Low-maintenance dogs refer to four-legged friends whose keeping is particularly time-saving. Essentially it is a combination of several factors:
- Good trainability: They learn quickly, are intelligent and tend to require less training.
- Easy socialization: They naturally get along well with other living creatures.
- Easy grooming: They do not require daily brushing and shed little to moderate amounts.
- Little employment: They need comparatively less employment than other breeds.
Only a few dog breeds have all of these character traits. Below you will learn about the 33 easiest dogs in the world to care for.
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#1 French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is an easy-care dog breed for beginners. The toy dog was bred for apartments and to be kept as a house dog. [1]
The four-legged friend sheds a moderate amount and only has a weak hunting instinct. He barks little and gets along with little exercise. This bulldog cannot tolerate cold or heat.
Because of her flat snout, she often suffers from breathing problems and drools a lot. According to studies, French bulldogs are among the dumbest dogs in the world.
Fun fact: The playful four-legged friends memorize behavior that makes people laugh and then repeat it constantly. They are real dog clowns.
#2 Miniature Pinscher
The Miniature Pinscher is an easy-care dog breed from Germany. The four-legged friend sheds little, is moderately trainable and barks a lot. He also needs a lot of exercise. [2]
The four-legged friend is trusting towards the family. However, he doesn't get along well alone or with other dogs. When fully grown, the little pinscher only weighs around 4 kg.
Nevertheless, this small dog can be kept well as a guard dog. He is generally territorial and protective – especially with his toys.
Fun fact: The Miniature Pinscher is a real joker and is always up for a joke. You can only have fun with this four-legged friend!
#3 Basset Hound
The Basset Hound from England was bred as a tracking dog for hunting. The short-legged dog with the figure of a dachshund has a gentle, patient nature. [3]
The easy-care dog has the second best nose among dogs with 220 million olfactory receptors. This means that the Basset Hound smells several thousand times better than us humans.
This four-legged friend gets along great with other dogs or pets. Therefore, it is well suited for first-time owners. Overall, this cozy four-legged friend is a calm companion.
Fun fact: The funny floppy ears of these dogs have a curious function. They function as a “sniffing aid” by waving smells directly to the nose while running.
#4 Havanese
The Havanese is an easy-care, long-haired dog from Cuba. He was bred as a lap and apartment dog. He needs a moderate amount of exercise and hardly barks. [4]
The trusting little four-legged friend has an approachable, playful nature. He gets along very well with children and strange dogs. This dog, on the other hand, cannot tolerate loneliness.
The white fur balls are ranked 24th among the most popular dog breeds worldwide. The four-legged friends are between 14 and 16 years old and weigh around 5 kg when fully grown.
Fun fact: Did you know that dogs can have freckles under their fur? In the Havanese, these are particularly noticeable with very short hair.
#5 Greyhound
The Greyhound from England is a fast sighthound with a gentle, calm nature. The four-legged friend is one of the second fastest dog breeds in the world. [5]
The animals are therefore particularly popular in dog races. When running, the dogs are literally in the air about 75% of the time. The Greyhound is ideal as an apartment dog.
The easy-care dogs love the company of people. They are very frugal and take up very little space. The only thing that requires caution is their hunting instinct.
Fun fact: Did you know that greyhounds are also colloquially referred to as “70 km/h couch potatoes”? This is because these animals sleep around 18 hours a day. In terms of their life, this accounts for up to 75% of their lifespan.
#6 Boston Terriers
The Boston Terrier is an easy-care dog breed for beginners. He is easy to train, has a weak hunting instinct and barks a moderate amount. It was bred in the USA.
With its friendly nature, the four-legged friend is the 21st most popular dog breed worldwide. The four-legged friend is an ideal play partner for children. [6]
In general, Boston Terriers like to play the clown. They love to attract attention. It's hard to believe that the four-legged friends were once intended for dog fights.
Fun fact: All in all, the “American Gentleman” is a great four-legged friend, but he has a small anatomical problem. He is prone to regular, unpleasant flatulence.
#7 Beagles
The lovable beagle is a former sniffer dog from England. The easy-care dog breed lives up to 15 years and has one of the best dog noses in the world. [7]
The friendly, curious four-legged friends are highly unsuitable as guard dogs. They get along very well in the apartment, shed moderately and are easy to train.
However, beagles bark a lot and love to dig. If they get too much food, these active four-legged friends tend to become overweight. They need a lot of exercise.
Fun fact: Beagles like to surprise people with their “singing skills”. The dogs can make more than 20 different sounds.
#8 Pug
The pug is a loving, playful four-legged friend with no hunting instinct. The easy-care dog for beginners was bred specifically for the purpose of being a lap dog. [8]
The Chinese little four-legged friend fulfills this task very well. The dog develops a close relationship, especially with children. He barks little and only needs a moderate amount of exercise.
The four-legged friend is now one of the 30 most popular dog breeds worldwide. Unfortunately, this also leads to torture breeding in which the animals suffer from severe breathing problems.
Fun fact: Dogs can also snore quite loudly, especially if they have a flat snout. The pug is particularly loud. That can be a whopping 96 decibels. So about as loud as a circular saw.
#9 Newfoundland
The Newfoundland comes from Canada. The patient, large four-legged friend weighs up to 80 kg when fully grown and is very large. It reaches a height of 71 cm. [9]
This easy-care dog breed was originally bred as a working dog for fishermen. The Newfoundland was also sometimes used as a rescue dog for the water.
These trainable four-legged friends are also suitable for beginners. However, they are not made for the apartment. A large property and adequate space are better.
Fun fact: As befits a hairy animal like the Newfoundland, this four-legged friend sheds a lot. You can definitely stuff several pillows with his hair.
#10 Griffon Bruxellois
The alert Griffon Bruxellois is one of the easy-care dog breeds and is therefore also suitable for beginners. The four-legged friend sheds a moderate amount and barks a lot. [10]
He also has a very strong hunting instinct and is a curious, impatient dog. Some people also call him a “selfish” because he is very picky.
Nevertheless, he is relatively easy to train and gets along well with children or other dogs. The Griffon is often fearful and skeptical of strangers.
Fun fact: If you like cows, then you'll love the Griffon Bruxellois! This four-legged friend opens its mouth very wide when chewing and is therefore similar to ruminants.
#11 Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound is one of the smallest greyhound breeds. When fully grown, the easy-care dog only weighs a maximum of 5 kg. His nature is sensitive and sociable.
With its speed of 40 km/h, this lap dog is one of the slowest greyhounds in the world. He usually reacts sensitively to narcotics and cannot last as long. [11]
This means that you have to go out the door with your little four-legged friend particularly often. The four-legged friends need a lot of attention and love. They should be well socialized.
Fun fact: While other four-legged friends are often excited when they visit, the Italian greyhound prefers to shyly hide behind the legs of its caregivers.
#12 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from England is a bred lap dog. The easy-care dog is moderately easy to train and sheds relatively little. [12]
It is one of the top 20 most popular dog breeds worldwide. The four-legged friend has become increasingly popular, especially in the last 20 years. It is ideal for families with children.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel even develops a close bond with other pets. The four-legged friend has an extroverted nature and has difficulty staying alone.
Fun fact: This breed was once often used as a “flea magnet”. Since fleas preferred to attack the dogs' long fur, the owners were spared.
#13 Yorkshire Terriers
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small, easy-care dog from England. The cute dog is the 10th most popular breed worldwide. He is easy to train and doesn't shed much.
As is typical for terriers, the “Yorkie” is also a rather barking candidate. He is generally much more confident and lively than other small lap dogs. [13]
The four-legged friends are intelligent and learn quickly. Therefore, they should be kept physically and mentally busy. Although it sounds funny, Yorkies also make good guard dogs.
Fun fact: The Yorkshire Terrier sneezes “backwards” more often. He takes in a lot of air at once and makes duck-like noises.
#14 Chihuahuas
The Chihuahua is a Mexican four-legged friend. He has a devoted, alert nature and usually weighs no more than 3 kg. Chihuahuas are easy-care dogs. [14]
The small dogs are also suitable for beginners. However, you should be careful with children because they could easily injure the petite dogs because of their clumsiness.
You should also be careful when playing with dogs. The size of the chi can here and there awaken the hunting instinct of other animals. The handbag dogs are ideal for the apartment.
Fun fact: Chihuahuas basically have the potential to be the smallest dog in the world. At the moment the record stands at a height of 9.5 cm. This means that this little dog fits into a cup.
#15 Jack Russell Terriers
The Jack Russell Terrier from England is one of the short-haired dogs. It was originally bred for fox hunting and has a strong hunting instinct. [15]
As the demand for hunting dogs fell,…