If your dog is sighing , it ’s believably a salutary thing .

It ’s the end of the mean solar day when your cad lets out a long , loud sigh before plopping down on the sofa and fall deceased . You may ask yourself : why is my pawl suspire like she had such a rough day when she really just kip and played the intact mean solar day ? Chances are , your whelp is n’t actually sighing out of annoyance like humans might , but rather expressing more positive emotions .

Sighing is a common noise many pups make on the regular — but what is it our furry friends are trying to tell apart us with these draw - out breather ? Is it ever a cause for concern ?

a black and brown dog lies on a couch with their eyes open

Photo: Rick Lowe / Getty Images

What Is Sighing?

Sighing is essentially a long , sharp exhale uncouth in dog-iron as well as other specie like humans . Dogs can sigh at any time — but many times it happens right before they go to sleep or dwell down .

you could tell if your hound is sigh when you hear them release a mystifying exhalation . Sighing is different from other common Canis familiaris noises , such asbarkingor whining , as the randomness is only made by breathing and not voice .

Sighing can indicate positive or negative emotions in dogs — and an easy means to secernate what your heel is feeling is by observing their eyes . TheAmerican Kennel Clubsays that when a " sigh is combine with half - closed eyes , it pass pleasure ; with to the full opened heart , it communicates disappointment . "

Why Do Dogs Sigh?

Sighing is another way our hound commune with us — standardized to how they communicate through utterance andbody language . The nature of the sigh as well as your puppy ’s expression and body language can tell you how your canine tooth pal might be feel .

Contentment

Contentment is one of the large reasons dogs sigh — especially if they suspire while resting or before lie down . If your dog let out a loud suspiration after a fun day and proceeds to settle in and relax , there ’s a respectable opportunity they let out that breather because they find content and good .

Rhiannon Koehler , DVM , MPH , say that if " your dog ’s place down , just kinda resting and you hear them sigh , that ’s commonly sound to be just that nice sign of contentment that they ’re well-situated in their environment . "

Exasperation

Dogs may also sigh out of exasperation or frustration . Koehler says it ’s more likely your pooch is sighing out of contentment , but there might be times when your whelp lets out an exasperate sigh .

Your dog might let out an exacerbate sigh when they need to do something , such as dramatic play orwalk , but you are n’t contribute them what they want . Keep an eye on your dog ’s facial formulation when they suspire , and if your pup has the heart-to-heart - eyed feeling draw by the AKC , they could be feel foiled .

Relaxation

interchangeable to contentment , dogs also sigh when they ’re feeling relaxed . If your dog sighs before sleeping or laying down — they are belike just expressing their comfort .

When Sighing Could Be a Concern

While Koehler say truthful sighing typically is n’t anything to be concerned about — if your dog is having a lot ofheavier breathing , gasp , or making other noises such as moan , you should talk to your vet as these could point an underlying medical condition .

" [ Sighing ] does n’t typically point to any medical issues that are underlie it , " Koehler says . " If it ’s not sighing and it ’s more of a groaning or a gasping breath then that ’s when you would want to be refer . That could indicate something like aheart issue . "