7 Top Low-Maintenance Dogs That Are Easy to Care For

Caring for a fur baby is always going to involve some level of work. You have to train them, you have to groom them, you have to bathe them, and you have to watch them to check for signs of illness. Whether it's keeping them out of the garbage, cleaning dirt off their little paws, or brushing their teeth, you'll have a task list for any canine companion.

Some breeds, though, require decidedly more care than others.

• Some dogs have very high energy levels and love to run and be active. That means they need a lot of space, a lot of active input and engagement from you, and a lot of care and attention paid to their paws and joints for signs of injury.

• Some dogs have elaborate fur coats that require special care and maintenance. Pulis, for example, have unique dreadlock-type corded coats that need careful attention.

• Some dogs have an instinctive drive to alert their packmates and parents to the presence of prey, which means they're both very attentive to small disturbances and very prone to being loud about them. Beagle moms know what I'm talking about.

• Some dogs have droopy skin that requires special care in and around the folds to prevent skin irritation and infections, overheating, and other disorders. Bulldogs may be loyal and friendly, but they're definitely a lot of work.

It's entirely reasonable that, if you're looking to adopt a pup, you want one that won't have this extra burden of care attached to it. Leave those breeds to the people who love them and who are more than happy and ready to handle those unique issues.

Whether you're a first-time pet parent or you just have so much on your plate that you can't handle the high-maintenance breeds, it's reasonable to seek out the lower-maintenance choices out there.

So, let's talk about some of the options available to you for low-maintenance dog breeds, and what considerations you should still have when adopting one.

#1: Best Low-Maintenance Dog for Low Shedding: French Bulldogs

French Bulldogs top the American Kennel Club's list of the most popular dog breeds in the country, and with good reason. They're relatively small, and while their skin can form folds and wrinkles that need care, it's not nearly as intense as an English bulldog's needs. They also have short, silky coats that don't shed very much, so if one of your primary concerns is the amount of fur they leave everywhere, they're a great pick.

All dogs shed, of course. Even "hairless" dogs still have short, nearly invisible fur that can still shed and build up. Frenchies are just among the easiest to care for.

French bulldogs do have a handful of noteworthy health issues to remember, but most of them aren't the kinds of issues you need to care for directly. Rather, they're things you need to watch for and bring them to the vet when they act up, or are things your vet can do during routine check-ups.

Since they're so immensely popular, there are also a million guides and resources for caring for your Frenchie, so you'll never be left wondering what is and isn't typical, like you might with a rarer breed.

#2: Best Low-Maintenance Dog for Low Energy Needs: Basset Hounds

The humble basset hound is a classic dog breed. Long, narrow faces, huge, droopy ears, and an almost cartoonish personality all combine to make an iconic dog that has nevertheless fallen a little out of favor in recent years.

Basset hounds are great dogs for families, especially families with kids or other dogs. They're not too big or too small, they're fairly low-energy, and their needs are chill. They are hounds, which means they have a decent prey drive and are prone to alerting, but they aren't going to be super disruptive.

Bassets do need routine brushing (like most dogs), and their floppy ears need special care. But, they're going to be perfectly happy to lie on the couch with you while you idly handle that care, so you'll never feel like you have to wrangle them just to give them a brushing.

#3: Best Low-Maintenance Dog for Small Spaces: Boston Terriers

Boston terriers are dogs in the same vein as French bulldogs. They're small in stature (but large in personality), they're energetic but not so much that they need to run everywhere all the time, and they're very adaptable.

In fact, the Boston terrier is a perfect breed for city living. They do very well in relatively small spaces like apartments, and don't need a yard (let alone a huge dog park) to have a good time. They'll certainly have their share of running back and forth through the living room, but they're also pretty easy to tucker out on a simple walk or a trip to a local park.

The adaptability is probably the best part of the Boston terrier. They do very well going with the flow and aren't very prone to anxiety over changes in living situation, making them a popular companion for people who tend to move every couple of years. As long as they can hang out with you on the couch, they don't much care where that couch is this week.

#4: Best Low-Maintenance Dog for Fans of Larger Dogs: Greyhounds

While you might not think of a racing dog as a low-maintenance dog, greyhounds are actually very chill almost all the time. It comes with the nature of racing: short bursts of intense energy, and a lot of time spent saving up for those bursts.

The fact is, most greyhounds spend a lot of their time lounging around and dozing off. Living with a greyhound might involve one really good run every few days, a decent walk every day, and a lot of watching them nap in all their lanky glory.

As an added bonus, greyhounds who age out of their racing careers are often given up for adoption to make way for the next generation, so it's easy to rescue a retired racer and give them a loving retirement home.

#5: Best Low-Maintenance Dog for a Docile Companion: Mastiffs

Mastiffs are the archetype of a giant breed, though the largest dogs on record actually aren't mastiffs at all. As a giant breed, mastiffs are huge in stature and goofy antics, but they're also quick to tire and tend to be huge couch potatoes. If you don't mind giving up a whole recliner to your canine companion, they can be a great one to have by your side.

Mastiffs tend to be generally healthy, though their scale and weight mean they can end up with joint problems as they age. Similarly, they're also among the shortest-lived dog breeds, which is one of the sad realities of the giants. Their lives are rich, full, and woefully short, with many mastiffs considered near-senior dogs by the age of 6.

#6: Best Low-Maintenance Dog for Classic Elegance: Poodles

If your impression of the poodle comes from carefully-clipped and immaculately-trained canines competing in the Westminster dog show, you're probably not seeing the real deal, the way they really deserve.

Poodles are a canine mirror. They can be energetic or sedate, they can be immaculately groomed or a little scruffy, they can be loving and kind or obstinate and stubborn… and all of those are reflections of their caregivers. They give you what you give them.

One unique element of the poodle is their fur coat, which is actually more like hair. It grows continually and doesn't shed the way other dogs shed. What that means, though, is they need regular grooming to clip and style that hair. Fortunately, you'll probably be taking them to a groomer to do that rather than handling it yourself, so the maintenance isn't your burden to bear.

#7: Best Low-Maintenance Dog for Hypoallergenic Care: Chinese Crested

The Chinese Crested is a strange-looking dog if you've never seen one before. They're almost entirely hairless, but with tufts of long fur around their ears, their tails, and a line along their backs. They're adorable and big on personality, and they're smart, friendly, and easygoing, making them an ideal dog for many different situations.

The one downside to a hairless breed like the Chinese Crested is that their skin is much more exposed, which means if you live in a sunny climate, they're going to need sunscreen when you take them out. They certainly aren't going to begrudge you putting it on, though, since it's just another form of affection to them.

Tips for Adopting a Low-Maintenance Dog

Picking the right breed is just the start of your journey with a lovable new pooch. What should you keep in mind even after you choose your breed?

Adopt, Don't Shop

First of all, I am a very firm believer in the "adopt, don't shop" philosophy. All across the country, animal shelters are positively packed with animals in desperate need of a loving home. Buying from a breeder not only encourages potentially dangerous breeding behavior, but it also means one more shelter animal doesn't get that loving home.

Yes, it can be hard to find a specific breed of dog at a shelter. That's why there are also breed-specific rescue organizations and even travel organizations that can shuttle a dog from a shelter across the country to your doorstep. The world is deeply interconnected, and these days, there's no excuse.

Low Maintenance Doesn't Mean No Maintenance

One thing I always need to caution people, especially new pet parents, is that a "low maintenance" breed is still a dog with needs. Modern dogs are better than they were a few decades ago, but they're still a long way off from the wolves they're descended from, and they need a lot of care to live in harmony with we people.

All too often, I hear about new dog parents treating their pups like cats, trusting them to handle themselves in ways that dogs just don't do. Cats also require more maintenance than many people realize, and it's even worse with dogs, to the extent that some of these people are borderline abusive in their neglect.

Be prepared for the maintenance you'll have to do to care for your pup.

Be Prepared for Individual Issues

Another important tip is that just because a breed is low-maintenance, it doesn't mean the specific puppy you adopt will be. Some breeds are mixed enough that different lineages and different quirks of genetics can express in different ways. Others simply develop health issues earlier than others of their breed, and you're saddled with another maintenance task like insulin shots or pills or sensitive skin treatments that others with the same breed don't.

Yes, it can be stressful. Yes, it can feel like a betrayal of the "low maintenance" claims. It's not a failure on your part or on the part of your pooch; it's just the luck of the draw. Give your pup the life they deserve, and if you can't, surrender them to someone who can.

Common Questions About Low-Maintenance Dogs

Let's wrap things up with a few questions about low-maintenance dogs that didn't fit into the sections above.

Are non-purebred dogs low-maintenance?

"Mutts" or mixed-breed dogs can be lower-maintenance than purebreds, yes. For one thing, they tend to have fewer genetic issues that need to be handled. It's called "hybrid vigor," and it's what healthy genetic diversity encourages in a species.

At the same time, mixed-breed dogs run the gamut and can have parentage from nearly any breed, which means they can be unpredictable and have wildly varying needs. You need to be able to adapt to the dog, without making assumptions based on their appearance, like you can with a purebred.

Are smaller dog breeds lower maintenance than larger breeds?

Not always, but often, that is the case. Smaller dogs have smaller needs and tend to be less disruptive when those needs aren't met. If a greyhound decides to bolt, good luck; if your chihuahua decides to bolt, they'll be a lot easier to catch.

You also have to spend less time brushing and grooming even a higher-maintenance small dog simply because there's less surface area to handle.

How do you pick the right low-maintenance breed?

It all comes down to what your needs and concerns are. Some low-maintenance breeds are very much lapdogs and are going to get separation anxiety without you, while a larger breed might need more grooming but is comfortable chilling at home alone while you're at work. Similarly, a high-maintenance breed with low energy levels doesn't have the same space needs as a low-maintenance breed that needs space to run and roam.

Consider what you're bringing to the table, where your limits are, and what kind of maintenance is the deal-breaker for you. Then, you can pick the right kind of breed for your lifestyle. I can guarantee there's a great dog for you, if you can find them.