Ask a large dog owner, and they may tell you that quiet small breed dogs are an oxymoron—they simply don’t exist.
Many people love small dogs.
Right?
You would not be here right now if you didn’t have some affinity for smallness. And, many small dog owners live in apartments and condominiums where a barking dog could be construed as being a nuisance.
There are many small breed dogs that don’t bark much and to prove it to you; I have researched and located ten breeds of small dogs that are quiet.
By quiet, I mean they are not considered yappy—barking every time a leaf falls from a tree two miles down the street.
Do They Bark?
Of course, all dogs bark with perhaps the exception of the Basenji who makes other types of communicative sounds.
Barking is one way that dogs communicate. Most dogs will alert you to someone at your door or wandering on your property.
The difference between these barks and those that are just plain annoying is in degree and purpose.
The worst offending barkers can’t help themselves. They bark and bark. A purposeful bark alerts the owner to something out of the ordinary.
Many on my list of quiet small breed dogs still make excellent watch dogs. I equate yappy dogs to the boy that cried wolf. It is too easy to tune them out.
Isn’t Barking Just a Training Issue?
Some trainers say that barking is all a matter of training. People who have dogs that bark are somehow responsible for training them and encouraging them to bark.
There is some truth to that, but it does not tell the whole story. Some breeds are just more excitable and impulsive than other breeds are.
Barking is part of their nature. Not all quiet small breed dogs calm and lazy. In fact there is a wide range of temperament types in these dogs.
Top Ten Quiet Small Breed Dogs
First, let’s look at the top ten quiet small breed dogs. There will always be people who know at least one example on our quiet dog list that were noisier than #%^&*!
There will always be exceptions to the rule. but, here is my recommendation for the quietest small breed dogs.
Basenji
The Basenji is a primitive type dog originating in Africa. Mischievous and energetic, these dogs are known as the barkless dogs of Africa.
Rather than bark, these guys like to scream, growl, even yodel in a canine sort of way.
They need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, but require little in the way of grooming.
Not the smallest of the small breed dogs, but probably the one least likely to bark. If you are a first time dog owner, this may not be the breed for you.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Sweet and docile, these dogs get along well with everyone. They are one of the larger of the toy breeds, weighing in at between 13 and 18 pounds. But they are still considered a quiet small breed dog.
Fiercely loyal, they will follow you everywhere.
Some think of them as lazy, lounging around in your most-comfortable chair, but they are also playful and enjoy walks and activities as long as it involves their owners.
Bolognese
If you are looking for small, fluffy, and quiet, then the Bolognese might be a perfect match for you.
They are related to the other little white dogs of the Mediterranean (Coton, Maltese, Bichon) but certainly more quiet than their cousins.
Easy to love and spoil, if you do not watch out with these dogs, you might have a problem with Small Dog Syndrome on your hands. Training and socialization will be needed early on, but you will not have to be worried by an overly yappy canine.
Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound (IG for short) may need a few reminders from time to time that he is a small dog and not the same as his bigger cousin the Greyhound.
Energetic and playful, he will keep you going and happily amused for years to come. His grooming needs are minimal, but extra effort might be needed when training. You will need to convince him that what you want him to do is what he wanted to do all along.
Japanese Chin
Smart, mischievous, and playful are just a few words that describe these entertaining dogs. They don’t need to be extremely vocal to get your attention, so they make a great choice for someone who prefers quiet dogs.
They are tiny, weighing in at less than 9 pounds, but are very athletic, and almost cat-like in their antics. Even though they do not bark much, they have been known to “Sing” and even carry on conversations with their owners. Overall, though, they are definitely one of our quiet small breed dog choices.
French Bulldog
Sweet, charming, and clever, the French bulldog is increasingly becoming more popular each year. They are an excellent choice for apartment living, as they don’t bark much.
