Items19The creator’s order
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BasenjiThe nearest thing to a barkless dog, thanks to an unusually shaped larynx, but not a mute one. Expect the "baroo", a sound somewhere between a yodel and a howl, plus whines, growls and the odd scream when thwarted.
Volume is rarely the problem. Boredom is: an under-exercised Basenji chews, climbs…0i - 2
GreyhoundBred to hunt by sight and speed, with no reason to give tongue, and adoption groups consistently describe retired racers as dogs that bark only when excited or asking to go out. Most of the day goes on sleeping, often upside down.
The one sound to know about is "rooing": a group howl, usually…0i - 3
WhippetThe Greyhound's quiet in a smaller frame. Whippets tend to bark only when something genuinely warrants it, or when a household has taught them that barking pays.
What you hear instead is the thump of a dog sprinting through rooms in a sudden burst, then nothing for hours. They feel the cold and…0i - 4
BorzoiA former Russian wolf-coursing hound that barks so infrequently it is regularly described as a poor watchdog. Indoors, Borzoi are calm and somewhat catlike, keeping their own counsel.
The trade-off is size and prey drive, not sound. A dog this tall and fast must be leashed near anything that runs,…0i - 5
Scottish DeerhoundA rough-coated giant built for coursing red deer, with the low-key manners the AKC files under infrequent barkers. Deerhounds are gentle and undemanding at home and seldom bother to announce visitors.
Rarity is the real hurdle: few litters are born each year, so expect a waiting list. They need…0i - 6
Irish WolfhoundOne of the tallest breeds there is, and one of the least inclined to sound a warning: a wolfhound tends to greet strangers rather than bark at them. The deep voice exists but is seldom used.
The hard fact is lifespan, commonly six to eight years, with heart disease and bone cancer high on the…0i - 7
Cavalier King Charles SpanielThe obvious choice for someone who wants a small dog without the yap. Cavaliers are bred purely as companions and are noticeably less excitable than most toy breeds; a doorbell usually gets a bark or two, then a wagging escort.
The noise risk is loneliness: they attach closely and can whine if…0i - 8
Japanese ChinA toy breed with unusually feline habits: it grooms itself, perches on high furniture and prefers watching to commentary. When a Chin does bark, the sound is softer and lower than its size suggests.
It still alerts to visitors and dislikes long hours alone, so it suits someone home at odd times…0i - 9
Coton de TulearThe small dog for people who mind barks more than chatter. A Coton usually gives the doorbell a single bark and leaves it there; its real vocabulary is grunts, growls and odd play noises.
Those can get loud in a game, so this is quiet in the sense of rarely alarming, not silent. The fluffy white…0i - 10
Shiba InuMost of the time a Shiba simply does not bark, which is why it appears on so many quiet lists. The asterisk is the "Shiba scream": a piercing, theatrical shriek used for nail trims, restraint, strangers, frustration and sometimes sheer joy.
It is brief but startlingly loud, the kind of sound…0i
