The loudest bark ever recorded was produced by a Golden Retriever and this has been recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. This bark reached a whopping volume of 113 decibels and Golden Retriever are now known as the loudest dog breed.

As stated in the introduction, the Golden Retriever is classified as the loudest dog breed and it is also one of the most popular dogs in the world. However, there are other dogs whose barks come very close to the volume of the Golden Retriever. Below is a list of 10 of the loudest dog breeds, these dogs have all made the list because of the power and decibel level of their bark.

10 of the Loudest Dogs

  • Golden Retriever
  • German Shepherd
  • Doberman
  • Rottweiler
  • Great Dane
  • Dachshund
  • Scottish Terrier
  • Beagle
  • Bassett Hound
  • Bloodhound


How many Decibels is a Dog’s Bark?

A decibel is a unit that measures the volume of noises. Most barks produced by dogs have a range of 80 to 90 decibels, this is about the same level as that of a shouting human. According to Southwark Council, which is based in the UK, no dog has a bark that is less than 60 decibels. For comparison, a common sewing machine produces around 60 decibels when it is being used. If you have a dog or have ever heard of a dog, then these facts may not surprise you. However, it may surprise you that the loudest dog bark at 113 decibels, produced by Golden Retriever, Charlie, is comparable to the noise produced by a chainsaw.

The volume of a dog’s bark is something that can deter people from getting a dog, this particularly affects the adoption rates of shelter dogs. A lot of dog shelters reach about 100 decibels throughout the day, which can make people nervous about getting hearing damage. However, you don’t need to worry, hearing damage is caused by exposure to levels of noise over 85 decibels for prolonged periods of time, and most dogs only bark on rare occasions.

What are some common reasons why Dogs Bark?

Whether it is loud or quiet, there is no denying that a dog will bark, so why is that? There are several reasons why dogs might bark, and it goes all the way back through their ancestry. But the selective breeding that dogs have been put through has had a major influence on their barking levels. There are several dogs, such as Shetland Sheepdogs and Beagles, who have been bred for their bark. The reasons why these dogs have been made to bark differ, some have been bred as hunting dogs whilst some have been bred as working dogs and need to alert their handlers of an issue.

As well as selective breeding, there are many other reasons why dogs may bark. In 2004, Dr. McGreevy published a piece on the Ethology of Barking. In this article, he discusses the innate needs that cause dogs to bark as well as environmental and learned behaviours that will cause dogs to bark. A lot of the time, dog owners will teach their dogs to bark without realising it. If you yell at your dog when they are barking, then they will think that you are joining in with this behaviour and continue to bark. Below there is a list of some common reasons as to why dogs might bark.

Why is it that dogs bark?

  • When they want attention.
  • When they are afraid.
  • When they are in pain.
  • When they are feeling playful.

What are the Quietest Dog Breeds?

There are several reasons why you may be reading this article. Perhaps you’re simply curious, or perhaps you are considering getting a dog and want to avoid some of the louder breeds. Something that you should note is that all dogs bark, there isn’t a ‘bark-proof’ breed for you to obtain. Wanting a quieter dog is understandable, but a lot of nuisance behaviors including barking are caused by how they are raised rather than their breed.

Something else to bear in mind is that smaller dog breeds are not necessarily quieter than larger ones. In fact, some tiny breeds such as Dachshunds and Chihuahuas are known for being extremely loud. With that in mind, take a look at the list below of 10 of the quietest dog breeds known.

10 of the Quietest Dog Breeds

  • Bulldog
  • Bernese Mountain Dog
  • French Bulldog
  • Borzoi
  • Shiba Inu
  • Whippet
  • Shih Tzu
  • Saluki
  • Dalmatian
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The Most Annoying Barking Dog Breeds

If you’re anything like me, this heading may seem a little mean. As a lover of each and every dog, it is hard to single out certain breeds for being annoying. However, this does have some relevance. Excessive barking is classified as a nuisance behavior and can be a sign of other problem behaviors that may develop later in a dog’s life. In 2009, a study by Cross determined that one of the biggest factors that can cause nuisance barking is the exposure of a young dog to multiple other dogs in one household. It was also found that whilst breeds don’t always influence the barking levels, breeds of herding dogs were more likely to develop a habit of excessive barking. This means that keeping multiple herding dogs in the same house is likely to increase the risk of problem barking and problem behaviors in your companion. The RSPCA also recommends taking your dog to see a vet or behavioral specialist if your dog is excessively barking to make sure that it is not due to an underlying medical condition.

What Dogs Have the Scariest Barks?

For people who are nervous around dogs, barks can be a very scary thing. Whilst it is most commonly not aggressive, the volume and the power of the bark can be very unsettling. Larger dogs such as Great Danes and German Shepherd dogs tend to have deeper barks and are therefore seen as scarier compared to other, smaller dogs. I have not provided a list of the scariest dog barks as fear is subjective and therefore there is no scientific way to categories and order the level of fear. Though it should be noted that some dog breeds which are most commonly used as guard dogs include Bullmastiffs, Akitas, and German Shepherds.

The Best Breeds of Barking Dogs

Despite there being a large number of loud dogs, this doesn’t appear to influence their popularity by much. The loudest known breed of dog, the Golden Retriever, is by far one of the most popular breeds as well. So why are these loud dogs so popular, is it because of their bark? The likelihood is that it isn’t to do with their bark but instead to do with their wonderful personalities. If you want to learn more about these loud and fascinating dogs, just look below.

Golden Retriever

As we’ve talked about, the Golden Retriever holds the record for the largest bark at 113 decibels. But these wonderful dogs are still popular with the masses and for good reason. Whilst they were originally bred for hunting, these dogs are very docile with people and have therefore become a family favourite for those with children. As well as this they are very intelligent, and this makes them relatively easy to train in comparison to other species of dogs. However, they do not cope well with being alone for long and this can cause them to bark. So, this dog may not be well suited to you if you are frequently out of the house.

German Shepherd

German Shepherds, as well as being my personal favourite breed, are very intelligent and loyal dogs. They are often used as working dogs in services such as the police force. Their high levels of intelligence make them very easy to train and they are therefore quite a good breed for relatively new dog owners. They are very docile with people and are most likely to bark at other dogs, so it is important to make sure that these dogs are socialized in their early lives to get them used to other dogs. As well as this they are very energetic, so they need a lot of attention to make sure that they don’t develop a habit of excessive barking due to boredom.

Dachshund

One of the smallest dogs that we’ll look at here, Dachshunds are popular for their cute long bodies and big eyes. They were originally bred to hunt badgers, their name in German quite literally translates to ‘badger dog’. Their energy levels have persisted but due to their excitable nature, they are not as easy to train as other dog breeds and are not as well suited to first-time dog owners. Most Dachshunds are calm around other dogs but can be very wary of strangers and this is something that may cause them to bark either in the house or out on a walk.

Beagle

Beagles are possibly one of the friendliest dogs you may encounter, but they are very stubborn animals, and this means that they can be quite difficult to train. Their loud barks are most commonly a result of boredom, Beagles have very high energy levels and need a lot of different stimuli to prevent them from becoming bored. They are great dogs for families as they are very friendly with children and almost always get on with other dogs.

Summary

To summarise, the Golden Retriever is the dog breed with the loudest recorded bark. Smaller dogs are not always quieter as Dachshunds are also one of the largest dog breeds. Most dogs have a barking range of 80 to 90 decibels, which is the same level as a shouting human. Remember, that just because a dog is loud, it doesn’t mean that it behaves badly or a breed that should be avoided.