The 10 Most High-Maintenance Dog Breeds

Yahoo ^ | April 5, 2012 | Mary Bloom

[C19fan]

When most of us think of caring for the family dog, we have in mind a sedate walk around the block once a day, maybe an obedience class when he's a pup, a good brushing once a week and lots of hanging out together watching TV at night. And then there is that special breed of dog - the high-energy, need-a-job-to-do, groom-challenging kind that comes in all looks and sizes, but shares one commonality: He is undeniably high-maintenance.

[halfright]

What a beautiful boy! I miss my girl Kyra. She was my wifes first dog and best friend. We are looking to adopt another Dobie..Simply the best.

[cva66snipe]

I would *so* love to have a Rat Terrier. When I was born, my parents had a toy Manchester and they say I was too young to remember her but I -do-. Her name was Susie and I remember seeing her get hit by a car on the back road in front of my house. [I think very small kids know more than we think they do] I’ve wanted something like her since I was a kid and I fell in love with RTs at the local dog show when I was a teen.

Ratty's are pretty easy to find now. I've always figured if Chihuahuas were as big as Dobermans we wouldn't stand a chance LOL. I sent you a picture of the two via FR Mail.

[halfright]

Oh my, simply beautiful!!! No better dog in the world than a Dobie. Designed to be your best friend. I miss my girl :(

[USMCWife6869]

I'm a huge fan of brachycephalic breeds. I love their squishy faces. I have a Boxer and two Boston Terriers. My Boxer is 9, so he is about as low-maintenance as it gets now, sadly. He doesn't do much more than sleep. But my Bostons, as young as they are (both 2), are low-maintenance as well. They have energy, but take it out on each other in the back yard, and they are the most loving and cuddly dogs I have ever owned. And I have owned a lot. I adore Boxers, but I simply can't do large dogs anymore. I have serious hip issues and just can't keep up with them.

[Ditter]

My sister in law has an Australian Shepherd, fabulous dog. I'd like to have one but I don't think I could keep up with one. It's all I can do to keep up with these 3 Jack Russel Terrorist who live here.

S-i-l has never complained about him shedding, at least not to me. I have heard many people say they wanted a Poodle because they don't shed and cause allergies. This says they do (of course they do). They lose hair but it tangles up and has to be combed out. It is the dander from their skin that causes the allergies anyway, not shed hair.

[heshtesh]

The only thing my Jack Russell Bandit works over is a chicken parm dinner or ground round burg after which he performs a real workout on the thick fleece blanket i have folded on an over stuffed leather chair.:)

[Chgogal]

Hmmm, I have to find some swimming bunnies. That will motivate him.

My JR is a lap dog as well.

They are such an amusing breed.

: )

[Salamander]

Indeed they are...:)

[Salamander]

As of now, I don’t think my Portuguese Podengo Medio would put up with the competition....LOL

[If Chis were big as Dobes, we’d be *extinct*]

;D

[Salamander]

Thankfully, your two brachy breeds haven’t been mercilessly “designed” into non-viable animals...:D

The first BT I met was one-eyed and named Jack...naturally.

He wore a jaunty eye patch.

I think the lady said he’d knocked out his eye in a rose bush.

He was a totally cool little guy.

[but the woman was mean...she wouldn’t let me take him home]

;]

[halfright]

Margaret Mary of Manchester.....sons dog...Going from Doberman to English Bully like going from Penthouse to outhouse. Dog is extremely dumb compared to Dobie. We are grand parents :)

[Arrowhead1952]

I can’t believe the Old English Sheep dog did not make the list. Talk about high maintenance, they need daily grooming if you don’t want to shear them every month or so.

[halfright]

Forgot ....She is having surgery on both ears and her soft palate on the 17th. Constant ear infections. She will NOT like the cone around her head. She is a PIA but she’s our PIA. Is she ugly or what? One eyelash white the other black. Snores worse than my wife. Sheesh....How did I get blessed with this? :)

[USMCWife6869]

She is adorable. I hope I didn’t come across as being mean to bullies. I love them, but feel so bad that we got so many sick ones in the office.

[MediaMole]

Any dog with wolf in him is going to be creative and a challenge.

I had a dog who was a pointer/wolf hybrid mix and he was scary smart. He would use chairs as ladders to get stuff on high shelves — and even push the chair back once he had been caught.

My current dog is a border collie/lab mix and she’s a good combination of smart and obedient. She’s always looking at me for instructions, although she can get into quite a bit of mischief if I don’t keep her challenged.

[KYGrandma]

Be prepared for a lot of hair. My sister has two and I have to sweep every day to keep the hair down when I visit. Had a problem with my eye and had to go to the eye dr. She looked at it, got a tweezer, pulled out a hair and said “You have a golden?”

[dragnet2]

I was just griping about that.

Yep.

It's the reason why I didn't bother to read this article.

Not playing that game.

[gitmo]

My English Bullie in one of his more energetic moods.

---------------------

Here he's just wanting to look cool. One tooth sticking up.

[clearcarbon]

"I didn’t see the breed that includes Hillary and Chelsea Clinton,"

Definitely high maintenance.

[Bikkuri]

My friend in VA has Ibizans too and one of her dogs was *the* snake catcher of the pack. One day he grabbed a huge black snake and swung it over his head to break its back but the snake’s tail hit the electric fence, causing the dog to instantly drop it and run away yelping while the poor zotted snake crawled slowly away.

I am laughing so hard :) Needed a chuckle :) Poor dog though :p Probably had nightmares for awhile of a zot-snake ;)

Hmmm.. new idea for graphics :D