4 Dog Breeds That Aren’t Barkers

All dogs bark, it's one of the ways they communicate with each other and people. Dogs bark for lots of reasons whether it is to let owners know when they want something or when there are strangers about. Some dogs love the sound of their own voices so much they use any excuse to get themselves heard and then there are those that just like holding a conversation with the people they love. But there are some dogs that are known to be a lot quieter and this includes sighthounds many of which are ancient breeds that were developed to stalk and chase their prey with the minimum of noise. Below are just four such breeds all of which are known not to be barkers.

1. The Afghan Hound

Afghan Hounds were once one of the most popular fashion accessories in the world especially in the twenties. But this graceful, elegant and noble breed happens to be one of the most ancient on the planet. Native to Afghanistan, they were bred to hunt and being sighthounds they did so quietly with maximum stealth. Today, they remain a popular choice especially as Afghan Hounds are so attractive with their long flowing coats and because they are known to be quieter than a lot of other breeds.

Males tend to be a little taller and heavier than their female counterparts, but both are swift on their feet when the mood takes them. Not known to the most intelligent, they more than make up for this because of their charming personalities. They are known to be sweet natured and form strong bonds with their owners. With this said part of their charm is their aloofness, but it would be a mistake to think that at an Afghan Hound doesn’t love to clown around because they do.

They are not the best choice for first time owners, but make brilliant family pets for people who are familiar with the breed's specific needs and the fact that an Afghan Hound's coat is pretty high maintenance when it comes to keeping it tangle-free and looking good. They may be fast on their feet, but they are also highly skilled "diggers" and will happily dig their way out of a garden by going under a fence. With all this said, for anyone who wants to share a home with a quiet, good looking and rather undemanding canine companion, an Afghan Hound might fit the bill perfectly.

2. Italian Greyhound

Italian Greyhounds are delicate, elegant sighthounds that are one time were favoured by nobles and royalty alike. Another ancient breed that over time has become a popular choice both as a companion and family pet although they are best suited to households where the children are slightly older. The breed is the smallest of all sighthounds standing at 33 to 38 cm tall and only weighing anything between 3.6 and 8.2 kg, but like their larger counterparts, these lovely dogs were bred to hunt quietly and as such they renowned for not being "barkers".

Italian Greyhounds are known to clever little dogs although this does not mean they are that easy to train. In fact, teaching an Italian Greyhound the "recall" command can prove quite challenging and being such skilled hunters with high prey drives, it is ultra-important they be taught this particular command from a young age. Even then the chances of them running off after some prey is still pretty high, which is why most owners choose to keep their canine companions on leads when out and about on a walk.

They boast placid natures and are generally good around children although, as previously mentioned they are best suited to families where the children are that much older. Anyone looking to share their home with a kind, elegant small good natured canine companion and one that is known not to be a "barker" would not go wrong by choosing to do so with a delightful Italian Greyhound.

3. Saluki

Another graceful sighthound, the Saluki is renowned for being a highly skilled hunting dog and one that was bred to be quiet when carrying out the job they were bred to do. The breed is an ancient one having been around for centuries and highly prized in the Middle East. They are not the best choice for first time owners because training a Saluki can often prove challenging even for people who are familiar with their specific needs.

The breed is thought to be oldest on the planet, but only arrived in the UK during the nineteenth century. It was in the twenties that Salukis became very popular with artists and fashionable ladies thanks to the graceful, elegant looks. With this said, Salukis can be quite highly strung, but they are incredibly affectionate too, forming strong bonds with their owners. They are a nice size too standing at around 58 to 71 cm at the wither and weighing in at anything between 18 to 27 kg.

Anyone wanting to share a home with a sensitive, affectionate and elegant hound that is known not to be a "barker" and who spends a lot of time at home, would not go far wrong that choosing to do so with a graceful albeit quite demanding Saluki. But as previously mentioned, they are best suited to people who know how to train and handle this type of sighthound bearing in mind that Salukis boast a high prey drive and are known to be independent thinkers.

4. The Borzoi

The Borzoi is one of the most aristocratic breeds on the planet. The breed originates in Russia where they have always been highly prized for their hunting skills. Being sighthounds, the Borzoi was bred not to be noisy when they were chasing down their prey as such they are known not to be "barkers". However, they are not the best choice for everyone because they are large dogs with males standing at anything between 75 to 85 cm at the shoulder with their female counterparts being slightly shorter. Males are heavier too weighing in at around 34 to 48 kg and again females tend to be that much lighter.

Another reason they are not the best choice for first time owners is that Borzois need to be handled and trained by someone who is familiar with their specific needs which includes being given a ton of daily exercise. They are also known as Russian Wolfhounds and although aloof and independent at times, the Borzoi forms strong bonds with an owner. But it is always important to bear in mind that if something interesting takes their interest, a Borzoi is quite likely to wander off to investigate what it is that's caught their fancy.

Anyone who has a tremendous amount of space and the time to dedicate to a large, elegant and courageous canine companion and one that does not bark would not go far wrong in choosing to share a home with a Borzoi, but they are best suited to families with older children simply because of their rather large size.