Vet names the nine most ‘vocal’ dog breeds – and the six quietest
In an exclusive chat with Express.co.uk, Dr Kirsten Ronngren DVM MRCVS, head vet at ManyPets, dispelled a common myth. Dr Ronngren said: “I think our small dog friends, unfortunately, get a reputation for being the more ‘vocal’ of breeds, should we say. These guys definitely have the potential to be chatty pups, however you’ll find there are many larger dog breeds out there known to have some words to share as well.”
In fact, the number of bigger dog breeds that are likely to bark a lot outnumbers yappy small dogs. “In my experience Beagles, Huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds, some hounds, and some working breeds like spaniels or pointers can be very vocal,” said Dr Ronngren.
Meanwhile, “it’s not uncommon” for terriers, Dachshunds, and Chihuahuas to be “chatty”.
Most yappy dog breeds
- Beagles
- Huskies
- Malamutes
- Samoyeds
- Spaniels
- Pointers
- Terriers
- Dachshunds
- Chihuahuas
“While any breed can end up being a chatty pup, I’ve found that, generally speaking, a few breeds are often on the quieter side,” said Dr Ronngren. “This includes a lot of our sighthound breeds such as Whippets and Greyhounds.”
Additional quieter breeds include “relaxed versions of the Golden Retriever [and] Cavalier King Charles Spaniels”.
A couple of giant dog breeds are also seen as rather quiet, including Great Danes and Newfoundlands.
Most quiet dog breeds
- Whippets
- Greyhounds
- Golden Retriever
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
- Great Danes
- Newfoundlands
Dr Ronngren emphasised, however, that “any breed has the potential to be chatty”.
She elaborated: “A lot depends on the dog’s individual personality and development.”
If anybody has a dog that barks a lot, and so much so that it’s becoming an issue, it could be time to visit the vet.
Possible reasons could include “overstimulation or excitement” and even “generalised anxiety or nervousness”.
Dr Kirsten advised: “If you are concerned your dog is barking too much it’s best to discuss this with your vet to determine if behavioural training or intervention is warranted.”
