This question has two parts: First, in general, how would you rate your breed on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being low maintenance and 10 being high maintenance?

And part two, how would you rate your dog in general? Ignore the occasional blip where he or she may have required extra care because of a passing health issue.

When I think of low-maintenance, I think of a Great Pyr whose owner Snowgoose used to post here in the early days of the blog. The dog would sit out in the field all day and night, protecting the sheep. He'd get plenty of exercise doing that with little supervision. All he needed was food, water and occasional shelter.

High maintenance? I'm not sure how I'd define that. I'll leave that up to you.

We may have done this topic before, but I've been thinking a lot about it lately since we brought home a new pup. When people ask me why I like little dogs, I tell them they fit my lifestyle. They don't need as much exercise. They don't shed. They don't in general have the capacity to destroy as a big dog does. I don't have to kennel them because they are easy to travel with.

But can I really call them low maintenance? I think of the grooming and the allergies, the winter clothes, the nonstop training to get them to behave the way I want them to behave. I dunno.

Here's how I'd rate mine:
Rusty, 10 year old Lab: Breed: 5. Rusty: 6. I put him a little higher because he's a rescue who came with some bad habits.

Eddie, 5-year-old Yorkie: Breed: 7. Eddie: 5. Overall, he's been incredibly healthy, not destructive and I keep him cut short so I'm not always having to brush him.