of it), it has personalities that make up for it. “Another breed that is not small but really family friendly and beautiful is an Irish setter, they are amazing and easier to care for than a doodle,” says Sharon Town Lee.
7
Bichon Frize
The summary: minimal shedding, easy temperament, moderate energy, high grooming needs.
“There are dogs that lend themselves to a little less maintenance, more like companion dogs. Shitzu, Bichon Frize and the Maltese: these are the old dogs of royalty and companion dogs,” explains the Anovick coach. However, the Bichon Frize’s fast-growing coat will need regular grooming.
8
Shih Tzu
The summary: low shedding, gentle energy companion dog, high grooming needs, potential special medical issues.
Like the Bichon Frize, Shih Tzus are low-energy companion dogs. However, there are unique requirements for this breed. Derek advises, “So let’s take a Shih Tzu, they’re pretty easygoing dogs, but if their hair grows long, it takes maintenance, and they have genetic issues where sometimes their teeth need to be extracted, a dental issue. cherry eye. Any breed that has protruding eyes tends to have this problem.”
9
Maltese
The summary: low shedding, gentle energy companion dog, high grooming needs.
Another companion dog, the Maltese is happy enough to cuddle with you most of the time, but that beautiful coat will require regular care and maintenance, along with the other potential companion dog issues mentioned earlier.
ten
italian greyhound
The summary: minimal grooming needs, low shedding, high energy levels.
Italian Greyhounds may not seem like a candidate for a low maintenance dog, given their high energy requirements. But if you’re someone whose lifestyle can accommodate an athletic dog, Italian Greyhounds have minimal grooming needs. They are one of Sharon Town Lee’s picks for a great family dog: “The Italian Greyhound is an amazing dog. They have super sweet personalities, they love small children and they need very little grooming.”