Easiest dogs to groom: 10 breeds with genuinely low maintenance coats

Working group · 25 to 36 kg · 10 to 12 years

Boxers need almost no grooming routine beyond an occasional wipe down, a grooming score of just 1 that reflects a short, smooth coat with no trimming, stripping, or professional appointments required at all. A quick weekly brush with a rubber curry mitt is really all this breed needs to look tidy. The honest caveat is that easy grooming does not mean no shedding: a shedding score of 2 still means fine, short hairs on dark clothing and furniture between those simple weekly sessions.

Hound group · 9 to 13 kg · 12 to 15 years

Beagles rank among the easiest breeds to keep tidy, a grooming score of just 2 that covers a weekly brush and an occasional bath, with no trimming or clipping ever required for this short, dense coat. Their floppy ears do need regular checking and cleaning though, since poor air circulation there makes ear infections more likely than the coat itself causes problems. The catch is that this breed's low grooming needs do not extend to training: a trainability score of just 2 means obedience work takes real patience.

Hound group · 9 to 16 kg · 12 to 15 years

Whippets are about as low maintenance as coat care gets, a grooming score of just 1 that means a quick wipe with a damp cloth after a muddy walk covers most of what this breed's coat ever needs. Their thin, close lying hair barely tangles and never mats. The honest caveat is that this same minimal coat offers almost no warmth, a coldTolerance score of just 1, so time and money saved on grooming is often spent instead on a proper winter coat for a genuinely cold sensitive breed.

Non-sporting group · 5 to 11 kg · 11 to 13 years

Boston Terriers combine a short, easy care coat, a grooming score of just 1, with a naturally clean, low odor breed reputation that keeps bath frequency low between routine care. Their tuxedo marking also hides dirt better than an all light or all dark coat would. The catch is facial wrinkles and ears: while the coat itself needs little attention, regular checking and gentle cleaning of facial folds and upright ears matters, a genuinely different task from brushing that easy grooming reputations sometimes gloss over.

Sporting group · 18 to 29 kg · 12 to 14 years

Vizslas require almost no coat maintenance, a grooming score of just 1 that reflects a fine, short coat needing only an occasional wipe down or light brush to stay glossy. Bath time is quick given the coat's minimal ability to trap dirt or odor. The honest caveat is that low grooming needs do not mean low overall care: an energy score of 5 and aloneTolerance score of just 1 mean this breed's real time demands sit almost entirely in exercise and companionship rather than coat upkeep.

Non-sporting group · 20 to 32 kg · 11 to 13 years

Dalmatians have a genuinely easy coat to maintain in terms of technique, a grooming score of 2 that needs no trimming or professional appointments, just a regular brush with a rubber curry tool. The honest catch is volume: a shedding score of 5 means this short coated breed actually sheds more total hair than several longer coated breeds on this list, embedding short, sharp hairs into carpet and upholstery that a quick brush does not fully solve.

Hound group · 9 to 12 kg · 12 to 16 years

Basenjis are famously easy to groom, a grooming score of just 1 paired with a genuinely low shedding score of 1, thanks to a short, fine coat and a habit of self cleaning that many owners compare directly to a cat's grooming routine. A weekly wipe down is close to all this breed's coat needs. The catch is that this breed's independence extends well beyond grooming: a trainability score of just 2 means obedience and recall take real, patient work regardless of coat demands.

Toy group · 3 to 5 kg · 13 to 15 years

Italian Greyhounds need essentially no brushing, a grooming score of just 1 for a coat so fine and short it barely holds onto loose hair at all, a shedding score of just 2. Nail trimming matters more than coat care for this breed, since their fine boned feet show overgrown nails more obviously than a sturdier breed. The honest caveat is that this same minimal coat leaves the breed genuinely cold sensitive, a coldTolerance score of just 1, so a wardrobe of dog coats often replaces the grooming kit most owners expect.

Toy group · 2 to 3 kg · 14 to 17 years

Chihuahuas in their short coated variety need very little grooming, a score of 2 that covers occasional brushing and bathing without any trimming or professional appointments required. Their tiny size also means grooming sessions, when needed, take just a few minutes. The catch is dental care: small breeds like Chihuahuas are prone to dental issues that need regular attention, brushing teeth several times a week, a genuinely different but equally important routine that easy grooming reputations often leave out.

Non-sporting group · 8 to 14 kg · 10 to 12 years

French Bulldogs need minimal coat maintenance, a grooming score of just 1 for a short, smooth coat that a weekly brush and occasional bath easily manage. Their compact size also makes any grooming session quick regardless of how often it happens. The honest caveat is facial fold care: those distinctive wrinkles around the nose and eyes need regular cleaning to prevent moisture buildup and skin irritation, a specific, recurring task that has nothing to do with the coat itself.