Pets are precious animals, so any action you find strange in your pet might bring some worries and questions. If you have a dog, you will probably have heard it sigh now and then and wonder what it signifies. Dogs can release a sign for different reasons; however, knowing those reasons is important.
When a dog sighs, it is usually a sign of contentment and relaxation; however, it can also be a sign of exasperation or disappointment. Dogs also sigh when they are looking for ways to get their owner’s attention. Sometimes a dog’s sigh can signify it is in pain or suffering from a sickness.
When a dog sighs, it can appear like they are just as pleased as you are, all curled up on the couch together. However, your dog might be sighing for other reasons which you must know all about and understand the cause of that sound.
Why Does My Dog Sigh?
Dogs have feelings and emotions just like we humans do too. However, unlike humans that can express their feelings by talking, dogs cannot. Instead, they use different forms of body language to communicate their feelings.
Sigh is one of the ways dogs express their feelings about a particular situation. You may notice your dog lying quietly on the floor, then sighing. It is important to understand what the dog is trying to communicate when this happens. So, we will be explaining some reasons why dogs sigh below.
A Sign of Contentment And Relaxation
This is one of the most common reasons why dogs sigh. If you notice your dog let out a sigh just before it sleeps, it indicates contentment. Also, another sign of contentment and relaxation could be seen shortly after your dog eats, or perhaps it just had some fun. The sighs mean the dog is content and wants to relax.
A soft face can be seen on a dog sighing as a sign of contentment and relaxation. To further confirm this, you can pay attention to your dog. When relaxed, the dog could lay down with its eyes partially opened and its ears relaxed.
A Sign Of Disappointment
Another reason why your dog could sigh is to express disappointment. If your dog is expecting or anticipating something and it does not get it, it could cause it to feel disappointed, hence letting out a sigh. For instance, your dog could feel disappointed if you refuse to give it a special treat or take it out for a walk when it wants.
To ensure your dogs’ sigh is due to disappointment, you should observe its eyes and body gestures. Most times, the dogs’ sigh would be accompanied by a sad look, eyes opened, and ears alert. So, once you notice this, you could help your dog feel better by giving it whatever it wants. Giving your dog the treat it wants or taking it for that walk could make it cheer up and feel better.
To Communicate Emotions
Sighing from a dog can be a sign of emotional expression in a dog owner’s actions. It would signal contentment if the pet owner’s deed were gratifying. When the action is unsatisfactory, it is a suggestion of discontent. As a result, if your dog lets out a sigh with his eyes closed after a wonderful stroll, the sigh means, “I am satisfied, and I will lay down for a few minutes.”
If, on the other hand, your dog sighs after numerous futile attempts to persuade you to feed him the delectable meal, the sign signifies, “I confess defeat, and I am disappointed. The body language or expression that follows your dog’s sigh is crucial.
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A Sign Of Sickness
A dog’s sighing is usually not something to get worried about most times. However, a deep sigh could be a sign of sickness, so if you suddenly notice that your dog begins to sigh, coupled with groaning and moaning, it could mean your dog is feeling pains from a particular sickness.
For instance, if a dog is down with arthritis or stomach pains, it could cause it to groan, sigh and moan excessively. Also, suppose you notice your dog no longer eats well while feeling more restless, difficulties in breathing accompanied by sighing. In that case, it could indicate heart disease, diabetes, bronchitis, and other health conditions.
If the sighing follows a lack of desire to play, a refusal to eat, or a lack of response, it could indicate a much larger health problem. So, whenever you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it is usually best advised that you get the dog urgent vet care as soon as possible. Failure to get timely treatment could further worsen your dog’s health and cause death.
An Attention Seeking Behavior
There are different behaviors dogs often display whenever they want to seek attention. If your dog notices it gets your attention by displaying a behavior or making a sound, perhaps – sigh, it will likely do that often for more attention. Your dog’s attention could be for food, playtime, or exercise.
When your dog sighs for attention, you will notice it either looking at you or looking in the direction of what it wants. Once you give the dog what it needs, it will stop sighing. However, if you do not want to encourage this behavior, perhaps you do not like the attention-seeking style, you can choose to ignore the dog.
Why Does My Dog Sigh So Much?
Everyone knows that dogs sigh to express their feelings and emotions. It is recommended that you, the dog owner, monitor their behavior, body language, and routines around the sighs to comprehend them. A dog’s sigh is an emotional signal concluding an action.
Sighing can also serve as an end of a conversation to the dog’s unspoken words. It may take some time for you to notice your dog’s body language to figure out what that could indicate and what they are trying to communicate. According to many experts, there is no definite solution to why dogs sigh so much.
With a single sigh, your dog could be trying to transmit various feelings to you. When young puppies are close to their moms, littermates, or people, they may sigh a lot as a sign of contentment. Alternatively, your dog may be indicating that they are tired and need to sleep.
One thing you must always remember is that some vital body language follows your dog’s sighing.
Why Does My Dog Sigh When She Lays Down?
Dogs are playful and friendly animals; most times, the activity they engage in and their playful attitude get them exhausted. When a dog is exhausted, the first thing they do is lay down just like humans do. A dog laying down is its way of relaxing and trying to regain its energy; during the process of relaxation, a dog usually sighs.
However, sometimes, your dog will sigh when she lays down because she has a deep feeling of contentment. When your dog is content, she will sigh to let you know; a content dog is lying down with its head on its paws and eyes half-closed. Hence, the dog will sigh because it is happy to get away from the stress it has been through.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, dogs, like humans, sigh for various reasons. Sighing in your dog, in some cases, can be a sign of a health problem, but the main reason they sigh is to let us know that they are relaxing and should not be disturbed. However, knowing why your dog sighs helps you know when to worry, so you should be alert to what happens after your dog sighs to know if it has any medical problems.
Also Read: Why Does My Dog Look Sad?
Shawn Manaher is a serial entrepreneur but when he isn’t working, he loves dogs. He’s owned different pets over the years, and always gives a part of his heart to each pet.
