Dogs make wonderful companions. But not all dog breeds are right for all situations. For example, if you live in an apartment where you need to be mindful of your neighbors, then having a small, quiet breed will probably be ideal.
If you’re not the sort of person who likes doing a lot of cleaning up after your pooch, then finding one that doesn’t shed much will beneficial for you too.
Looking for a small dog breed that doesn’t shed or bark? Just bear in mind that all dogs will bark on occasion and that most breeds will shed at least somewhat. However, many small breeds are naturally quiet and either shed minimally or don’t shed at all.
Bolognese
These little, fluffy white dogs were bred specifically to be companions. Weighing just 9 pounds at the most, this is the perfect breed for owners looking for an extremely portable breed.
The Bolognese is a fairly quiet dog. He won’t bark frequently, and when he does it will only be to alert you of something important—like a visitor walking in. The Bolognese’s coat is ideal for those who don’t want to sweep up fur off the ground every day. In fact, this breed doesn’t shed at all. Of course, this means that you will have to take him to the groomer for regular care of his coat.
When you adopt a Bolognese, you’ll find yourself with an extremely affectionate little dog. They love their owners deeply, and will make sure you know it!
Maltese
It won’t be hard to fall in love with this dog breed. The Maltese is a tiny toy breed, weighing under 7 pounds. With their adorable faces and playful natures, it won’t be hard to fall under the charm of this breed.
One of the main things that the Maltese is known for is its white, silky, flowing coat. As an extremely low-shedding breed, you won’t need to worry about finding fur lying around your house. You will, however, need to worry about scheduling regular grooming appointments!
This breed won’t generally bark much. But be aware that they do tend to develop separation anxiety if left alone too frequently. Over time, this may result in barking out of stress. The Maltese breed is best suited for owners who are home often.
Havanese
The Havanese is the only breed native to Cuba. This small dog weighs just 7 to 13 pounds and is an incredibly intelligent, easy-to-train, and active breed.
This breed does shed, but it does so very infrequently. You can choose to leave your Havanese’s coat long or have it trimmed short for easier maintenance. If you keep it long, then you’ll need to brush it daily, but only to prevent matting.
You’ll also appreciate that this is not a yappy breed. Like all dogs, the Havanese can be prompted to bark on occasion, but this will rarely happen.
Boston Terrier
This fun, playful breed is perfect for owners who want a dog that can really make them laugh! The Boston Terrier is recognizable for its tuxedo-like coloration. Weighing only around 10 to 25 pounds, you’ll love how much personality is packed into such a small dog.
The Boston Terrier isn’t known for its tendency to bark. However, they are known for the other noises they make. Because they are brachycephalic, or “short-nosed,” they tend to make a lot of snorting, grunting, and snuffling sounds. You’ll likely also find that your Boston Terrier snores.
Boston Terriers shed, but not frequently. And, because their fur is so short, when they do shed, you’ll hardly even notice it.
Italian Greyhound
If you’re looking for a breed that will be just as content to relax on the couch with you as it will to go out for a walk, this is the breed for you. Italian Greyhounds are tiny, lithe dogs, weighing around 7 to 14 pounds.
The Italian Greyhound has an incredibly gentle personality. Because of this, it’s not often that you’ll find him barking. When he does bark on the rare occasion, you’ll likely be surprised by how deep the bark is. But you’ll never have to worry about any frequent yapping from this dog.
IGs also shed very little. One of the reasons why this breed is so beloved is because of its low-maintenance coat. The short fur means that any fur you do find around your house will hardly be noticeable, and super easy to clean up.
Just be aware that because of the breed’s short coat, you’ll want to make sure you’re investing in a good doggy jacket or sweater to keep your IG warm in cold weather.
Chinese Crested Dog
The Chinese Crested Dog is a breed not easily mistaken for any other. This unique-looking breed weighs between 8 to 12 pounds, and is incredibly affectionate. Cresteds will prefer being in your lap more than anywhere else.
The Chinese Crested comes in two varieties. The first is the Hairless, which only has fur on certain parts of the body like their legs and head. The other is the Powderpuff, which has fur all over. Both variations do shed, but neither shed frequently.
Chinese Crested dogs are known to bark on occasion, but not frequently. He might bark once in a while to alert you to something unusual, but you’ll never have to worry about obnoxious yapping.
One of the other benefits of this breed is that they are very low energy. If you’re looking for a breed with minimal exercise requirements, you’ll love the Chinese Crested.
French Bulldog
Short and stocky, the French Bulldog is a little breed weighing less than 28 pounds. Their playful, spunky attitudes make them a favorite among dog owners around the world.
The French Bulldog will bark on occasion, but only when prompted. Since they are a super easy-to-train breed, it won’t be difficult to teach them not to bark when you don’t want them to. Like most brachycephalic breeds, however, the French Bulldog does tend to snort and snore.
French Bulldogs are not heavy shedders and shed very lightly throughout the year. Because their fur is so short, you’ll hardly notice when they do shed.
Basenji
Originating from Africa, the Basenji is a truly one-of-a-kind breed. This little dog weighs up to 24 pounds and is a great option for owners looking for a small yet still active breed.
The Basenji has earned the nickname “Barkless Dog” because he does not bark at all. However, you may on occasion hear him emit a strange yodeling sound that is unique to the breed.
Basenjis shed, but the fur is so short and fine that it’s barely noticeable, and you’ll never have to clean large tufts of fur off the ground if you decide to adopt this breed.
Cotton de Tulear
This breed comes from the beautiful island of Madagascar. The Cotton de Tulear is small, weighing just 8 to 14 pounds, and is known for his playful and loving nature.
Don’t expect much noise to come from this dog. This is an extremely quiet breed, and you won’t often hear any barking coming from him.
Likewise, the breed is also known for shedding very little. They do shed more in the spring, but even then not very much.
This is a great breed for owners looking for a good companion to join them in their apartment.
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Originating from Ireland, the Glen Imaal Terrier is a fairly small breed weighing around 32 to 40 pounds. Bred to hunt small animals, the Glen is a great choice for owners looking for a more active breed. Although this breed is somewhat larger than the others on this list, it is still not very big.
You can expect your Glen of Imaal Terrier to be pretty quiet. These dogs don’t tend to bark much, but be aware that if you accidentally encourage barking, he might turn into a noisy dog. If your Glen of Imaal Terrier barks, just ignore him so as not to encourage the behavior.
The Glen of Imaal Terrier isn’t much of a shedder. While you may find a few bits of fur on the ground every once in a while, you really won’t see much more than that.
Glens make fantastic family animals and get along easily with kids.
