Which dog breeds are known for their loud, attention-grabbing barks?

Great question and kudos to you for doing your homework before adopting a new puppy! :-) Some of my favorite smaller dogs breeds that bark a bit less include a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Welsh terrier, or a miniature Australian Shepherd. Any dog will bark from time to time, but these breeds typically are quieter and have gentle temperaments. Another breed, a Shiba Inu, practically never barks but generally speaking, they tend not to be as agreeable. The AKC website has a tool that can help with "breed selection" based upon your lifestyle and needs, if you are exclusively looking for purebred dogs. Otherwise, there are plenty of rescues and shelters (even breed-specific rescues) that may be able to help you find a puppy if you are also open to mixed-breed dogs.

Chihuahuas are, by nature, noisy little guys. It's likely that they evolved to become excessive barkers because their small size makes barking one of the few ways they can gain attention. For more facts and characteristics about Chihuahuas, visit PetCoach's breed page: www.petcoach.co/breed/chihuahua

What you're describing sounds like a reaction to the general excitement level and maybe the volume in the room. Some dogs will actually become aggressive that type of situation (for example, they will bite ONLY when there's a touchdown -- not so fun for the visitors). As far as stopping it, keeping her a quiet separate area during big gatherings is one way, as long as she doesn't bark to be reunited with the group. You can also try feeding her a continuous steam of small treats to help change her emotional reaction to these events. One thing to avoid is any yelling or punishment, since that may push her over the edge from barking to aggression

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

German Shepherd Dogs are one of the guarding breeds, but Bruno should only go into protection mode when there is an actual threat to you. A benign stranger passing by is most likely not a threat. He needs some training in leash walking and ignoring non-threats. I would enroll him in a good obedience class as soon as possible. I would not recommend your getting another puppy until you have Bruno under control.

That would ultimately depend on what you plan to achieve with you guard dog. Husky's are certain large, loud, and have an acute sense of hearing. They appear to be scary to some people. These are all characteristics of good guard dogs. However, Huskies are not the easiest dogs to train. If you are trying to obtain a guard dog that will not only have the abovementioned characteristics but also are somewhat easier to train, I would think more along the lines of German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, or Doberman Pinscher.

Every pet has their own personality, but certain breeds do have certain tendencies that are more common to them. You won't be able to know if Liberty is a loud barker, until you actually hear him bark. Also "loud barking" is a very subjective thing. What is loud to one person may not be loud to another. Give her time to grown and develop into her own personality, which typically occur around 6-8 months of age. Here is also a really neat website that lists all the personality traits of this particular breed. This will be good for your to go through to see what the Chow Chow dogs personality type is and if this is a good match for yourself and your family. https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/chow-chow Best wishes with your new puppy Liberty! Take care.