What are the best small or medium dog breeds that rarely bark?

Any dogs with a wire coat or a curly coat will generally shed less than breeds who lack those features. Certainly checking out your local shelter is worthwhile as you may find the perfect companion right there! Otherwise, any poodle crosses will usually have these traits (although some may be more active). Miniature or Standard Schnauzers may be a good fit for you. Beagles and Cavaliers are generally very nice dogs but they do shed. Check out the AKC website as it has a wealth of breeds and information available. I hope this helps to point you in the right direction. Please feel free to post any further questions!

Hi. Given your requirements I would recommend that you search for an adult dog to adopt. A puppy would require frequent trips outside to become housebroken and typically may bark more. Young pups also require visits to vetfrequently for vaccines. Many breeds or mixes fit your other requirements. It's best to evaluate the animal by individual personality and temperament. You will want a dog that is fairly laid back and not high energy as it will be left alone for long periods. I'm unsure if there are shelters or places to adopt adult dogs in your area. If so many are usually very willing to help educate you and help find the dog best suited to your needs.

In general, the bigger the dog, the deeper and louder the bark. For example, German Shepard Dogs, Rotties, and Mastiffs have loud, deep voices and Huskies and Pointers have loud but sharper, not as deep-pitched barks. Small dogs are very loud but have a much higher-pitched bark, and tend to bark more frequently than big dogs.

If you are living in a small apartment, then a small breed dog would honestly be a better choice; in addition, smaller breeds don't need as much maintenance as a medium breed dog. You could consider a pug, a pekinese, a French bulldog, or even a chihuahua. These breeds need a minimal amount of exercise, and are very happy being lap dogs.

It's really difficult to know which breeds your kids will be allergic to. I find the small breed dogs to generally not cause allergies as much as the larger breed dogs, so it's good that you are in the market for a small breed dog. The dogs that I find to be especially itchy are pit bulls, shar peis and bulldogs. The only way you will know for sure is if the new dog spends about a week in the house. If a week goes by and your kids are not showing signs of allergies, then you can be rather sure that the new dog will not cause allergies. I definitely recommend adopting rather than buying one from a store or breeder. Shelters will often allow you to test them out before committing to adopting them and usually have plenty of small breed dogs available. I hope that helps and all goes well with your new dog search.

I am not sure that it is a good idea for you to have a dog if you are afraid of them. Remember that cute, furry puppies grow up to be adult dogs. You must be willing to train a dog, and cannot back away in fear if he jumps on you or does something else (within the realm of normal dog behavior) to frighten you. I would strongly suggest a cat or other small, less-active animal for a pet. The worst thing for you and the dog would be for you to have to surrender it to a shelter or give it away. Best of luck with this!

Labrador Retrievers tend to be a mostly quiet breed, although they will bark when they are alarmed, or at unusual people or noises. For more facts and characteristics about Labradors, visit PetCoach's breed page: www.petcoach.co/breed/labrador-retriever