Getting a dog requires more responsibilities than you might think, especially from a financial point of view. Some breeds are more expensive than others simply because they require more regular visits to the grooming parlour.
British marketing agency Yell has listed the breeds that require the most maintenance. In first place is the English springer spaniel, a medium-sized sporting dog. It’s easily recognisable by its medium-length, fringed coat, which gives it a distinguished air but does require a certain amount of maintenance.
Owners are recommended to bring their English springer spaniel to the groomer every two weeks to have the hair around its head, legs and ears trimmed. According to Yell’s calculations, owners of this breed spend an average of £1,222 (RM7,370) a year on grooming.
The Labrador retriever is another high-maintenance dog breed. Its thick, dense coat is very pleasant to stroke, although it does require a certain amount of care.
As with the English springer spaniel, it’s advisable to bring it to a grooming salon every two weeks. This is particularly important during moulting periods, which happen twice a year. Yell estimates that a Labrador retriever costs its human £1,014 in average annual grooming costs.
As its hair is shorter, the coat of a French bulldog needs brushing less regularly than that of a miniature schnauzer. However, the French bulldog does have folds on its head that need to be brushed more frequently.
This breed also has fragile ears, so don’t forget to inspect and wash them to minimise the risk of infection.
In any case, these two breeds are among the most expensive in terms of grooming costs. Golden retrievers, cocker spaniels and German shepherds also feature on this list.
The dogs that generally require the most maintenance are those with long, thick coats, although needs vary from breed to breed. “Some breeds need to visit the groomer every four to six weeks, while others can go without for longer, every six to eight weeks,” explains grooming expert Shirelle Moore.
Note, of course, that this ranking is based on the prices of dog grooming salons in the UK, so it’s possible that dog owners could pay less for their pet’s grooming depending on the country wherein they live.
Regardless, some dog breeds require more care than others, so keep this in mind when welcoming a pooch into your life.
The dog breeds that require the most maintenance are:
- English springer spaniel
- Labrador retriever
- French bulldog
- Miniature schnauzer
- Golden retriever
- Cocker spaniel
- German shepherd
- Dachshund – miniature smooth-haired
- Staffordshire bull terrier
- Bulldog