Small Dog Breeds That Don’t Shed Or Bark : 7 Cool Facts

Are you keen on acquiring a small dog that neither sheds nor barks? Or are you just curious, and want to know about the small breeds of dogs that neither shed nor bark? In either case, you will find this article helpful: as it has comprehensive information on small breeds of dogs that don’t shed or bark.

The small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark include the Boston Terrier, Basenji, Shar Pei and The French Bulldog. Others include the Bolognese, The Chinese Crested Dog and The Maltese. The Glen of Imaal Terrier and the Italian Greyhound are also small dogs that don’t shed or bark much.

The small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark are ideal for, among others, people who live in apartments. We may in fact refer to them as apartment dogs that don’t bark or shed a lot.

Non shedding dogs are also good for people who happen to be allergic to the hair that dogs shed.

Right from the outset, it is important to point out that there are no dogs that truly never shed or bark. All dogs shed, to some degree. And all dogs – except perhaps the Basenji dog – bark to some extent.

Thus for anyone with the question on what dogs don’t bark or shed at all, the answer would be ‘none’.

We do, however, have certain small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark a lot. Those, in other words, are calm small dog breeds that don’t shed.

Our focus will be on identifying and highlighting the said small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark.

Are There Dogs That Don’t Shed?

Before proceeding any further with a discussion on small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark, we first need to ask ourselves whether there are dogs that don’t shed.

The answer is that almost all dogs shed to some degree. Thus a search for small shedless dogs (which absolutely never shed) would be unrealistic.

There are, however, some dogs that shed very little.

For instance, there are dogs with only a single coat layer. These tend to shed less, in comparison to the double coat dogs.

There are dogs, like the Chinese crested dog we shall be looking at later, which can have lots of furs but no hair. In such dogs, there is relatively little shedding.

We also have dogs whose coats are naturally short, with less density. Obviously, such dogs will tend to shed less than others.

Generally, in the shedless dogs small (or rather thin) coat layering is common.

Most of the shedless small dogs we shall be looking at are single coat, rather than double coat, dogs.

In the final analysis though, we see that there are really no dogs that absolutely never shed. What we do have are dogs that shed so little that their shedding is negligible.

Are There Dogs That Don’t Bark?

Another question we need to answer, in the course of a discussion on small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark, is that of whether there are really any dogs that don’t bark.

The true position is that there are no truly barkless dogs: with perhaps the exception of the Basenji dog.

And what the Basenji lacks, in terms of barking, it makes up for through yodeling and whining…

Thus the focus should be on trying to find out, what dog breeds bark the least. The question on what breeds bark the least is one for which there can be answers.

There are plenty of dogs that don’t bark a lot. There are numerous quiet small dog breeds.

What we don’t have are dogs that are as quiet as stones!

But there are dogs that will only bark when they sense danger – and never at any other time.

We also have dogs that only bark when they have unmet need – and never at any other time.

Are There Dogs That Don’t Shed Or Bark?

There are dogs that don’t shed or bark a lot. But there are really no dogs that absolutely never shed nor bark.

In most cases, if you happen to find a dog that doesn’t shed, it often turns out to be a heavy barker.

On the other hand, if you happen to find a dog that doesn’t bark a lot, it turns out to be a heavy shedder.

As noted earlier, pretty much every dog sheds: though some do it much more than others.

And as noted earlier, pretty much every dog barks: but some do it much more than others.

Thus if you pose the question on what is a small dog that doesn’t bark or shed at all, the answer will be ‘none’.

But if you pose the question on what is the least yappy small dog that also doesn’t shed much, you will get some answers.

There are also quite a number of medium dog breeds that don’t shed or bark a lot.

Our focus, however, is on small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark a lot.

Which Are The Small Dog Breeds That Don’t Shed Or Bark?

Earlier, we observed that there is really no dog that never sheds or never barks at all.

There are, however, several small dogs that don’t shed or bark a lot.

The said small dog breeds that don t bark or shed are quite interesting. Some of them shed so little that even people who have dog hair allergies can live with them.

And some of them bark so little that it is impossible to detect their existence through barking. You may live in an apartment with such a dog for years, without your neighbors ever hearing it bark.

Thus even when it ever happens to bark, the barking is at such a low volume that people just a few meters away can’t hear it.

For a dog to get into the list we are about to look at, it needs to meet three qualifications. It needs to be small. Further, it needs to be reasonably quiet. And thirdly, it needs to be a light shedder.

Among the small dog breeds that don’t bark or shed are the Boston Terrier, Basenji, Shar Pei and The French Bulldog.

Other quiet non shedding small dogs include the Bolognese, The Chinese Crested dog and The Maltese.

Also in the list of small dogs that don’t bark much or shed much are The Glen Of Imaal Terrier and the Italian Greyhound.

So those are the (more or less) little dogs that don’t shed or bark. To be sure, a few would also qualify to be termed as medium sized dogs that don’t shed or bark a lot.

At the very least, none of these dogs is too large. None sheds a lot. And none barks too much.

Let’s look at each in turn.

The Boston Terrier

First in our list of small dogs that don’t bark or shed much is the Boston Terrier.

This is one of those rather quiet dogs that don t shed much.

What makes this dog a minimal shedder is its single layer coat.

As for barking, this is one of those dogs that will normally only bark when it senses danger. All other times, it is quiet. And even when it barks (upon sensing danger) it is still not too loud.

Thus for people in search of small dogs who don t shed or bark a lot, the Boston Terrier often works well.

This is a small, but still not pocket size dog.

Even in a discussion on small to medium dogs that don’t shed or bark much, the Boston Terrier would still make an entry.

Ultimately, there are some who would consider it one of the best dogs that don’t shed or bark too much.

Basenji Dog

Second in our list of no bark no shed dog breeds is Basenji.

With regard to the barking aspect, the Basenji is unique in that, strictly speaking, it doesn’t bark at all. It is the structure of this dog’s larynx that makes it impossible for it to bark.

Nonetheless, this dog does yodel and whine on occasion.

With regard to shedding, the Basenji is a very light shedder. In fact, its shedding is negligible. The coat density is very low in this dog (which originally comes from a tropical region in Africa).

It helps too, that the Basenji’s coat is quite short. This is another factor that makes it a low shedder.

In objective terms, some would say that this is actually the best small dog that doesn’t bark or shed.

At the very least, it earns its place in the list of the best dogs that don’t shed or bark a lot.

It is also one of those inexpensive dogs that don’t shed or bark much.

This dog’s calm demeanor may also make it the best dog for kids that don’t shed.

Shar Pei

The Shar Pei dog does shed: but only twice at most per year. During the other times of the year, it doesn’t shed.

Further, the Shar Pei does bark: but only when it senses what it perceives as a danger.

To be sure, in spite of its little barking, the Shar Pei is not always a calm dog. Thus if you were wondering, what is the calmest non shedding dog, then Shar Pei may not make the cut.

The Shar-Pei can be quite mean and stubborn, hence those assertions.

However, the Shar Pei is a dog that sheds very rarely. And it is a dog that only barks when there is a real reason. It is reasonably small.

Those are the factors that earn it an entry into the list of small dogs that don’t shed or bark much.

Remember, our focus is on identifying small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark: other qualities notwithstanding.

If we were after, say, dogs that don’t bite or shed, Shar Pei would perhaps not make the cut.

But focus is on quiet dog breeds that don’t shed. And in that context, the Shar Pei definitely has its place.

The French Bulldog

There are usually only two situations in which a French bulldog will bark. First is when it encounters an unfamiliar face. And second is when something really frightens it.

Even then, the bark volume is low enough to be tolerable, even in an apartment setting.

All other times, the French bulldog tends to keep quiet.

Regarding shedding, the coat in the French Bulldog is remarkably short. Therefore there is very little shedding.

Besides not barking much, the French bulldog is also remarkably calm.

Ultimately, in most objective lists of small calm dogs that don’t shed a lot, the French bulldog tends to get a mention.

The fact that it is a ‘bulldog’ doesn’t mean that it is big. In fact, it is quite short: but of course with the muscular stature that is typical of bulldogs.

In the final analysis, this is one of the better non shedding non barking dogs.

It is also one of the healthiest dog breeds that don’t shed or bark.

The Bolognese Dog

Whereas this dog’s coat is thick and fluffy, it still doesn’t shed much. This makes it a good choice if you want a dog that is cuddly, yet still doesn’t shed much.

Most of the other cuddly dogs tend to be heavy shedders. But the Bolognese is a dog that really doesn’t shed much, in spite of being cuddly, with a silky coat.

If you research on what breeds bark the least, the Bolognese dog tends to be in the list.

Should you hear a Bolognese dog barking, that will normally be because something is really amiss. Even then, the bark is not too loud.

Of the various small dog breeds that don t shed or bark much, the Bolognese dog is also one of the friendliest.

This is important, because most of the people who search for small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark much tend to be apartment dwellers. In that sort of setting, one needs a truly friendly dog.

The Bolognese, which often serves as a companion dog, fits that bill well.

Ultimately, this is a dog that sheds very little (in spite of its coat being thick). It is also a dog that rarely barks. And it is small. That is how it earns its entry into our list of small dogs that don’t shed or bark.

More specifically, it is one of the best house dogs that don’t shed or bark a lot.

The Chinese Crested Dog

This is a truly small dog: with an average height of 13 inches, and with weight in the 5 to 12 pounds range.

The Chinese crested dog is one of those that shed very little. That applies for both the ‘powder puff’ and ‘hairless’ varieties of it.

With regard to barking, very rarely will you hear the Chinese Crested dog doing it. And when it ever does bark, the volume will be so low that it really doesn’t disturb anyone.

Thus it would be unfair to talk about the small quiet dog breeds that don t shed or bark without mentioning the Chinese crested dog.

This dog is small. It rarely barks. And it sheds very little. Thus nobody would contest its inclusion in the list of small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark.

This is also one of those dogs that stay small forever and don’t shed much.

The Maltese

Whereas the hair on this dog is usually long (in thick locks), it actually doesn’t shed much.

The Maltese usually barks only once in a while, and in a modest volume.

In terms of size, very few people would really term the Maltese as a big dog.

Thus it has all the necessary qualifications for inclusion in a list of small dogs that don’t bark or shed a lot.

Some lists of small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark may omit the Maltese.

But that is unfair, because the Maltese is definitely a small dog that doesn’t shed or bark a great deal.

Glen Of Imaal Terrier

Next in our list of small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark a lot is the Glen of Imaal Terrier.

With the Glen of Imaal Terrier, shedding is minimal.

Further, the Glen of Imaal Terrier, being originally a hunting dog, really knows how to maintain silence.

Thus in spite of its relative rarity, it does get a mention in most listings of non shedding dogs that don’t bark.

Italian Greyhound

Last in our list of the small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark is the Italian Greyhound.

The Italian Greyhound is in the category of low shedding dogs. And even when it does shed, the hair is so thin that it doesn’t easily make a mess.

You can expect very little barking from the Italian Greyhound. When it barks, it will normally be with the intention of alerting you to something amiss…

Another group to which the Italian Greyhound belongs to is that of calm small dog breeds that don’t shed much. This is a gentle and typically easy-going dog.

Those then are the various small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark much.

How To Acquire a Small Dog That Doesn’t Shed Or Bark Much?

Firstly, you need to make up your mind on which of the various small dogs that don’t bark a lot or shed a lot you will be going for.

As seen earlier, there are many small dog breeds that don’t shed and don’t bark much. Your specific needs should guide you in making a choice.

Next you need to make up your mind on which dog acquisition method you will be using. Will you buy from a breeder? Or will you adopt formally from a dog shelter? Will you adopt informally from a previous dog parent…

After that, you need to pick the specific dog that you wish to acquire. Here, just select the specific dog that doesn’t bark or shed.

If you are buying from a breeder, pay the necessary price. And if you are adopting formally from a shelter, complete the necessary paperwork. The dog will then become yours.

Upon acquiring the dog, ideally take it for a vet checkup first.

Then start training the dog. Ensure that you start training the dog immediately after its acquisition.

Final Verdict – Small Dog Breeds That Don’t Shed Or Bark

There are several small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark much. These can be ideal for apartment dwellers, busy people who don’t have much time for dog grooming and people who have dog hair allergies.

Examples of small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark too much are the Boston Terrier, Basenji, Shar Pei and The French Bulldog.

Others include the Bolognese, The Chinese Crested dog and The Maltese.

The Glen Of Imaal Terrier and the Italian Greyhound are other small dog breeds that don’t shed or bark too much.

You can acquire a small dog that doesn’t shed or bark too much from a breeder. You can also adopt one formally from a dog rescue. Or you can adopt one informally from a previous owner who is no longer able to keep the dog.

Most of the dogs that don’t shed or bark too much still require occasional hair brushing.

And to further prevent even the occasional barking, it is essential to ensure that the dogs’ various needs are consistently well catered for.

As a pet lover, make sure to learn about pet more and give your pet dog a good and comfortable life!

Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️