The Messiest Dog Breeds and How to Take Care of Them

Taking care of a dog can be an absolute joy. Cleaning up after a dog…well, that’s a different story entirely. The problem being that once you realize you’ve taken ownership of one of the messiest dogs on the planet, there’s not a great deal you can do about it.

A high-performance robot vacuum for tackling pet hair can help, but you’re still looking at a pretty relentless uphill battle.

Truth is, the key to keeping the pet-friendly home clean and serene lies in cleaning as you go. Let your guard slip for just a day or two and you’re guaranteed to pay the price later in the week.

As for the unique requirements for the messiest dog breeds in the world… let’s just say choosing a dog at random really isn’t a good idea. The following breeds consistently ranking among the messiest dog breeds in the world, which in all instances are guaranteed to test your patience and your personality:

1. The Newfoundland

Something of a real-life giant teddy bear you’ll never tire of cuddling, Newfoundland dogs need to be brushed thoroughly at least twice a day. They’re also the ultimate shedders and will stop at nothing to leave a thick layer of fur on every single exposed surface around the entire home.

2. The Great Dane

An affectionate and enjoyable Scooby Doo-type mutt, the Great Dane is also notorious for drooling and slobbering all over the place. Things have a habit of getting wet and messy with these guys in no time at all, so be prepared for constantly cleaning up after him.

3. The Basset Hound

The best (or worst) of both worlds, Basset Hounds both slobber all over the place and decorate the homes they live in with a thick and luxurious coating of shed hair. They offer so much in return by way of cuteness and affection, but aren’t nearly as easy to care for or clean up after as you might expect.

4. The Saint Bernard

Here’s a tip: Check out the “Beethoven” movies before welcoming a Saint Bernard into your home. By a wide margin, these guys are among the most loving, loyal and downright lovable dogs on earth. A gentle giant in every sense of the word, but one that’s guaranteed to lay your interior spaces to ruin, for the pure fun of it.

5. The Boxer

Boxers are bundles of pure energy and excitement, which can be endearing and inspiring to say the least. They’re among the most affectionate and entertaining dog breeds in the world, but also happen to be extremely clumsy and accident prone. These are the kinds of dogs that pop out into the back yard for just five minutes, only to return covered from head to toe in all manner of unspeakable mess. And proud of it, too.

6. The Bulldog

The Bulldog is another example of a drool factory, which also has an “interesting” habit of sneezing sticky slobber all over the place. Bulldogs need a surprising amount of grooming to keep them happy and healthy, but are also surprisingly low maintenance when it comes to exercise requirements.

7. The Bloodhound

Topping the table in drool stakes, a Bloodhound is less a dog and more a four-legged waterfall. The amount of slobber these guys produce on a daily basis is no less than remarkable, meaning your dreams of luxury carpets and prestige furniture may need to be put on hold.

8. The Great Pyrenees

Last up, this is a breed that is not for the faint-hearted – an energetic yet gentle giant that needs more exercise than an Olympic long-distance runner. They also shed like it’s an Olympic event, calling for a seriously powerful vacuum that can cope with the mess.