What is the best low maintenance dog?

Deciding to get a dog is a big decision. Not only do you have to decide what size, age, and breed of dog is right for your family, but you also have to think about how much time and effort you're willing to put into caring for your new pet. If you're looking for a "low-maintenance" option, we would like to put out this disclaimer: there really is no such thing as a completely low-maintenance dog.

Of course, dog breeds have strong characteristics that make them unique and different from one another. But it's important to understand that dogs will vary widely in their personality and temperament even within the same breed. This is true even for puppies within the same litter! One sibling can have a completely different personality and energy level than another.

As a starting point, take the Dog World best dog breed quiz to understand how good of a match you are with different dog breeds. After taking the quiz, you can see which of the following "low maintenance" dogs you have a high "pup score" with.

What is a low-maintenance dog?

The first thing to clarify is what we even mean by "low maintenance." What we wish to answer is- What is the easiest dog to care for? But that is not a straightforward answer because that depends on what characteristics are easy or challenging for each family. For example, giving your dog plenty of exercises may be a breeze for a professional marathon runner. Yet that same professional athlete may need to travel for work frequently, and the dog's independence and low anxiety need to be the primary factors.

Bearing that in mind, take these with a grain of salt and understand what truly a "low maintenance dog" means for you. The characteristics we will take into account for these suggestions are:

• Friendliness with both people and dogs. Any dog can be friendly with early socialization and the right environment, but with some breeds, it comes more naturally, which means less time and energy needs to be devoted here.

• Shedding, grooming, and hypoallergenic qualities. Some first-time dog owners are surprised to find out that parts of the year require daily dog combing and vacuuming of the home.

• Independence / low anxiety. This is an often overlooked quality. Some dogs do better when left at home alone, which can be a huge factor to consider if you travel or work.

• Energy / exercise need. Everyone is excited to take their new puppy on walks. But are you ready to give your dog daily exercise for the next 10 - 15 years?

Of course, these four categories are not an exhaustive list. The dog's size, for example, may be crucial for someone living in a small apartment and who travels often. Everyone's situation is unique, so taking the dog breed quiz is the right first step.

Low maintenance dogs for first-time owners

For a first-time owner, all 4 of the factors listed above should be considered. However, we think it's even more essential that a first-time owner picks a naturally friendly breed with other dogs and humans and that tends to be receptive to training.

Miniature Poodle

Poodles surprisingly don't require a lot of grooming, are hypoallergenic, and are relatively easy to train. Poodles are also known for being intelligent and good-natured, which makes them an excellent choice for households with young children. The poodle family's breed includes the Standard Poodle, the Miniature Poodle, and the Toy Poodle. For first-time owners, we recommend a toy or miniature poodle, not only for convenience but because they are even less likely to have aggressive or territorial tendencies. This frees the first-time owner to focus on other aspects of training and raising their puppy.

Friendliness 5/5

Shedding / Grooming 5/5

Independence 3/5

Energy 3/5

Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are social animals that enjoy being around people 24/7. They're also patient and gentle with kids, making them an excellent choice for families. Although they require more exercise than other breeds on this list, they are receptive to training and wish to please their owners. They are playful, friendly, easy to train, and are known for being obedient dogs.

Friendliness 5/5

Shedding / Grooming 2/5

Independence 3/5

Energy 4/5

Beagle

Beagles are small dogs that don't require a lot of space; they're content with several short walks or one longer walk each day. Beagles don't need to be groomed frequently; brushing once or twice per week should suffice. They're also relatively easy to train but may require patience due to their independent nature.

Friendliness 5/5

Shedding / Grooming 5/5

Independence 3/5

Energy 3/5

Low-maintenance dogs for seniors

Just like when considering an easy-to-care-for dog for first-time owners, it's essential to consider all four factors when looking for an easy dog for senior citizens. However, even more, emphasis should be given to getting a less powerful dog with a lower energy count for a senior citizen. A Siberian Husky or a Labrador is not the best option for a senior. Here are some dog breeds we would recommend for a senior:

Chihuahua

Despite the Chihuahua's prominent personality, they are also relatively low maintenance. They have some pent-up energy, but they would do perfectly fine with a couple of small daily walks because of their size. They shed little and require only an occasional brushing. They are very healthy dogs overall and can do well in hot weather. The Chihuahua is independent and does not need rough housing or constant play to keep them satisfied.

Friendliness 2/5

Shedding / Grooming 5/5

Independence 5/5

Energy 3/5

Bichon Frise

The Bichon Frise can make an excellent companion dog for seniors. One or two daily walks should be enough for them, and they will be happy to be at their owner's side without needing constant play and stimulation.

Friendliness 4/5

Shedding / Grooming 4/5

Independence 4/5

Energy 2/5

Havanese

The final recommendation for senior citizens is the Havanese. This native dog of Cuba is quite alert and can make a good watchdog. They prefer occasional walks rather than intense exercise and will be happy with the occasional walk and a nice window to people watch.

Friendliness 4/5

Shedding / Grooming 4/5

Independence 4/5

Energy 2/5

If you would like to find low-maintenance dogs by size, we have compiled the following lists for dogs that require the least amount of time and devotion:

• Small low-maintenance dogs

• Low-maintenance medium-sized dogs

• Large low-maintenance dogs

Just remember to take all of these with a grain of salt. Some criteria we use for "low maintenance" could be essential for one family and a non-factor for another. Furthermore, much of this comes down to the dog's personality; just like humans, there is a range. In other words, the most difficult "low maintenance dog" could require considerably more time and effort than an average "difficult" dog breed.