Plenty of dogs are wonderful and still wrong for a one-bedroom on the fourth floor. The usual dealbreaker is noise. A barker that sets off every time the elevator dings will have your neighbors filing complaints before the first month is out.
That is where the naturally quiet dog breeds for apartments earn their keep. They make calm, low-drama roommates.
Sure, you can train almost any dog to pipe down. But training fights against instinct, and instinct usually wins on the bad days. A breed that is wired to stay quiet does the work for you.
You get peace without nagging the dog about it, and the people on the other side of the wall stay friendly.
Here are fifteen of the quietest breeds for apartment life.
1. Basenji
Short glossy coat, a wrinkled brow, almond eyes that always look like they are plotting something. The Basenji is a sharp little dog, and it knows it.
The breed is famous for not barking. Don’t mistake that for silent, though. When a Basenji has something to say it lets out a strange warbling yodel that people never forget the first time they hear it.
Basenjis are highly adaptable, so apartment living won’t be a problem. The catch is the energy. These dogs are curious to a fault, so anything left on a low shelf is fair game.
They were bred to hunt, so they need real exercise or boredom turns into mischief. Expect a stubborn streak too. Positive reinforcement gets you a lot further than repetition or scolding, which a Basenji simply tunes out.
People often call them cat-like, and the grooming habits are why. They clean themselves, which makes them great low-maintenance apartment pets. They are not fussy at the bowl either, so a solid everyday kibble suits them fine.
2. Bernese Mountain Dog
One of the gentlest dogs you will ever share a home with. A Berner is friendly with the whole household but tends to pick one person as its favorite and stick to them.
That thick tricolor coat, black, white, and rust, plus the white blaze down the face, is what stops people on the sidewalk.
They grow big, often past 80 pounds, yet they stay calm and quiet indoors. A Berner saves its voice for the rare moment a stranger seems off, which fits the old guardian instinct in the breed. Day to day, you barely hear it.
There is an active side to manage. A Berner needs its daily exercise, and the good news is much of it can happen indoors since the breed loves a warm, cozy spot to settle.
They take to training easily and want to cooperate. The real chore is the coat. Shedding season turns into a daily date with the brush and the vacuum, so go in knowing that.
3. Bolognese
The Bolognese is a small white charmer. The coat is the giveaway, loose fluffy ringlets that fall longer on the body and crop short around the face.
This is a mellow dog. It sits at the calm, low-energy end of the spectrum, which means it is perfectly content to spend the afternoon parked on the couch next to you.
An easy companion, all told. A nice walk covers its exercise needs, and the coat barely sheds, which is a real perk in a small space.
The quiet nature matches the rest. A Bolognese is not a barker by habit. The exception is separation anxiety, which can hit hard if you leave one alone too long, and then the barking does start.
If your days run long and the dog would be solo for hours, this breed is a poor fit. It wants company.
New faces make a Bolognese shy at first. Give it a little time and the reserve fades, and you have an affectionate dog that warms up to almost anyone.
4. Bulldog
You could pick a Bulldog out of a lineup of a thousand dogs. The loose folds of skin on the head, the pushed-in nose, the small ears, the undershot jaw with its permanent frown, nothing else looks quite like it.
The temperament reads calm and even, mostly. Around their own people, though, Bulldogs turn playful and a little goofy.
The tough-guy look fools people. Strangers read the size and the scowl as mean, but this is a softie at heart. A 50-pound Bulldog is happiest curled across your feet.
Bulldogs are a good choice for apartment living. You will hardly ever get a real bark out of one. What you get instead is a soundtrack of snorts, grunts, and snores. Barking only shows up when a stranger genuinely puts them on guard.
They aim to please, so training goes smoothly. A Bulldog will take an easy walk or a short romp, then call it a day and settle back indoors where it would rather be.
5. Bullmastiff
Here is a serious dog. A Bullmastiff stands up to 27 inches at the shoulder and clears 100 pounds without trouble. The breed came from crossing the Mastiff with the Bulldog, and it shows in both the build and the calm.
Bullmastiffs are the disciplined sort, sharp and physically powerful, every bit the natural protector. The high V-shaped ears and broad muzzle give them a presence that is hard to argue with.
For all that bulk, they run quiet. A Bullmastiff is a watcher, tuned in to the room, and it saves the bark for the moment something feels wrong. Then it sounds off to warn you, and only then.
They are social, too. Expect a loud, happy greeting bark when a friend arrives. Past that quirk, noise is not really an issue with this breed.
Bullmastiffs tend toward obedience and like showing off what they know, as long as you start training early. Some are more active than others, but moderate daily exercise keeps almost any of them happy and sound.
6. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The silky coat is the Cavalier’s calling card. It runs the length of the body and trails into a pair of long feathered ears, and the whole effect looks every bit as regal as the breed’s royal history.
That beauty asks for upkeep, and most owners pay it gladly: regular brushing, grooming, the occasional bath. Check the ears every week for any sign of infection, because those long flaps trap moisture.
What makes Cavaliers so easy is how they mirror your pace. They will hike all day if you ask, or melt into the cushions for hours if that is the plan, which is exactly what you want in an apartment.
They are gentle by nature and keep barking to a minimum. A Cavalier rarely makes a fuss over a new person, and most meet an unfamiliar dog without so much as a grumble, let alone a bark.
There is a curious, scenting side to them, an echo of old hunting roots. Even so, the breed was made to be a lap dog, and it leans hard toward indoor life. A walk now and then still does it good.
7. French Bulldog
Think a Bulldog shrunk down, then add the trademark bat ears, and you have the Frenchie. The “French” part traces back to a cross between English Bulldogs and Parisian rat-catching dogs.
A French Bulldog is muscular and heavy-boned under all those wrinkles. The flat face is the thing to watch. Brachycephalic breeds struggle to breathe under strain, so keep the exercise light and steady.
Never push a Frenchie hard, and be doubly careful when the weather turns hot and humid. They overheat fast.
Home is where a Frenchie wants to be, parked near its people. The breed is quiet, with no pointless barking, which is part of why it suits apartments so well. It does make an oddball noise of its own for special occasions, somewhere between a grumble and a yodel.
French Bulldogs are good for apartment living and are affectionate, smart, and quick to learn. They do well at obedience, agility, and rally if you want to give them a job.
8. Great Dane
The Great Dane lives up to the name in every direction. These dogs reach as tall as 32 inches at the shoulder, which puts them ahead of just about every other breed for sheer height.
Danes are not barkers. They tend to stay calm and a little reserved, carrying themselves with the patience of an old soul.
That said, they are real guardians. A Dane will bark at an actual intruder, and the sound is a deep, booming announcement you could not miss if you tried.
Great Danes sedate behavior does prove compatible with apartment living, but don’t let the mellow act fool you on exercise. A couple of brisk daily walks usually covers it, and a Dane makes a surprisingly good jogging partner once it is grown.
They are easygoing and sociable, and they have a real soft spot for kids. Grooming is light, too. A weekly going-over with a medium-bristle brush keeps that short coat in good shape.
9. Greyhound
Greyhounds are the sprinters of the dog world, built nose to tail for speed. That deep chest and tucked waist give them the long, aerodynamic line that lets them hit close to 40 miles an hour.
The racer is only half the story. A Greyhound also makes a one-of-a-kind housemate, gentle and friendly and shockingly laid back. People expect a high-strung athlete and meet a sweet, sleepy couch dog instead, the payoff of a long history living alongside humans.
Quiet as they are at home, the speed still has to go somewhere. Plan on walking your dog a couple of times a day to burn off that pent-up drive.
On the noise front, Greyhounds are super quiet as a dog breed making them perfect for apartments. They almost never bark on their own, though one might let loose mid-play or when it gets wound up around other dogs.
There is a stubborn, independent streak under the sweetness. Greyhounds are smart, and they need consistent training started early to bring out the best in them.
10. Japanese Chin
If any breed earns the word aristocratic, it is the Japanese Chin. A coat of long silky hair, a small frame, an easy charm, all of it adds up to an ideal roommate for apartment living.
The Chin has a big round head set with a tiny muzzle, and those large dark eyes carry a permanently astonished expression.
Underneath the looks is a sensitive, loving little dog with a stubborn streak of independence. That mix makes for an entertaining companion. You are rarely bored around a Chin.
This is a quiet breed by nature, so barking is no real concern. They are territorial in a small way, though, and a Chin will absolutely let you know the second a stranger turns up at the door.
A Japanese Chin is glad to tag along on slow walks or poke around the yard. Keep it on a leash, because curiosity can flip into stubbornness fast, and a distracted Chin does not come when called.
11. Newfoundland
The Newfoundland is a giant, plain and simple. A heavily coated dog standing as tall as 28 inches and tipping the scale near 150 pounds.
For all that size, the face is soft and kind. A Newfie looks at you with warm, cheerful eyes that make saying no almost impossible.
The gentleness runs deep, and it shows most around children. That natural affinity for kids is how the breed earned its old “nanny dog” reputation.
They are not barkers either. A Newfoundland tends to watch in silence and only switches to alert mode when something genuinely threatens, which is exactly when you would want a 150-pound dog to speak up.
Newfoundlands are meant to live indoors, making them excellent contenders for apartments. Just don’t skip the outdoor time. Activities like cart-pulling and dock-diving suit the breed and keep that big body fit.
The coat is the commitment. Plan on a thorough brush every week, and brace for daily sessions once shedding season rolls in.
12. Pug
Good things come in small packages, and the Pug is the proof. Little dog, enormous heart, more personality than seems possible for its size.
Those big shining eyes and the wrinkled, worried brow give a Pug a whole catalog of almost human expressions.
A Pug a good choice for apartment living and a genuinely quiet one. The main sound you get is that heavy snuffly breathing. Even the barks come out soft, more a string of muffled little yodels than a real racket.
Pugs are emotional dogs, pack animals that need to be near their family. Leave one alone too long and it turns lonely and miserable, and eventually it will bark its heart out in protest.
They are people-pleasers and they bruise easily, so training works as long as you stay gentle. Harsh corrections backfire with this breed every time.
One warning: Pugs love food and snuggling a little too much, and they pack on weight fast. Keep the exercise moderate and steady, and always mind the breathing limits that come with a flat-faced dog.
13. Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Ridgeback wears its name on its back. A strip of hair grows in reverse along the spine, darker than the rest of the coat, and it is unmistakable once you know to look. The breed once tracked and held lions at bay, the job being to corner the cat, never to kill it.
These are dignified, strong-willed dogs. A Ridgeback is independent and can edge toward bossy, so it needs guidance that stays firm and fair at the same time. Push too hard and it digs in.
If you have never owned a dog before, this is probably not the one to start with. A Ridgeback can be a lot of dog to manage.
Earn its trust, though, and you get a fiercely loyal friend. A bonded Ridgeback gives back affection in spades.
At the core these are athletic dogs. A Ridgeback enjoys a good walk or a hard game as much as a lazy afternoon at home. They are not barkers, but the watchdog wiring is there, and one will flag anything that strikes it as off.
14. Shar Pei
Shar-Pei means “sand skin” in Chinese, and you will not find a better description of that rough, bristly golden coat.
Physically these dogs are little powerhouses, large, muscular, and naturally dominant. They are also clever and independent, a combination that can turn into serious trouble if you skip early training.
Get past that and the Shar-Pei is a kind, loyal soul, devoted to guarding its family. They are calm and quiet by default, barking mainly when something stresses them or when a game gets going.
Grooming stays light. A Shar-Pei does not shed all year, only during the spring and fall, so most of the time there is little hair to chase.
The breed is quiet and adaptable in equal measure. A Shar-Pei can take to an active lifestyle or settle into apartment life on a few daily walks, whichever you offer it.
15. Whippet
Last on the list, the Whippet, bred to fly down a racing track. The lean S-curved body, the sturdy legs, the sleek lines, all of it adds up to one of the fastest small dogs going.
The aloof look is a bluff. Whippets read as distant and standoffish until you live with one, and then they turn out to be cuddly to a fault, the kind of dog that wants to be physically on top of you. They are smart and funny, with a mischievous puppy phase that catches people off guard.
Noise is rarely a problem. A Whippet is a quiet dog breed that hardly barks, which is part of what makes the breed work in apartments. The exception is a learned one. If barking has ever gotten a Whippet what it wanted, it will keep trying, so a lot comes down to how you train your dog.
A Whippet can do well in a flat, no question. Just take the exercise seriously, because a bored Whippet with unspent energy will redecorate your home for you.
Being sprinters, they love a hard game of fetch where they can let those bursts of speed rip. They are among the lowest-maintenance breeds out there, needing little beyond routine grooming and the odd bath.
Final Thoughts
So that is the rundown of the quietest apartment dogs, fifteen breeds that won’t have your neighbors banging on the wall.
A small place in the middle of a loud city is no reason to skip the dog. Match the breed to your hours and your square footage, and you can have the best friend without the complaints.
Resources
- The 15 Quietest Dog Breeds by CheatSheet
- These Are the Dog Breeds That Never Bark by Best Life Online
Frequently asked questions
Can big dogs really live in an apartment?
Yes. Energy level matters far more than size. A calm Great Dane settles into a flat better than a wound-up terrier, as long as it gets a proper walk twice a day.
Which dog breeds bark the least in apartments?
Greyhounds, Basenjis, Bulldogs and Cavaliers are among the quietest. Any dog can learn to be calm, but these simply start at a lower volume.
How much exercise does an apartment dog need?
Most do well on 30 to 60 minutes a day split into two walks, plus a little indoor play. Cut that short and the barking and chewing usually start.