While long, flowing coats are certainly soft and beautiful, they’re also a lot of work to keep up. Many dog parents don’t have the time, skill, or money to keep their dogs looking their best when they require extensive grooming. Of course, some dogs’ cleaning needs relate to their health as well.
For those looking for a breed with a little less maintenance, check out our list of dog breeds that are easy to groom. These 25 breeds will save you time and money on groomer visits and accessories:
#1 – American Pit Bull Terrier
A true all-American breed, the American Pit Bull Terrier has a very short, tight coat that requires almost no brushing and only the occasional bath. This breed stays very clean even when kept outside as the dirt and dust wipe right off. They’re an excellent choice for someone looking for a medium-sized, active dog with little grooming requirements.
#2 – Beagle
The Beagle has a short coat that’s very easy to keep clean, only requiring a bath every so often. The breed’s coat needs only brushing to remove dirt and reduce shedding, although their ears should be cleaned regularly to reduce the risk of ear infections.
#3 – Boxer
The Boxer has a very short coat that really doesn’t even need any brushing. The occasional bath will suit a Boxer well, with only a simple wipe-down of the coat to remove any minor dirt. In fact, because their coats are so short, too much bathing can cause more harm than good.
#4 – Chihuahua
Many toy breeds have long coats that require regular grooming, but the Chihuahua comes in a short-coated variety that needs almost no care at all. Regular brushing or wiping down of the coat should be sufficient in keeping your Chihuahua clean.
#5 – Greyhound
Like the Boxer, the Greyhound has a very short, tight coat that needs minimal bathing. A grooming mitt or soft brush will remove any excess dirt and hair that should come loose.
#6 – Miniature Pinscher
Another small breed that requires minimal grooming is the Miniature Pinscher. Regular brushing will remove any excess dirt, and it’s recommended that your dog be bathed as infrequently as possible.
#7 – Rat Terrier
Although many terriers have wire coats that require sophisticated grooming techniques, the Rat Terrier has a short coat that only needs minimal brushing. Although their white hair does shed, it will stay relatively clean with a simple wipe-down.
#8 – Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback needs little more than a bath every few months, except for regular brushing that helps remove dead hair and excess dirt. The breed stays relatively clean on its own, needing only a quick once-over with a rubber or soft-bristled brush.
#9 – Vizsla
The smooth coat of the Vizsla needs little more than regular brushing by a simple soft brush or grooming mitt. Baths should be infrequent and only when the dog is very dirty, as the short coat needs to hold as much of its natural oils as possible to prevent drying out and causing skin irritation.
#10 – Weimaraner
Weimaraners only need the occasional bath as bathing too often can cause more problems than it prevents. Simple, weekly brushing will suffice at removing excess dirt and dead hair. While the ears need regular cleaning to prevent infection, the overall grooming requirements of the Weimaraner are very low.
#11 – Borzoi
Known for their distinctively long snoots, The Borzoi (or Russian Wolfhound) is a sighthound initially bred for hunting wolves. If you give proper attention to their ears with a comb, the Borzoi shouldn’t require much grooming.
#12 – Bloodhound
These talented hunting dogs don’t have too much fluff, so they don’t require too much brushing. Bloodhounds still need to be bathed regularly, especially if they’re working outdoors.
#13 – Dachshund
With less surface area and fur, the smooth-coated Dachshund isn’t too difficult to groom. Longhaired Dachshunds might require a tad more maintenance.
#14 – Boston Terrier
These small terriers are a popular breed for many reasons, and the minimal brushing requirements certainly count. Their size also makes nail trimming and bathing a tad easier.
#15 – Great Dane
They may be huge, but Great Danes’ coats are short and fairly easy to manage. These dogs usually spend too much time lying down to get overly dirty. Because of their size, bathing can be a chore, so luckily, it’s not necessary often.
#16 – Mastiff
Another gentle giant, the Mastiff’s most frequent hygiene needs are ear cleaning and skin fold washing. Consider getting an outdoor kiddie pool and a hose if you do plan to wash your Mastiff at home. The odds are your shower/bath won’t contain them well.
#17 – Smooth Fox Terrier
The low-maintenance Smooth Fox Terrier should be good to go with only one bath per month. Their coats, while too short to tangle easily, are still soft and fluffy as heck.
#18 – Whippet
The Whippet’s short coat makes them easier to groom. Outside of an occasional bath, they just need weekly brushing.
#19 – Miniature Bull Terrier
Much like other similar bully breeds, the Bull Terrier’s grooming routine is pretty low maintenance. Dirt comes off with a simple wipe and brushing is simple.
#20 – Basenji
These African hunting dogs are a pretty low maintenance breed when it comes to grooming needs. Their tails are the fluffiest parts of them, so be sure to brush them with the grain.
#21 – Azawakh
With their short, fine coats, this breed only needs to be brushed once a week. They’re among the most low maintenance dog breeds and easy to groom.
#22 – American English Coonhound
Aside from some regular nail trimming and brushing as needed, these hunting dogs can go up to 6 weeks without a bath. If they’re working, they’ll need to have their paws (and between the toes) cleaned.
#23 – American Bulldog
Another short-haired Bully breed, the American Bulldog, can go weeks without a bath, and their coats are easy to manage. When it comes to easy to groom dog breeds, you couldn’t ask for a companion more playful and loyal.
#24 – Dalmatian
No wonder Cruella DeVille was after that Dalmatian coat… Weekly brushing is usually enough to keep the Dalmatian looking and feeling good, though shedding season is a bit of a different story. Be sure to clean under their floppy ears as well.
#25 – English Bulldog
Like the American Staffordshire, the American Bulldog, and the Pit Bull, these easy-to-groom dogs require minimal brushing. Make sure to check under their skin folds occasionally and trim their nails every few weeks.
Many of these dogs listed above are purebreds, meaning you’ll have a harder time finding them at shelters. For tips on how to find your favorite breed in need of rescue, check out this article.
If you want an expert’s guide to grooming your dog at home, learn some useful tips here.
Toledo, United States.
