The Hairy Truth: What are the highest and lowest maintenance dog breeds?

Just like humans, our canine companions require plenty of effort, time, and money to keep them looking and feeling their best. 

Whether it’s walkies, regular teeth cleaning, coat brushing or a trip to the groomers, our dogs need plenty of attention to keep them happy, healthy, and hygienic, but which dogs require the most maintenance? 

To find out, we’ve analysed the exercise and grooming requirements for 12 of the most popular dog breeds*, analysing how often they need to be walked, their coat brushing, and teeth cleaning requirements, as well as how much a trip to the groomers can cost on average. We then compared these costs and requirements over each breed’s average lifespan to find out how much pet parents might spend over their pup’s lifetime.

Taking all of this into account, we’ve revealed The Hairy Truth about dog maintenance. 

The dogs that require the most and least amount of maintenance are:

*The most popular dog breeds registered with Animal Friends in 2024 (Jan-Dec), ranked by maintenance requirements and grooming costs over an average lifetime for their breed. 

At the top of the list, the shih tzu was found to require the most maintenance. These pristine pups need lots of grooming to keep them looking their best, including daily brushing. When it comes to grooming costs, shih tzu parents could also spend around £360 per year, equating to £4,680 over the dog’s lifetime. 

Family favourites like the cockapoo and cavapoo also need plenty of TLC. These hypoallergenic hounds are great options for paw-rents who have allergies, but their coats do still require frequent brushing and grooming.

For these pups, pet parents could spend a staggering £4,680 over a lifetime in grooming fees. The plus side for cavapoo parents is that these dogs typically have the lowest exercise requirements of any breed in the study, needing only half an hour of exercise per day, making them ideal for people who can’t commit to regular extensive exercise.

If you’re looking for a breed needing less grooming attention, then the French Bulldog might be the pooch for you. Frenchies have the lowest maintenance requirements of the breeds we looked at, needing only weekly coat brushing, and as a bonus, they also have amongst the cheapest yearly grooming costs. French Bulldog owners face costs of £170 per year, and £1,666 over their pup’s lifetime. 

Other breeds that have lower grooming requirements include Staffordshire Bull Terriers and short haired dachshunds. Both benefit from average walking requirements of an hour per day, and the need only weekly brushing.

Short haired dachshunds are also the most affordable dog – on our list – to take to the groomers, with costs of £136, or £1,496 over their lifetime. Their longhaired siblings however, require much more grooming, and cost £225 annually to groom, nearly £100 a year more, and costing £2,475 over their lifetime. 

German Shepherds are the most expensive dog in our list to groom. These large dogs cost approximately £490 per year in grooming fees, meaning their parents could be spending £5,390 over a lifetime, the most out of any dog we researched. German Shepherds also have greater walking requirements than other breeds, typically needing at least two hours of exercise per day.

How do I choose a dog that’s right for me?

Although we might find ourselves obsessed with the look or temperament of a particular breed, this is far from the most important thing to consider. 

Catrin George, animal wellbeing specialist at Animal Friends Pet Insurance, expands: “The first question we should be asking ourselves when we start to look at particular dog breeds, is ‘can I provide everything that this dog needs from me?’

“It’s vital that we’re able to provide our canine companions with everything they need from life, whether that’s regular walks and exercise, grooming and hygiene care, or even specialised training like agility, scent or searching activities. 

“Once you’ve found a dog or breed you’re interested in, take time to research it. Make sure you are able to provide for its requirements and ensure it lives a happy, healthy life. If you find that a particular breed isn’t a good match, then don’t worry. Have a think about what aspects of that breed you like the most, and research dogs with similar characteristics until you find one that’s right for you.”

What do I need to know about grooming? 

Grooming is an essential part of dog ownership, and even if you don’t own a high maintenance breed like a poodle or shih tzu, you’ll still need to make sure that your pup gets the care and attention they need. 

Catrin expands: “Dog grooming is important from a hygiene perspective, and ensures that the dog’s coat does not become matted or infringe on the dog as they go about their lives. For example, without regular fur trimming, a longer haired dog might find that their fur blocks their ability to see properly. 

“Aside from hair trimming, grooming should also include regular ear cleaning, brushing, and teeth cleaning to improve hygiene and prevent potential health problems. All dogs require their teeth to be cleaned at least two or three times per week, whilst brushing and ear cleaning requirements can vary. 

“Dogs with long fur will require more frequent brushing to remove loose fur, especially during spring and autumn shedding periods, whilst breeds with large ears, like spaniels, will require regular ear cleaning to avoid potential health conditions and infections. 

“You will also need to consider nail clipping. This can be done at home, at a groomer’s, or at the vets. Whilst it is a simple enough procedure to do at home, it’s recommended that you ask your vet to show you how to do it in the first instance, because incorrect cutting can cause the nail to bleed if you accidentally cut the vein inside the nail. Remember that all dogs and breeds are different, so speak to your vet to find out how often you need to cut your pup’s nails. 

“Before getting a new dog, make sure you research their hygiene requirements thoroughly, and ensure that you can dedicate the time and money necessary to keep them healthy and hygienic."

How can I give them the exercise they need?

Dogs love walkies, but it’s not just a fun pastime for them, it’s essential for their physical health and mental stimulation. 

Catrin continues: “Every dog has a certain exercise requirement depending on their breed, age, and general health, and it’s important that we meet this requirement to keep them fit and healthy.

“When you’re researching a breed, you should consider whether you have the time to dedicate to their essential exercise requirements, as well as considering whether you are physically able to meet these demands.

“If you work long hours, have existing commitments, or experience mobility restrictions, a high energy dog like a German Shepherd or a Labrador Retriever may not be a good match. Instead, consider a breed like a French Bulldog, which requires less frequent and less intensive exercise.

“If we don’t provide our dogs with the exercise they need, they can experience health conditions including obesity, as well as lacking mental stimulation, which can result in them becoming bored and destructive in the home.”

Methodology 

*We’ve researched the 12 most common dog breeds, based on the 12 most commonly insured breeds on our database from all of 2024, to find out which have the highest maintenance requirements. Factors considered include exercise requirements, coat brushing, teeth cleaning and grooming costs, using insights from external data sources not affiliated with Animal Friends. These costs and requirements were then applied over the average lifespan of each breed, to provide a total lifetime cost and time requirement for each breed.