Defining Low-Maintenance Dog Breeds

“Dogs described as ‘low-maintenance’ are typically those that have been bred to be companions, such as Maltese,” says Annie-Mae Levy, a professional dog trainer at a dog training app Woofz. “In contrast, lots of dogs (think Collies, Vizslas, and Jack Russells) were bred to do a different job. Owning a dog that was selected for a purpose other than being a pet usually means more work on your hands.”

Of course, low-maintenance pets can mean different things to different people. Certified dog trainer Nicole Ellis, a consulting expert for pet brand Rover, says that “some dogs that are easy to train need more exercise or stimulation than others. The first thing low-maintenance means to me is a dog that doesn’t need a ton of exercise or mental enrichment to be able to coexist calmly. This might be the dog's personality, it might be aspects of their breed or maybe it's due to their age. Secondly, 'low-maintenance' may also may mean from a grooming standpoint. My dogs, for example, require brushing and grooming appointments compared to many short hair breeds that just need a regular nail trim.”

Meet the Experts

• Annie-Mae Levy is an Essex-based certified dog trainer who studied Animal Behaviour at Exeter University. Levy runs Ani-Mal, a pet training center specializing in dog behavioral problems.
• Nicole Ellis is a certified professional dog trainer and American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator. Her shelter dog Maggie works in film and TV and knows 100 commands, and Ellis is the co-author of Working Like a Dog.
• Caitlin Bruns in an animal geneticist who manages the pet DNA team at Ancestry.com.
• Phil Tedeschi is the co-director of the Institute for Animal Sentience and Protection and Director Emeritus and Founder of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection and a licensed clinical social worker.