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15 Low-Maintenance Dogs For Busy People
The perfect low-maintenance dogsWelcoming any animal into your family is a big commitment, but some popular dog breeds are more demanding than others. Take smart and super-focused Belgian Malinois for example: They might be impressive masters of canine tricks, but they're certainly not low-maintenance dogs. These high-energy, driven dogs need niche homes that can offer the training and mental and physical enrichment they need. Apartment dwellers, busy families, retirees or first-time owners might be looking for a more laid-back breed—and maybe one they don't have to spend hours grooming or vacuuming up after.
While low-maintenance dogs have a reputation for being easier to care for, that's not to say you don't have to put in the work. "All dogs require training, veterinary care, some form of exercise, human interaction and commitment to care for them throughout their lives," says Erin Askeland, an animal health and behavior expert and certified professional dog trainer.
And don't forget that every dog has its own personality. "With any dog, regardless of breed, their individual needs will vary. As with people, some dogs are more active, affectionate or stubborn than others," says veterinarian Jacqueline Brister, DVM. "It's important to understand that breed specifics really are just guidelines, and owners need to try and stay attuned to their pets to help meet their emotional and physical needs, especially as they grow and move through life stages."
What makes a dog breed low maintenance?When we talk about low-maintenance dog breeds, we don't just mean canine couch potatoes. We crafted this list looking for that sweet spot in terms of temperament, trainability, energy levels, grooming requirements and overall health. Unsurprisingly, it doesn't feature any always-on-the-go endurance athletes (like Belgian Malinois), supershedders (like golden retrievers) or typically hard-to-train dogs (like Siberian huskies).
Read on for 15 low-maintenance dogs that are easier to care for. Compiled with the help of three canine experts, this list will help you find a four-legged friend that's a good match for your busy lifestyle.
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About the expertsIt's fair to say that large dog breeds can be more work than toy types. They take up more space, eat more food, often need more exercise and can have more health issues. But as far as big breeds go, Anatolian shepherds are relatively low-maintenance dogs if you live in a rural location. They're calm, pretty low-energy pups that love spending time outdoors. Long hikes aren't a necessity, but having a large, secure yard is a bonus. They shed their thick coats seasonally, but the fur fest won't be extreme like it is with a husky or German shepherd. "Genetically, they tend to be a pretty healthy breed and aren't prone to common large-breed issues like hip dysplasia or bloat," says Dr. Brister.
The biggest challenge comes from managing their guarding instincts—Anatolian shepherds were originally bred for herd protection. "It's a working breed and tends to be on the protective side," she says. But with early and ongoing socialization and positive training, these loyal dogs make for responsive and adaptable family pets.
25 Large Dog Breeds That Make Great Pets
TosaMeet the Tosa, one of the biggest dog breeds from Japan. These animals were formerly bred for fighting, but thankfully, those days are gone. Now, the Tosa basks in the family life. It's far from a lazy dog breed, though. It takes its role as the stately and vigilant guardian of the family seriously. A properly trained and socialized Tosa is calm and affectionate with its family but naturally suspicious and aloof with strangers.
Remember, the breed was created for dogfighting, so your Tosa might not take too kindly to other animals or humans visiting your home. "They will show increased predator/prey behavior with cats and other small pets and may readily chase small children running around with possibly disastrous consequences due to their strength and large size," says Dr. Bell. In other words, Tosas prefer to be your one and only pet, and it pays to properly train them, especially if you have young kids.
Breed overview Height: 12.5 to 23.5 inches at the shoulder Weight: 100 to 200 pounds Life expectancy: 10 to 12 years Tibetan mastiffAre you inviting a lion or a dog to share your home? It's hard to tell with the Tibetan mastiff's formidable size and mane of thick, dense fur. As a member of the working group, it veers on the side of being a large-and-in-charge guardian and independent thinker. It has a strong sense of self and confidently assumes it is an equal, not a pet. Yet the Tibetan mastiff is also mellow and very affectionate with its human family, dependent on their companionship to be happy and to avoid mischief. If these dogs are apart from you and alone for too long, they'll find ways to entertain themselves that aren't constructive. (Read: Huge dog, huge mess.)
Breed overview Height: 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder Weight: 70 to 150 pounds Life expectancy: 10 to 12 years Brian Stubbs/Getty Images Things to know before adopting a large dog breedYou've probably already thought about whether you have enough space for a huge dog, but there are a few more details to consider before adopting one of these large dog breeds. For starters, giant dogs wolf down a lot of food. "A dog who weighs 100 pounds eats almost five cups a day of commercial dog kibble; then add about one-third cup more for every 10 pounds over 100 pounds," says Lyndsey Larson, VMD, ABVP, a veterinarian at VCA Firehouse Animal Hospital in Denver.
Because of their size, the biggest dog breeds also require more medicine, including flea and tick preventatives. And big dogs make bigger messes with their fur, slobber and paws. All in all, you may need a bigger car, bigger poop bags or scoops, bigger crates, bigger dog beds and bigger muscles to deal with your extra-large pet. These are just a few weighty factors to consider when thinking about how much it will cost to own a dog of this size.
The largest dog breeds' puppy stageSmaller dogs generally reach their full size at around 12 months. The largest dog breeds take their time reaching their adult weight, hitting maturity between 18 and 24 months old.
Behavior and training challenges are magnified when you have a huge dog, so training during the impressionable puppy stage is essential. "A good rule of thumb is to get a large-breed pet into a training program and support those good habits at home between the ages of 16 weeks and one year," says Dr. Larson.
The largest dog breeds' life spanAlthough the reasons aren't entirely clear, most giant dog breeds have shorter life spans. They age more quickly, thus developing age-related diseases, such as osteoarthritis, earlier. This can make it difficult for them to get around or climb stairs. You may eventually need a ramp or a special lifting harness to help them up and down stairs or into a car. And with big dogs, knowing how to pick up a dog safely without hurting them or yourself is vital.
Why trust usAt Reader's Digest, we're committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this piece on large dog breeds, Lisa Marie Conklin tapped her experience as a reporter who has covered dogs and pets for seven years, and then Caroline Coile, PhD, an award-winning journalist specializing in canine breeds, health and science, gave it a rigorous review to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. For this piece, we relied on reputable primary sources and experts, including practicing veterinarians. We verified all facts and data and backed them with credible sourcing, and we will revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
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Adorable Images Show Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, And Dalmatians Posing Artistically For Their Portraits In The Fields Of Slovakia
A pair of adorable Border Collies snuggling up to each other surrounded by stunning flowers is among the sweetest portraits taken by a photographer in the fields of Slovakia.
Breeds including Australian shepherds and Dalmatians were also seen posing or bounding through the fields as they had their portraits taken by professional pet photographer, Veronika Shandor.
One Dalmatian was seen peeping through the flowers and looking straight down the camera lens, while a seven-year-old border collie looked adorable as it rested its chin on a bed of petals.
In other portraits, adorable pups were seen cosying up to one another or excitedly leaping through the flowers with their tongues out.
Ms Shandor, an award-winning photographer from Bratislava, Slovakia, said: 'I enjoy capturing the true nature of dogs, especially when my photo brings a smile to the dog owner's face,' she said.
'I love it when dogs are natural and enjoy the photo shoot.
'While taking photos, I ensure that the dog model enjoys the process and doesn't even realise that he/she is being photographed.
'Sometimes, it takes longer to capture the perfect shot, while other times, the photo shoot is completed in just a few minutes.
Ms Shandor, who won the domesticated animal category at the international FEP awards in April, added: 'I have two of my own dogs, a blue merle and a red merle border collie, who are my partners in crime and wonderful models.'
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