Picking a dog partly on how much it barks isn’t shallow — if you share walls with neighbours, work from home, or have a newborn, it’s a perfectly sensible thing to weigh up. The honest answer is that some breeds really do have a lower ‘bark drive’ than others, but ‘quiet’ rarely means ‘easy’, and a few of the quietest breeds come with surprises. Below are the breeds that tend to bark least, the ones that tend to bark most, and how to match a breed to the home you actually have.
Quick answer: Breeds usually described as the least vocal include the Basenji (it yodels rather than barks), Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bernese Mountain Dog, Greyhound, Whippet, Great Dane and Newfoundland. Breeds known for having a lot to say include Samoyeds, Beagles, Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, Miniature Schnauzers and Huskies. Individual personality, exercise and training still matter more than breed.
First, a caveat: breed is a tendency, not a guarantee
Breed shifts the odds; it doesn’t decide the outcome. A ‘quiet’ breed that’s bored, anxious or under-exercised will find its voice, and a famously chatty breed with its needs met can be calm company. Use what follows as a starting point, then meet the actual dog — and if you can, its parents — before deciding.
The bark-o-meter: general tendencies at a glance
A rough visual of where common breeds tend to sit. These are broad reputations drawn from breed descriptions, not measurements — any individual dog can land anywhere on the scale.
12 of the quietest dog breeds
- Basenji — the ‘barkless dog’. Its larynx shape means it yodels and chortles instead of barking.
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel — soft-natured and content to be a calm companion.
- Bernese Mountain Dog — easygoing and frequently listed among the least vocal breeds.
- Greyhound — fast outdoors, famously sleepy and quiet indoors.
- Whippet — a smaller greyhound type with the same peaceful indoor habits.
- Great Dane — a big, gentle dog that tends to save its (very deep) bark for when it matters.
- Newfoundland — patient and relaxed, with little urge to bark.
- Great Pyrenees — calm in the house, though as a livestock guardian it may bark at night.
- Shiba Inu — independent and not much of a barker, but capable of the dramatic ‘Shiba scream’.
- Saluki — an ancient sighthound with a quiet, dignified manner.
- Japanese Chin — a small, cat-like companion that doesn’t comment on everything.
- Rhodesian Ridgeback — steady and generally sparing with its voice.
Quiet isn’t the same as easy
This is where quiet-breed lists often mislead. Several low-bark breeds bring other challenges you’ll want to know about before committing:
- Basenjis may not bark, but they’re energetic, independent and known for escaping — and their yodel is not silent.
- Great Pyrenees are bred to guard at night, so a quiet daytime dog can become a night-time alarm system.
- Shiba Inus rarely bark but can scream when unhappy — at the vet, during grooming, or when handled.
- Sighthounds like Greyhounds and Salukis are calm indoors but often have a strong chase drive, so recall can be a challenge.
- Giant breeds such as Great Danes, Newfoundlands and Bernese are quiet but large, costly to feed, and generally shorter-lived.
Matching a breed to your home
| Your situation | Often a good fit | Think carefully about |
|---|---|---|
| Flat or apartment with shared walls | Cavalier, Greyhound, Whippet, Japanese Chin | Beagle, Husky, Samoyed, terriers |
| Out at work for part of the day | Adult Greyhound or Whippet (often low-energy indoors) | High-energy or highly social breeds that struggle alone |
| Busy family home with children | Cavalier, Newfoundland, Bernese | Breeds that dislike handling, such as some Shibas |
| Want a dog that alerts but isn’t noisy | Rhodesian Ridgeback, Great Dane | Great Pyrenees if night barking would be a problem |
For apartment living specifically, our guide to stopping dog barking in an apartment covers the practical side once your dog is home.
The breeds that tend to bark the most
If quiet is a priority, go in with your eyes open about the more vocal breeds: Samoyeds (often described as the chattiest of all), Yorkshire Terriers, Poodles, Beagles (bred to bay while hunting), Chihuahuas, Miniature Schnauzers and Siberian Huskies (more howl than bark). They aren’t problem dogs — they simply express themselves more, and do best with owners prepared to give that energy an outlet.
Any dog can be trained to bark less
Whatever breed is on your sofa, barking responds to humane, reward-based training. Our step-by-step guide to stopping dog barking is the place to start, alongside teaching a ‘quiet’ cue and learning what different barks mean.
Frequently asked questions
What is the quietest dog breed?
Most lists put the Basenji first, because it can’t produce a typical bark and yodels instead. Among breeds that bark normally, the Bernese Mountain Dog and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are regularly named as the least vocal.
Do small dogs bark more than big dogs?
As a loose pattern, yes — several toy and terrier breeds are well known for barking. But it’s far from a rule: the Japanese Chin is small and quiet, while Huskies are large and very vocal. Personality and training matter more than size.
Can you train a barky breed to be quiet?
You can teach almost any dog to bark much less. Breed sets a starting point, not a limit — plenty of exercise, mental stimulation and consistent reward-based training, including a reliable ‘quiet’ cue, make a big difference even in naturally talkative breeds.
Lifestyle fit matters far more than chasing silence. Choose a dog whose energy and needs suit your home — and never pick, or give up, a dog over barking alone.