Top 15 Quiet Dog Breeds

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Top 15 Quiet Dog Breeds

Introduction

Dogs bark. And whine. Some even sing (think Husky.) Of all the sounds our pups make, barking can be the most attention-getting, which is great if a potential intruder is lurking outside, but not so great if you finally got the baby to go to sleep. Training can be effective in getting pups to quiet down once they start sounding off, but then the baby's already awake, and the delivery person has left the pizza on the front porch and fled.

Are there some breeds of dogs that don't bark much, whether from loneliness, something they heard on TV, or the doorbell? Thankfully, there are! Here are our top picks for quietest dog breeds.

Newfoundland

Newfies are furbulous family dogs, and while they'll alert and defend their humans if there's a threat, they're not prone to barking from boredom or random sounds in the house. These are self-contained cuddle-pups whose docile, taciturn personalities make them ideal for homes where frequent barking would be disruptive.

Great Dane

In a race for quietest dog breed, the Great Dane runs neck and neck with the Newfie. This gentle giant must know that its formidable size and appearance make it unnecessary to be talkative to be noticed! Barking and lunging tend not to be part of their repertoire, which is good news for humans!

Basenji

While Basenjis are known as non-barking dogs, they're not mute. The singing, yodeling sound they make when alarmed may be less annoying than barking, and though they don't make noise often, they're capable of alerting their humans to danger. Bred as hunting dogs, and thought to have been a favorite of the ancient Pharaohs, they are alert and tireless.

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Bernese Mountain Dog

Another large but typically quiet breed, Bernese Mountain Dogs are taciturn and docile working dogs that fit well into families. Fortunately, their very size acts as a deterrent to intruders, and their growl is formidable. While they enjoy people and other dogs, their appearance can be intimidating, but with their families they're creme puffs!

Borzoi

Descended from Russian visual hunting dogs, these are some of the bluest of blue bloods in the Canine Kingdom. Their silence makes them pawsome stalkers, but they're less useful as guard dogs. They love their homes and families, but don't count on them to bark or attack if an intruder comes your way!

Japanese Chin

Japanese Chins are the cats of the canine world — they're elegant, intelligent, and generally quiet. Chins will occasionally bark at strangers, but with a bit of training and socializing, they'll rarely make a peep. An affectionate, independent breed that doesn't require lots of exercise, Chins make for excellent apartment pups.

Whippet

The slender, stately Whippets are quiet companions with a mischievous streak that uses silence rather than boisterousness. Bred for hunting, these doggos will chase any small animal they see, quietly. Stealing human food from table or counter requires stealth, and they excel at it. These are companionable pups, too, and will cuddle silently with their families, especially if their tummies are full!

Chinese Shar Pei

Shar Pei pups are generally quiet, calm and independent. Likely to raise their voices only when truly alarmed, they spend a lot of their time chilling out at home. They originated as guard dogs in China, but it's likely their very (quiet) presence that made intruders think twice about trying to enter the palace unbidden!

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Rhodesian Ridgebacks may be large and powerful-looking, but they rarely raise their voices for attention or intimidation. When presented with a potential threat, they are more likely to plant their prodigious bodies between it and those they care about. Their warm, expressive faces rarely emit barks, but their body language is clear: stay away!

Irish Setter

Irish Setters may have a reputation for clownish, frolicking behavior and bottomless energy, but with ample exercise and play, they rarely exhibit nuisance barking. The important thing is to keep them busy and wear them out. With Setters, it's especially true: a tired dog is a happy (and quiet) dog!

Collie

Collies are known to bark when there's a crisis going on: we all know about Lassie, little boys and wells. But their barking generally has a definite purpose, which is why, when they do get vocal, we humans pay close attention! Protective of their families, both human and canine, their warnings merit investigation and caution.

Italian Greyhound

Bred as small hunting dogs that sense and stalk rather than chase their prey, Italian Greyhounds are a high-strung lot that can easily be stressed by too much going on. They prefer a quiet, calm home and contribute to it by not talking much themselves. Small children and parties may drive them under the bed instead of barking wildly.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

These small, adorable dogs are not the first ones off the couch when the doorbell rings. Placid and quiet, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels love to play with humans and other dogs, but are not especially aggressive with strangers, so the mailman is probably safe from these guys. Stubborn but intelligent, any random barking is easily curbed with training.

Mastiff

Another breed of pups whose very size makes it generally unnecessary to bark wildly at stimuli, mastiffs quietly present themselves to strangers to be petted. When they do bark, it's usually an attention-getter because of its deep bass-like resonation, and it's usually just a one- or two-bark greeting. Docile and self-contained, mastiffs' very presence is enough!

French Bulldog

Frenchies are popular small dogs who do well in apartments and quiet neighborhoods because barking is not their thing. They prefer to have their packs around them, and are playful and loving as well as cuddly. With enough attention and some training, barking from boredom or loneliness will never enter their minds. Even a knock at the door doesn't warrant much noise!