What Dog Breed Barks the Least?

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 22 December, 2022

Barking is part of a dog’s natural born instinct. Living with them means adapting to this behavior. However, you could get a dog breed that doesn’t bark so much in order to avoid any unexpected surprises.

Barking is an impart part of canine natural instinct. It’s their most common form of communication and expression. In some cases, excessive barking can cause problems for both the dog and the owner.

Problems Caused by Barking

On one hand, a dog that barks too much could have a disease, pain, or irritation. In such cases, the bark is a symptom and shouldn’t be ignored for the sake of the dog’s health.

On the other hand, if they live in apartments or shared areas, excessive barking could cause problems with housemates or neighbors. You could even get fined.

Therefore, it’s obvious that you need to monitor your dog’s behavior. Before picking out a dog, it might be a good idea to learn about which breed barks the least.

Why Might a Dog Bark Excessively?

As mentioned before, barking is a dog’s most common form of expression. This is how they express feelings and moods, warn people of danger, as well as telling you they want some water or need to go to the bathroom, etc.

There are natural factors that can provoke excessive barking. One of them is the typical behavior of the breed. There are some breeds which are more expressive, alert, and distrusting. At the same time, there are others which are calmer and more sociable.

Breeds that tend to bark a lot are the Yorkshire Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, West Highland White Terrier, Fox Terrier, Beagle, Chihuahua, Silky Terrier, Pekingese, Miniature Poodle, and Toy Poodle.

Many external factors do come into play in regards to excessive barking. For instance, it could be a response to something in their surroundings.

Main Causes of Excessive Barking

1. Stress. Dogs may bark to relieve stress or to express concern.
2. Enthusiasm. Many dogs tend to bark in response to an overly exciting situation or stimulus.
3. Boredom. This is one of the most common causes of being sedentary. Dogs may bark because they’re bored.
4. Frustration. Dogs tend to bark when they’re annoyed or frustrated about not getting what they want.
5. Being sedentary. Due to a lack of exercise, the need to use energy could cause excessive barking.
6. Warning. Dogs have heightened senses and detect danger easier than humans. They bark to warn you about threats.
7. Poor training. This happens when you allow or teach a dog to misbehave, thus barking is a way to get what he wants.
8. Health Problems. Some illnesses can also make dogs bark constantly.
9. Territorialism. Dogs who have developed possessive behavior towards their owners or other things may bark to defend their territory.
10. Shy or defensive behavior. Some dogs that haven’t socialized enough or are naturally timid may bark as a defense mechanism. They do this to prevent humans or other animals from getting too close to them.

There are many different reasons why dogs bark excessively and some of them are harmful to your dog’s health. Therefore, it’s important to take your dog to the vet on a regular basis and to be up-to-date on their vaccinations and deworming.

Which dog breed barks the least?

Number 1 in the ranking, the prize for dog that barks the least goes to the little-known Basenji. In reality, this dog doesn’t make a sound that you would call a bark. Its bark is similar to a very gentle laugh and is unique in the animal world.

This breed is really very calm and quite small. This makes it very suitable for small apartments or spaces. The Basenji is very energetic and needs quite a lot of exercise so that it doesn’t get bored and misbehaves.

Nine other dogs that follow the Basenji on this list of dogs that bark the least are the Golden Retriever, Pug, French Bulldog, Bloodhound, Labrador Retriever, Rottweiler, Great Dane, Akita Inu, and Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

Knowing which dog breeds bark the least is really useful when you’re about to pick out a pet. However, before creating prejudice towards other breeds, you should bear something else in mind. Any dog is capable of learning and socializing with good training and a lot of affection.