quietest hypoallergenic dog breeds
15 Quiet Dog Breeds That Rarely Bark
Bernese Mountain Dog
Originally a working breed designed to help out on Swiss farms, these gentle giants now do well with young families thanks to their even-keeled nature. They will play favorites though, often becoming attached to one person in particular.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
There's a reason why Charlotte had one in Sex and the City. The toy breed's attributes fit city living to a T: quiet, friendly and (of course) absolutely adorable. And of course, they rarely make a peep.
RELATED: 15 Cute Miniature Dog Breeds
French Bulldog
Another happy apartment dweller, Frenchies don't need much exercise other than brisk walks. In fact, their squished noses mean they do best in temperate climates with lots of lounge time. Their playful nature doesn't manifest in barking either.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Bulldog
The same goes for the English version. The beefier pups won't pipe up too often since they're perfectly content to keep snoozing on the sofa. Good luck getting them to rouse themselves for, well, just about any reason!
Basenji
The basenji is literally known as the "barkless dog" because they make so little noise, but the breed's not completely mute. When they do decide to speak up, the hounds make odd noises that sound similar to yodels.
Borzoi
The American Kennel Club describes them as "quiet and catlike," but the elegant borzois stand out in more ways than one. The greyhound-like dogs can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour when they start sprinting, so best not to let them off the leash until they're really well trained.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Scottish Deerhound
Standing nearly 3 feet high at the shoulder, a Scottish Deerhound probably won't fit in your lap, but the tall hound makes up for it with a dignified and gentle personality. Their middle-of-the-road energy levels means they can appreciate a good gallop outdoors, followed by a long nap.
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Wheatens will bark when necessary, but usually make their presence known with what's called the "Wheaten greetin:'" an enthusiastic hello with lots of jumping. Outside of making guests feel welcome, they're pretty chill.
Shiba Inu
While they're most widely known as part of the popular doge meme, Shibas won't be saying "much wow" anytime soon. The canines stay pretty mum until they engage in the occasional "Shiba scream."
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Australian Shepherd
Active and sharp as a tack, Aussies as a breed actually developed mostly in the U.S., despite their name. The herders will alert their owners when they think something requires their attention (or someone's getting out of line), but they're unlikely to start barking up a storm at nothing in particular.
RELATED: Top 10 Smartest Dog Breeds That Would Ace Any IQ Test
Irish Setter
These beautiful red-coated setters are hunting dogs, not guard dogs, so their vocalizations tend to be limited to tracking down their prey if you adopt one for their intended purpose. Because they're bred to work, they do have lots of energy, but sweet natures to go along with it.
Shih Tzu
While small breeds tend to have a reputation for yappiness, that's not universally true. The mostly-silent Shih Tzu historically lived with Chinese royalty, but they're more than happy to become the kings or queens of your humble abode. The joyful pups have over a thousand years experience serving as companions, so they're expert roommates.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Glen of Imaal Terrier
If you love terriers' spunk but could do with a little less, um, excitability, this gentler breed is for you. Glens still have that strong spirit you love from the category, but play it a bit cooler (and quieter) than many of their more frenetic brethren.
Saluki
They can be a bit independent (i.e. will need lots of training), but one word that does not describe salukis is loud. The quick-footed hounds can sprint at top speeds, and their loyalty to their owners ranks as one of their most desirable qualities. Give them lots of direction and plenty of exercise and they'll give you their all.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
These "African Lion Dogs" get top marks for their even tempers, athleticism and affectionate natures. You'll know them from a line of hair growing in the opposite direction as the rest of their fur that forms the trademark ridge along the spine.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
23 quietest dog breeds that make peaceful companions
While barking and howling can be an asset in many cases, for those of us living in residential areas or apartment blocks, owning one of the quietest dog breeds is definitely preferable. All dogs are vocal to some degree; its how they communicate with you, one another and the outside world, just as we do when we speak. However, a dog that yaps, howls or barks isnt the most desirable for a lot of owners and unless you're able to invest the time into learning how to calm a reactive dog, this is often a trait that's best avoided.
No breed is ever going to be completely silent and just like us humans, dogs have their own personalities, but there are plenty of breeds that are naturally less vocal than others. Weve pulled together a list of the breeds that are thought of as less vocal and might be suitable for a home worker, those in a shared building or those who just find barking annoying. Weve also noted which dogs can be chatty and those that you might notice snoring, (you may think youre getting a silent dog and then have to sleep with earplugs due to their thunderous sleep noises).
Even though our picks of the quietest dog breeds are the ideal place to start if youre looking for a peaceful pup, we still recommend you learn how to train a dog with treats to teach them not to bark. Temperament contributes a lot to how vocal a dog is, but early socialization is also key.
Quietest dog breeds
1. Akita
Nicknamed the silent hunter, this profoundly loyal breed may be quiet when it comes to nuisance barking, but dont let that fool you - these natural guard dogs will quickly raise the alarm if they feel its warranted.
2. French Bulldog
Playful, bright and affectionate, the French Bulldog is incredibly alert and attentive to whats going on around him, but the good news is, hell likely only bark when he wants to let you know that you have a visitor.
3. Great Dane
When a Great Dane barks youll certainly know about it (and so will your neighbors!) but this breed isnt called gentle giants for nothing. While theyre excellent guard dogs and will bark to defend their patch, overall these friendly and noble dogs are content to sit quietly with their family.
4. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
These docile dogs really are the sweethearts of the canine kingdom, they adore company of the two or four-legged variety so theyll seldom bark. Affectionate, graceful and gentle, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a lover, not a fighter and he will stick closely to his owners side.
5. Bernese Mountain Dog
Calm, good-natured and blessed with a kind and eager-to-please temperament, the Bernese Mountain Dog is imposing in size but not threatening. They make excellent watchdogs and its usually only when someone they dont know enters their property that theyll be prone to barking.
6. Cane Corso
Exuding an air of quiet competence and confidence, the Cane Corso is an assertive dog but hes also highly intelligent, which makes him trainable. This is a wilful breed though, so they need a human who can show them whos boss.
7. Pug
While they may be loud breathers at times, Pugs are exceptionally quiet when it comes to barking, making the occasional yips when they get excited. Cuddly and quirky, this human-obsessed breed are total lazy logs, so snoring is about the only noise youll hear out of these little comedians.
8. Saint Bernard
Utterly charming, friendly and with the patience of a, well, saint! These genial giants are powerful and muscular, while at the same time being placid and quiet and they love nothing more than lazing about with their family.
9. Whippet
When it comes to gentle souls, the Whippet is right up there with the Cavie, in terms of its sweet and loving nature. As long as he has his daily exercise needs met, the Whippet will make for a calm and quiet companion.
10. Shiba Inu
The oldest and smallest of Japans dog breeds, the active and alert Shiba Inu is a bold and confident canine who is incredibly faithful to his family. While theyre certainly watchful, this breed only barks when necessary, favoring a sharp and clear form of communication over incessant yapping.
11. Basenji
Basenji are sometimes called "barkless dogs" so you can't get much quieter than that! They only bark in incredibly rare circumstances, and actually make a sound that's more like a yodel. Basenji dogs are considered one of the quietest dog breeds you can get.
12. Greyhound
Greyhounds are notoriously calm and quiet dogs with a sweet disposition. They are very tolerant of children and are considered non-aggressive - they'll walk away from something bothering them rather than growl or bark. They also spend a lot of their time sleeping, which is a very quiet activity.
13. Borzoi
Borzois are gorgeous dogs who are usually well-mannered and quiet. They are calm and dignified, and are sometimes considered cat-like. Once called the Russian Wolfhound, Borzois may look like mythical creatures that would open up their mouths and talk to you, but they won't - and they won't bark much, either!
14. Irish Wolfhound
This beloved lazy bag of bones isnt the right choice for you if snoring is a problem, but they rarely bark or howl. Sight hounds, like the Wolfhound or Greyhound, are unlikely to be flustered by distraction such as blowing wind or banging dishes, as they are bred to zone-in on prey. However if they are unhappy about something they might let you know with a single, (loud) bark. Their breeding also means they arent good watchdogs, so are unlikely to bark at someone coming to the door.
15. Rhodesian Ridgeback
These fantastic specimens are a breed of African lion hound from Zimbabwe. They are gentle and loyal and arent known to howl or bark often, but might whine or growl in play. Our guess is that barking doesnt do much when compared to a lions roar, so the Ridgeback developed other talents.
16. Irish Setter
You may have heard that setters are silent, you may have heard that they are the chattiest dogs around, really it all depends on their training. They are unlikely to bark unless startled if they are properly entertained, and getting enough exercise and attention, however when they do bark they have a very loud voice. While they arent big barkers, they do talk in quiet howls and whines and often engage in conversation with their owners.
17. Scottish Deerhound
Similar in appearance to the Irish Wolfhound, the Scottish Deerhound is also a quiet breed. They are delightfully lazy dogs who are unlikely to be roused by a ring at the door, but may howl in groups (or if they hear a siren). They are eager to please, so you can quite easily train these behaviors out of them if you arent a fan of their song. Its worth remembering that howling is a community activity, however, and good for them to do together.
18. Bullmastiff
An imposing breed that has absolutely no need to bark due to their sheer size, Bullmastiffs arent known to be a particularly vocal breed. They are excellent guardian dogs, however, and will bark to alert and intimidate threats if they need to. It is also not unheard of for a Bullmastiff to howl for similar reasons; to alert their owner to a threat or to scare something off. Think of it as a burglar alarm.
19. Boston Terrier
You may be surprised to find a terrier on this list, but the Boston Terrier is actually quite a quiet breed, only barking when necessary. They arent big on overreacting either, so are unlikely to bark without good reason (they have been known to bark for attention though). They are another highly trainable breed, so if they do begin to bark, you should be able to solve the problem without too much drama. They are actually one of the best behaved dog breeds you can own.
20. Shi Tzu
Shi Tzus can be yappy, but are also very easy to train and when they have lots of entertainment and things to play with are often almost silent. They make good watchdogs, so generally if they bark it is to alert you of something important (just because you dont think the postman is important doesnt mean your dog thinks the same). You can quite easily redirect this behavior with positive reinforcement if it is bothersome, so while they arent a naturally silent dog, they can be encouraged to be quieter.
21. Newfoundland
When youre this size, you probably dont need to shout about much. The Newfie is a very calm and gentle dog, perfect for a family. They are unlikely to bark unless provoked, so if they are barking at something its probably for good reason and you should pay attention!
22. English Bulldog
Like their French cousins, the English Bulldog isnt a particularly vocal dog. They do, however, snore fit to bring the house down, which is worth bearing in mind if you want to live a truly quiet life. Due to their squashed face they also often wheeze, snort, grunt and snuffle, but they arent howlers and they cant help it, so well forgive them for that.
23. Wheaten Terrier
We decided to end on another shocking entry: another terrier. The Wheaten Terrier is another dog that wont bark without cause and a well behaved member of the breed shouldnt give you any problems. However, they will bark the house down if they have separation anxiety. While they arent a breed we think of as vocal, they may need more training or support than other dogs if they have issues with reactivity or anxiety, as these may manifest with barking or howling.
Want to learn more about your canine companions heritage? Check out our vet's guide to answer; what breed is my dog?
