12 Best Quiet Dog Breeds That Rarely Bark — our top picks
Irish Wolfhound
Irish Wolfhound: very low barking and low energy — unlikely to be the reason your neighbors complain. Tallest dog breed, gentle giant with calm temperament. Ancient breed once used to hunt wolves. Worth knowing before you commit: the Irish Wolfhound does badly left alone all day.
Whippet
Whippet: very low barking, medium energy and very high adaptability — unlikely to be the reason your neighbors complain. Medium-sized sighthound, gentle and quiet indoors. Perfect balance of athleticism and calm companionship. Worth knowing before you commit: the Whippet does badly left alone all day.
Greyhound
Greyhound: very low barking, medium energy and high adaptability — unlikely to be the reason your neighbors complain. Fastest dog breed, built for speed. Gentle "45mph couch potato" with calm indoor temperament. Worth knowing before you commit: a strong prey drive makes off-leash recall a long project for the Greyhound.
Basenji
Basenji: very low barking and medium adaptability. Barkless African hunting dog with cat-like cleanliness. Independent, intelligent, and unique. Worth knowing before you commit: the Basenji needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
French Bulldog
French Bulldog: low barking, low energy and very high adaptability. Muscular flat-faced breed with bat ears and adaptable personality. Excellent apartment companion.
English Bulldog
English Bulldog: low barking, low energy and high adaptability. Iconic British breed with distinctive wrinkled face and muscular build. Gentle, courageous companion despite breathing challenges. Worth knowing before you commit: the English Bulldog is stubborn enough that first-time owners often struggle.
English Mastiff
English Mastiff: low barking and low energy. Massive, gentle giant with a calm temperament and natural guarding instincts. One of the largest dog breeds, known for their docile nature despite imposing size. Worth knowing before you commit: the English Mastiff drools enough to notice.
Mastiff
Mastiff: low barking and low energy. Massive English guardian with gentle temperament. Ancient breed known for size, strength, and calm nature. Worth knowing before you commit: the Mastiff does badly left alone all day.
Newfoundland
Newfoundland: low barking, low energy and medium adaptability. Canadian water rescue dog with sweet temperament. Gentle, patient, and excellent swimmer. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Newfoundland needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Saint Bernard
Saint Bernard: low barking and low energy. Swiss rescue dog with gentle giant temperament. Patient, friendly, and excellent with children. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Saint Bernard needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Bullmastiff
Bullmastiff: low barking, low energy and medium adaptability. British guardian bred from Bulldog and Mastiff. Fearless, docile, and excellent family protector. Worth knowing before you commit: the Bullmastiff drools enough to notice.
Shar Pei
Shar Pei: low barking, low energy and medium adaptability. Chinese breed with distinctive wrinkles and blue-black tongue. Independent and loyal but can be aloof.
How this ranking works: each of DoggyQ's 321 breeds is scored on the traits that decide this particular question — the same trait ratings shown on each breed's own guide page, so you can check the reasoning rather than take a ranking on faith. Read more about our methodology, or take the free quiz for a ranking based on your own answers.
Popular breeds that are a poor fit for quiet homes
Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is a popular choice, but very high barking and high energy put it at odds with quiet homes. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Yorkshire Terrier needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Chihuahua (Long Coat)
The Chihuahua (Long Coat) is a popular choice, but very high barking put it at odds with quiet homes. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Chihuahua (Long Coat) needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)
The Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) is a popular choice, but very high barking put it at odds with quiet homes. On top of that, the Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) is vocal, which matters if you share walls.
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Find your perfect matchFrequently asked questions
- What is the best dog for quiet homes?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Irish Wolfhound ranks as the top choice for quiet homes, followed by the Whippet and Greyhound.
- How was this list of dogs for quiet homes chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for quiet homes — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. For a recommendation tailored to your exact situation, take the free quiz.
- Which popular breeds are a poor fit for quiet homes?
- The Yorkshire Terrier, The Chihuahua (Long Coat), The Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) all rank near the bottom for quiet homes despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.