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The 10 Quietest Dog Breeds

Written by: Scott H
Scott Haiduc is the Director of Publishing for iHeartDogs, iHeartCats and The Hero Company. When not working, Scott spends his time on the farm, taking care of his animals and crops.Read more
| Published on August 8, 2014

There’s nothing wrong with a bark here or there. Your dog has a few things he’d like to say, and that’s totally understandable! But sometimes, we all need a little peace and quiet – and some dogs are full on chatty-Cathy-canines: they can bark on and on forever!

Even if you love your dog to the ends of the Earth, you may sometimes dream of having a little less bark and a little more silence! When you’re imagining what life would be like with the volume turned down, dream about living with one of these breeds!

#1 – Basenji

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Basenjis are actually known for their inability to bark! But that doesn’t mean they don’t make noise. Bred as hunting dogs in Africa, they make a yodeling sound instead of barking. However, they typically only do this when they feel there is a reason, and are not known to make noise often.

#2 – Bernese Mountain Dog

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This giant breed is known for being mostly-silent. They are a very docile breed, and although they’d love to meet new people and spend time as social butterflies, their large size is often a deterrent for strangers.

#3 – Borzoi

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This large, Russian sighthound is a relatively ancient breed of dog. Fortunately for those looking for a quiet dog, the Borzoi is relatively complacent around the home. He cannot be trusted to alert to any strangers! So while they’re a fairly silent breed, you should look elsewhere if you’re in search of a guard dog.

#4 – Chinese Shar Pei

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These wrinkly dogs originated as guard dogs in China. This might make it sound like they bark a lot, but they rarely bark without true purpose. If they feel worried or threatened, they’ll let you know. Otherwise, they’re a relatively silent breed.

#5 – Collie

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These beautiful dogs are very rarely nuisance barkers. In fact, even Lassie only barked when she really had something important to say. So if you’re looking for a herding breed that’s relatively quiet, the Collie might be your answer.

#6 – Italian Greyhound

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The smallest of the sighthounds, Italian Greyhounds are a nice small breed that is not known to be a nuisance barker. In fact, Italian Greyhounds are somewhat easily stressed and prefer a quiet household themselves.

#7 – Newfoundland

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Newfoundlands are another giant breed that is known for his calm, collected temperament. These qualities also result in a dog that doesn’t bark very often, and never without reason. If you’re looking for a friendly dog that can still act as a deterrent due to it’s large size, the Newfoundland may be for you.

#8 – Saint Bernard

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St. Bernards are very social, affectionate dogs, although they may bark at strangers. However, as long as they are properly socialized as young puppies, Saints will typically grow to love everyone they meet and have little need to bark.

#9 – Saluki

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These beautiful dogs are also sighthounds. Although they remain fairly reserved with strangers, they are a social and affectionate breed that does not look for reasons to bark incessantly.

#10 – Whippet

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This medium-sized sighthound is very intelligent and rarely barks. Bred mainly for hunting and racing, they’re quite the couch potatoes and really feel no need to expend any unnecessary energy – and that includes making noise.

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