You've heard it said that dogs aren't for busy people and business professionals. However, you know there's something missing from your life that only a pet can fulfill. Yes, dog breeds considered "low maintenance" do exist for the person who works and plays hard and never seems to have a lot of down time. Let's take a look at five breeds that can make your life more fulfilling without a great deal of maintenance, even if you are an entrepreneur or the busiest business leader.
1. The Basset Hound
The adorable Basset Hound is known for its love of lazing about, napping as much as possible. The Basset Hound is generally a healthy dog that does not require much in the way of exercise or grooming. Of course, at heart, he IS still a hound, so you'll want to walk him or allow for play time in the backyard at least three times a week. The Basset Hound has short hair, but can shed routinely, so weekly brushing is a must. The Basset Hound will likely take a long nap after any exercise or even after his weekly grooming, so you will be able to take care of other things around the house or at work.
2. The Greyhound
The Greyhound is known for its quickness and speed, but, like the Basset Hound, once the Greyhound has expounded her energy (and a brisk walk or a thirty-minute outdoor play session will often take care of that), you will often find the dog resting for long periods of time. Some Greyhound owners lament that they come home from a long day at work to find the Greyhound napping in the same exact place as when the owner left for work. Most of the time a brisk walk before work is all the Greyhound needs in the way of exercise. They are also short-haired dogs, so maintenance and upkeep are at a minimum.
An added bonus of owning a Greyhound - they are typically very healthy dogs who are easily housebroken (big bonus points for busy owners!).
3. The French Bulldog
The Frenchie is an adorable small dog that is short-haired and generally in good health. The French Bulldog does not shed heavily, so bathing and brushing are at a minimum. The Frenchie can easily run off any energy in a short, brisk work before and after work, and they typically are easy to housebreak. Given toys, the French Bulldog will often keep himself entertained while you are away at work. They also love to nap, and, if you must be away several hours a day, they will rest and entertain themselves.
One word of caution, however - the French Bulldog should never be left outdoors while you are away, especially if the weather is hot and humid. Restedpaws.co.uk confirms that just like their English counterparts, the English bulldog, they are prone to overheating. The Frenchie's nostrils are naturally shortened, and this could lead to breathing problems in humid and hot weather.
4. The Bullmastiff
The Bullmastiff is a great guard dog due to its size, but the Bullmastiff is legendary for its lazy streak. Like the Basset Hound and the Greyhound, the Bullmastiff is notorious for sleeping the day away while its owners are away at work.
The Bullmastiff is just as content in a fenced-in backyard as he is lying around indoors all day. Between naps, he is just as likely to walk around, make sure everything is in its place, then head right back to the couch or his bed for a long nap.
Like the hounds and the French Bulldog, the Bullmastiff is a short-haired dog that does not require regular grooming. In fact, a monthly bath (unless Fido happens to roll around in something unsightly in the back yard) is all he requires. In between baths, owners can simply run a slicker brush over the dog to loosen any older fur and remove dander from his skin.
Beware one thing - the Bullmastiff doesn't really know how big he is, and he will want to crawl in your lap for one of those long naps if you'll allow it.
5. The Dachshund
The Dachshund, often referred to as a "weenie dog" because of her elongated back, is one of the most low maintenance dogs prevalent today. The Dachshund loves her humans, but she will not whine or become depressed if you are away a good bit. The wiener dog loves toys, and, when provided with a soft bed that she can easily get into for long naps, she will also entertain herself while you are away at work.
The Dachshund needs a short, brisk walk daily. You can prepare a fenced-in area for her in the backyard as well. The only caution you'll need to take with Dachshunds is to make sure they do not have to jump up and down to get to food/water or her bed. The elongated back of the Dachshund can become damaged if she has to do so. Otherwise, the Dachshund is a great companion who will be happy to see you come home daily.
Canine Conclusion
With top low-maintenance dogs like these, even busy business owners and leaders will get all the benefits of pet ownership. Now a lot of companies even let you bring your dog to work in the office as well!
