Expert: Kristen Cabe - 11/1/2006

Question
Hello again Kristen how've you been?

I am looking for a small breed dog that isnt a big barker(like the boston terrier...my female doesnt bark at anyone while outside or at the door...nothin' lol) I am not picky on the breed or fur type but would like another small dog middle to late next year that doesnt bark like a JRT or poodle, Thank you for any reccomendation you can give me.

Answer
Well, off the top of my head I can't think of many small dogs that don't bark much. Individual dogs are different, as well. You say your Boston Terrier doesn't bark much, but my neighbor's Boston Terrier barks at us every time we're in our yard and he's let outside in his yard to potty. In general, I do not think the breed is known for being 'barky,' but there are always going to be those that are the exception.

The Basenji is known for being a 'barkless' dog, but that doesn't mean it doesn't make other sounds.

To be honest, I don't have a lot of experience with smaller breeds, and the best thing I can recommend is that you put together a list of the breeds of dogs that you think you would like, and then start contacting reputable breeders of those dogs in your area and ask them if the dogs they breed tend to be barky. To find a list of reputable breeders, you can go to http://www.akc.org/breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm and contacting the people that represent the breeds you are interested in. Try to stay away from breeders who advertise in the paper, and breeders that do not have any kinds of titles on their dogs (titles can be from dog shows; obedience, agility, or earthdog competitions; their dogs could be certified therapy dogs; etc.), because then you know that the breeder is invested in his/her dogs and not necessarily just breeding them to make money off of. You also want to see proof of health testing on the breeding animals, NOT just vaccination records. You want to ensure that the breeder does not have too many dogs, and that the animals are kept in clean and sanitary living conditions. If you see any animals that appear to be sick, then you should question the breeder about it and ask to see proof of veterinary care for the animal. Ask about guarantees that the breeder may offer. A reputable breeder should not have a problem taking a puppy or adult dog back for any reason at all. If they offer no guarantees, and say that they cannot take a puppy back once it is sold, thank them and be on your way.

There are far too many puppymill breeders in the country, and most of them deal primarily with small breed dogs because they don't take up as much room, don't eat as much, and are in higher demand than larger dogs. You must be very careful when choosing a responsible, reputable breeder.

Good luck in your search and please let me know if there's anything else I can help you with!

Kristen