Your Neighbor's Nightmare! 10 Breeds That Bark the Most

Adding a new dog to your life is an exciting thing, yet it can be a confusing time as well. There are so many breeds to choose from—how do you decide? Of course, many people are drawn to specific breeds because they are appealingly cute or because they knew a member of that breed and remember it fondly. Those are good things to take into consideration, for sure. You also need to look at how easily they train, how big they’ll get, how much grooming and exercise they need…

And how much they bark. If you live in an apartment, you may have to settle for a breed that is known for being quiet or face the ire of your neighbors. But if you live in a house or especially in the country, perhaps a bit of barking is one of the reasons you want a dog to start with. After all, your fur baby can alert you to people on your property or things being not all as they should be.

With that in mind, we want to introduce you to 10 breeds that are notoriously noisy. Most dogs can be trained to be quiet, so if your favorite breed is in this list and your don’t want the noise, be prepared to spend some quality time with Fido teaching him how to behave.

The Chihuahua

This little dog suffers from a Napoleon complex! Though one of the smallest breeds, weighing about 7 pounds, they seem to think they are much bigger—a huge dog in a tiny suit. Their natural belligerence toward other dogs and their possessiveness over their home and people can lead them to be excessively noisy. Not only will they bark at any provocation, sometimes it seems as though they will bark at nothing at all. Loneliness and boredom can result in boundless barking.

The Beagle

The popular Beagle is a bundle of energy that loves to hunt and run around. He is known as an intelligent and expressive companion. One of the main ways he expresses himself is by barking or howling. Because he was bred to hunt, he is always on the lookout for something to chase, whether it is a squirrel, a cat, or a ball, and he’ll let you know how happy he is by telling you all about it. Beagles don’t like to be left alone, and may vocalize their distress if you ignore them for too long.

The Corgi

The Welsh Corgi is a known barker, although there are individuals in their breed who are quiet and reserved. Since this energetic little dynamo was bred to herd animals many times his size, a big bark was a great advantage in his work. A fantastic breed in an apartment or on the farm, early socialization and training can help mediate his natural tendency to vocalize his opinions. Lots of exercise is important in owning a Corgi and may help with the noise.

The Siberian Husky

A gorgeous wolf lookalike, the Husky is full of energy and loves to be involved. Because the breed was developed to pull sleds in the ice and snow, lots of exercise is necessary for his well-being. You may find that the Husky barks more than some breeds because he wants to play. Barking to him is like a toddler’s chatter and he wants to “talk” to you. Another aspect of this delightful if somewhat noisy breed is their propensity to howl, especially when you have two or more together.

The Yorkshire Terrier

The diminutive Yorkie seems to enter the world barking. Right from the start, this adorable dog likes to assert himself and enter the fray whenever there is something going on. Like the Chihuahua, he has an overestimated opinion of himself and will bark whenever anything enters his realm. He’ll also let you know when he’s thirsty, tired, anxious, hungry, sleepy… in fact, anything at all can be an occasion for his little voice to be heard.

The West Highland White Terrier

Here’s a bundle of energy wrapped up in a coat of solid white. Westies are terrific family dogs and love to get involved in everything you’re up to. So naturally, he assumes you want to know about everything he sees, hears, smells, or in any other way encounters. And the way he lets you know is by barking. Everything is an adventure to him, and his propensity to vocalize about the world around him means that he wants to share his world with you. If you want a quiet Westie, start training young.

The Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzer barking

This engaging character is another terrier breed that may be especially yappy. They are superior watchdogs and will bark at the slightest provocation. Training a Miniature Schnauzer to be quiet can be quite the daunting task, but it can be done and is totally worthwhile. Once you’ve convinced him that you are the alpha in your family, he is much more likely to let you do the talking!

The Fox Terrier

Born to hunt, this little dog makes a great companion and is wonderful to have if you want a four-legged alarm. His natural prey drive means that he’ll constantly be on the lookout for things to chase… and to bark at. If you want to share your life with this scrappy member of the terrier group, be forewarned that you will need to be consistent and immediate with his training. With the right person, the Fox Terrier can learn to be less barkative and the breed is a world of fun.

The Poodle

One of the most beloved of breeds the world ‘round, the Poodle comes in three sizes: toy, miniature, and standard. Each Poodle is different, but all three sizes are prone to barking. They become alarmed easily and will make noise to let you know they are anxious or curious. A very intelligent breed, some of them use barking to manipulate their humans. “If I bark, my people will come,” he seems to say. This can be an issue if the Poodle is left alone for much of the day.

The Maltese

An adorable ball of fluff, the little Maltese is among the favorite dogs for apartment dwellers. His jaunty attitude means that he will greet everyone you know (and those you don’t know) with a happy bark and a wagging tail. He is highly alert and wants to let every intruder know that they’ll have to deal with him. Unfortunately, that often means that he’ll bark in the middle of the night, too. You need to have a firm hand with this one or he’ll rule the roost.

Dog smiling with furbo

Perhaps you have decided that you’re willing to make the effort to mediate the barking of one of these exceptional breeds. One way you can be sure that your fur baby isn’t barking excessively when you’re not home is by using Furbo Dog Camera. It’s bark alert function lets you know when Fido begins to bark and you can easily talk to him to calm him down and reassure him that all is well. Sometimes, that’s all it takes!