10 Lovable Low-Maintenance Dog Breeds

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If you want a dog as a friend but are often busy, you should choose a breed that is easy to care for or is usually low maintenance. Find a puppy that doesn’t need a lot of exercise, grooming, training, or health care. There are both big and small dogs that are easy to take care of, so you’re sure to find a good match.

These 10 low-maintenance dog breeds are great for busy pet owners who don’t have a lot of time to take care of their pets.

Features of a Breed

The best dog breeds for people who are always on the go tend to have moderate to low energy levels, average intelligence, and good health overall.

Some dog breeds, like middle-aged or senior dogs, are better for people who don’t do as much. However, older dogs may need more medical care as they get older.

Dachshund

The Dachshund is a breed of dog that is very friendly and makes a great couch companion. There are two sizes of this dog: small and medium. Doxies with long hair need a little more care than those with short or wire hair. All can make excellent companions.

Dachshunds can be stubborn, so they need basic training to teach them how to behave. Most of the time, this breed only needs a moderate amount of exercise. With their short little legs and long bodies, running and jumping too much can make spinal problems worse or cause them.

Breed Overview

GROUP: Hound (AKC)

HEIGHT: 8 to 9 inches (standard); 5 to 6 inches (miniature)

WEIGHT: 16 to 32 pounds (standard); up to 11 pounds (miniature)

PERSONALITY/TEMPERAMENT: Energetic, lovable, endearing personality

ENERGY LEVEL: Medium

COAT AND COLOR: Coat varieties include smooth (shorthaired), longhaired, and wire-haired; colors include (but are not limited to) black, tan, fawn, beige, blue, chocolate, and red with various markings

LIFE SPAN: 12 to 16 years

Greyhound

This racing dog is not a high-energy dog, despite what most people think. Most greyhounds are lazy and like to hang out with their owners. They like to go for walks every day and run once in a while, but they don’t need a lot of exercises.

Most greyhounds are in good health as a whole. In general, greyhounds are easy to take care of and learn quickly. This dog is big, but it’s not huge. Consider getting a whippet if you like its personality and looks but would rather have a smaller dog.

Breed Overview

GROUP: Hound (AKC)

HEIGHT: 25 to 30 inches

WEIGHT: 60 to 80 pounds

PERSONALITY/TEMPERAMENT: Even-tempered, intelligent, affectionate

ENERGY LEVEL: Medium

COAT AND COLOR: The coat is short and smooth in a variety of colors including black, blue, fawn, red, white, and various shades of brindle, or a combination of any of these colors

LIFE SPAN: 10 to 13 years

French Bulldog

The happy Frenchie is the perfect dog to hang out with while you do nothing. French bulldogs are one of the breeds of dog that are the most happy. Even though they have a lot of energy, they don’t tend to be very strong. This breed usually does well with moderate daily exercise, but it shouldn’t go outside when it’s very hot or humid.

Most Frenchies do well with basic training and are usually well-behaved if they have rules to follow. This breed doesn’t need much grooming, but it may have skin problems and is more likely to get brachycephalic syndrome because its muzzle is short.

Breed Overview

GROUP: Non-sporting (AKC)

HEIGHT: 11 to 13 inches

WEIGHT: 19 to 28 pounds

PERSONALITY/TEMPERAMENT: Playful, friendly, loyal, affectionate, lively, sociable

ENERGY LEVEL: Medium

COAT AND COLOR: Short, smooth coat in brindle, fawn, white, or combination of brindle and white or fawn and white

LIFE SPAN: 10 to 12 years

Chihuahua

Interested in a small dog? The tiny Chihuahua, which weighs only 2 to 6 pounds, is the perfect size for a lap dog. Even though these dogs have bursts of energy, they don’t need much exercise most of the time.

Most Chihuahuas are in good shape. Chihuahuas don’t need much grooming, but those with long hair will need a bit more brushing to keep their hair from getting tangled.

The way this breed acts is something to watch out for. Don’t take these dogs everywhere with you or treat them too well. Set limits for your Chihuahua, or it will try to run everyone else’s lives. Choose a dog with a calm personality and train it in the basics.

Breed Overview

GROUP: Toy (AKC)

HEIGHT: 6 to 9 inches

WEIGHT: 2 to 6 pounds

PERSONALITY/TEMPERAMENT: Loyal, alert, lively, attentive, bright, companionable

ENERGY LEVEL: Medium

COAT AND COLOR: Smooth or long coats come in black, tan, fawn, cream, white, blue, silver, chocolate, and red

LIFE SPAN: 12 to 20 years

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

The Cavalier is a mild-mannered, gentle, affectionate, and adaptable dog that will always look like a puppy. This dog is small to medium-sized, and it’s often happiest when it’s cuddling up with a person or another dog.

Cavaliers weigh between 11 and 18 pounds and are easy to train and handle. Some health problems, like heart disease, ear infections, and neurological problems, are more likely to happen to them.

The Cavalier has some grooming needs, like having its hair brushed regularly, having its ears cleaned, and going to a groomer once in a while. They don’t shed much and are great pets for the couch.

Breed Overview

GROUP: Toy (AKC)

HEIGHT: 12 to 13 inches

WEIGHT: 13 to 18 pounds

PERSONALITY/TEMPERAMENT: Affectionate, active, family-friendly

ENERGY LEVEL: Medium

COAT AND COLOR: Long, sleek and silky coat with feathering around ears, feet, chest, and tail in four color varieties: tricolor, blenheim, ruby, and black and tan

LIFE SPAN: 12 to 14 years

West Highland White Terrier

If you want a small or medium-sized dog that is easy to get along with, a Westie would be a great choice. Most are healthy, have a moderate amount of energy, and are easy to train.

This breed needs some grooming, but it doesn’t need to be trimmed often. Many people choose to hand-strip (pluck out) the dead hairs from this dog’s coat, while others brush the coat occasionally to keep it healthy.

Breed Overview

GROUP: Terrier (AKC)

HEIGHT: 10 to 11 inches

WEIGHT: 13 to 20 pounds

PERSONALITY/TEMPERAMENT: Upbeat, loveable, active

ENERGY LEVEL: Medium

COAT AND COLOR: Completely white, long rough coat; black eyes, and nose

LIFE SPAN: 13 to 15 years

Brussels Griffon

The Brussels griffon is a fun dog to know because it is small, cute, and funny. They can be pretty active, but they don’t need much exercise. Basic training is a must to balance out their stubbornness and give them structure.

The Brussels is another small breed that weighs between 6 and 12 pounds and doesn’t need much grooming. The wiry coat needs to be brushed, but it doesn’t need a lot of grooming. The breed is also pretty healthy and good-natured.

Breed Overview

GROUP: Toy (AKC)

HEIGHT: 7 to 10 inches

WEIGHT: 6 to 12 pounds

PERSONALITY/TEMPERAMENT: Lively, joyful, loyal

ENERGY LEVEL: Medium

COAT AND COLOR: Smooth coat or rough coat in red, black and tan, solid black, or belge (mix of black and reddish-brown)

LIFE SPAN: 12 to 15 years

Mastiff

Have your heart set on a big, lazy dog? Mastiffs are big dogs that are usually not very active and don’t have a lot of stamina. Young mastiffs are often silly and playful, but they are usually very well-behaved. As they get older, they get less active and more distant, but they still love their families.

As with most giant dog breeds, these dogs don’t live as long as the average dog does. Most are considered old by age 6, and few will live past 11 or 12 years old. Aside from the fact that some mastiffs have problems with their joints, these dogs tend to be pretty healthy.

Breed Overview

GROUP: Working (AKC)

HEIGHT: 27 to 30 inches

WEIGHT: 120 to 220 pounds

PERSONALITY/TEMPERAMENT: Noble, gentle, and loyal

ENERGY LEVEL: Low

COAT AND COLOR: Short and sleek coat colored fawn, apricot, or brindle with a dark mask on the muzzle, ears, nose, and drooping jowls

LIFE SPAN: 10 to 12 years

Bullmastiff

The bullmastiff sounds like a good choice if you want a big dog that isn’t quite as big and lazy as the mastiff. Even though it weighs between 100 and 130 pounds, it is still a big dog. Its health is as good as or better than that of the mastiff, and it lives a bit longer.

The bullmastiff is a bit more active than the mastiff, but it doesn’t have as much stamina. Walking this breed every day should be enough to keep it happy and healthy. You can count on this dog to be a couch potato the rest of the time.

Breed Overview

GROUP: Working (AKC)

HEIGHT: 24 to 27 inches

WEIGHT: 100 to 130 pounds

PERSONALITY/TEMPERAMENT: Loyal, protective, alert, loving, companionable, calm

ENERGY LEVEL: Medium

COAT AND COLOR: Short coat in fawn, reddish-brown, or brindle coloring with a dark-colored muzzle, nose, and drooping jowls

LIFE SPAN: 8 to 10 years

Poodle

There are three sizes of poodles: the standard, the miniature, and the toy. They are smarter and more active than other breeds, but they can still get along with people. Low maintenance is the same as being versatile. They are active dogs that tend to match the level of energy of the people who own them.

Poodles’ hair grows all the time, so it needs to be brushed and cut often to keep it from getting tangled. They don’t shed much, which is good because they won’t make a mess around the house.

Breed Overview

GROUP: Non-sporting (AKC)

HEIGHT: Standard: over 15 inches; miniature: 10 to 15 inches; toy: 10 inches and under

WEIGHT: Standard: 45 to 70 pounds; miniature: 15 to 18 pounds; toy: 5 to 9 pounds

PERSONALITY/TEMPERAMENT: Fun-loving, energetic, intelligent

ENERGY LEVEL: Medium

COAT AND COLOR: Curly, dense single coats; one of many solid colors, including but not limited to white, black, grey, brown, apricot, and particolored

LIFE SPAN: 10 to 18 years

Avoid these breeds

Dogs that are bored often get angry and even sad. If you won’t be able to give schipperkes, huskies, or pit bulls enough exercise and stimulation, you should avoid getting them. If you don’t pay attention to them, they might start acting up. Choose a dog with a bit less energy instead. Also, smarter, high-energy dog breeds like border collies, Australian shepherds, and Jack Russell terriers will get bored if they don’t get enough training and activities.

Even though they are cute, you shouldn’t get a puppy because they are very active and need care around the clock for the first year. Teenage and young dogs (around 2 or 3 years old) probably have more energy and needs, so they might not be the best match.

7 thoughts on “10 Lovable Low-Maintenance Dog Breeds”

  2. Lumping all schipperkes in the basket is wrong. I could not have asked for a better dog.
    When it came time to bring a dog into our family. My husband had his mind set on a chocolate lab. So off we went on our search. One day by some crazy chance we stopped into a pet, there was no lad but my husband found this very tiny black ball of fur and was smitten. Even though we had no idea about this pup; we him home and our lives were forever the better for it.

    Reply

    • Stating what the “general breed traits” are gives an insight into what a well-bred, well adjusted & properly managed dog of a specific breed is most likely to turn out like, in general; that is the beauty of having a purebred dog. Of course there will always be outliers of the breed standard within any breed, I personally know someone that has a “Border Collie stuck in a Bulldog’s body” (she is an English Bulldog, but has the energy, drive & smarts of a Border Collie) lol!

      Reply

  3. Schipperkes are not a low maintenance dog by any means! They are high energy and require a great deal of training and socializing.

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  4. Cavaliers are NOT low maintenance! They have a huge amount of health problems ranging from heart issues to their brain squeezing out of their skull.

    Poodles are the most intelligent dogs, they need a ton of stimulation.
    Also I noticed a lot of short face dogs which have massive breathing problems and need corrective surgery in order to breath properly.

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  6. Just what is their definition of “low maintenance”? Several dogs listed need both professional and regular at home grooming. Several of the breeds listed tend to have genetic issues that require regular treatments (either at home medications or regular trips to a vet). I certainly don’t consider that “low maintenance”! Women who are constantly going to spas & hair dressers are always considered “high maintenance”. Using my definition of “low maintenance” my Schipperkes are low maintenance. Yes, they need lots of mental stimulation but I chose the breed because they’re healthy enough to hike, kayak, bike & RV with me without me having to be constantly grooming.

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  8. Dachshunds aren’t low maintenance, they are bred for hunting small game… With that stated they will dig through your trash if you don’t teach them while they are young, and they have medium energy but they would probably do more if their little legs and body could handle it. I have a 12 year old dachshund right now and they can live to be 16 but he still is able to hop on the couch without a problem.

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