Do You Want a High Maintenance Dog?

Pets are wonderful things. Even though you wouldn't think it a problem, there are some dogs that are considered high maintenance pets. High maintenance dogs can fall into a few different categories. There are strong-willed dogs, such as Jack Russell Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, Alaskan Malamutes and Japanese Akitas. And there are independent dogs such as the Siberian Husky, Canaan dog, Saluki or Afghan Hound, Akita Chow and Korean Jindo.

The next category is timid or over reactive dogs like wolf dogs, German Shepherds and Border Collies. Destructive or high energy dogs include all dogs depending how they are raised and what they are taught, but definitely includes Labs, Pit Bull Terriers, Boxers, Huskies, Malamutes, Wolf dogs and Border Collies. These dogs are naturally energetic and can be destructive if not taught the right way.

Not all of these dogs are always high maintenance, but most of the ones mentioned fall into that category because of the time it takes to train, exercise and groom. Some of them make good house pets, while others make better work dogs. The kind of dog you get should depend on where you live, how much space you have and how much time you have to donate to the maintenance of your pet.

Dogs that are trained as workers outside, such as sheep herding dogs, as a rule, do not respond well to being indoors or being house dogs. If they are trained to work with animals or as guard dogs, they do better outside, and probably better not being around children.

Some dogs can become high maintenance because of the way they are raised and trained. If a dog becomes spoiled by attention, it can become high maintenance because that is what it has been taught.