You and your dog have arrived home after a day packed with fun and adventure. You played fetch, swam in the sea, and had lots of delicious treats. So why does your dog let out a huge sigh when they get through the door? Did they not have a good time?
Dogs sigh for several reasons, and relaxing after a long day of play is just one of them. Dogs also sigh when they are bored, unhappy, or stressed. But chances are, your dog had a great day and is sighing because they’re tired.
Dog Sighing Defined
Just like in humans, sighing in dogs both serves a respiratory purpose and is an emotional response to stress. Dr. Linda Simon, a member of the British Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, explains that “sighing is when a dog releases a long breath out. It is thought to reinflate any alveoli which have collapsed.”
Alveoli are tiny air sacs in the lungs that play a vital role in your dog’s respiratory system. They exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs and can sometimes collapse. Sighing can help reset these air sacs and improve oxygenation of the blood.
As well as resetting respiration, studies in humans have also shown how sighing resets emotional states, too. Perhaps you have left a stressful work meeting and let out a huge sigh. This is your body’s way of resetting your emotions in response to stress or over-stimulation.
6 Reasons Why Dogs Sigh
To know which explanation applies to your dog, you’ll need to read their body language and the environment they are in.
1. Relaxation
Dogs sigh when they are feeling relaxed. This usually happens after they have laid down or are getting into bed. Their face and body will also be relaxed and they may be drifting off to sleep. This is similar to when you sigh as you sit down after a long day at work.
2. Stress or Anxiety
On its own, sighing isn’t usually a sign that your dog is feeling stressed or anxious. But keep a close eye on your dog’s body language because if your dog is sighing in combination with these stress signals, then it’s likely you have a stressed-out, anxious pup on your hands:
Other signs of stress in dogs include:
- Excessive lip licking
- Tucked tail
- Yawning
- Lip curling
- Flattened ears
- Tense muscles
If you suspect your dog is sighing because they are feeling stressed or anxious, it’s important to remove them from that environment so they can calm down.
3. They’re Unhappy
Dogs can also sigh because they are unhappy. Perhaps they are grieving the loss of a pet in their household or they may be living with a new human. Dogs feel a complex range of emotions, including sadness, and sighing is a sign of this.
If you notice a sudden change in other behaviours of your dog, then it is likely they are unhappy. If they have gone off their food or no longer want to play with their toys, they could be feeling sad, and sighing is a way for them to relieve this sadness.
4. Tiredness
Sighing can indicate your dog is tired after intense physical activity. If your dog has had a big day of hiking or camping, their sighs could be an indication that they are tired and ready for a nap. A tell-tale sign: these sighs will be accompanied by lying down or curling up on their bed.
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5. Attention-seeking
If you give your dog lots of love and attention when they sigh, they will learn that this type of vocalisation leads to human attention. The next time they want your attention, they know that sighing is a surefire way to get it.
6. Boredom
Dogs can feel boredom when they don’t have enough mental or physical stimulation. Just like us humans, dogs get pleasure out of meaningful work such as fetching or digging. They find the challenge rewarding, so if they have nothing to accomplish, they can get bored. A dog sighing can be a sign of this.
Can Sighing Be Serious?
Dr. Simon explains that “it’s normal for our dogs to sigh now and then and generally not something we need to worry about.” Sighing is not a typical sign of pain, so if your dog is sighing it’s unlikely to be a sign that they’re in pain or feeling unwell. More typically, a dog uses vocalisations such as panting, whining, and groaning.
However, if you notice your dog sighing in conjunction with laboured breathing or coughing, you need to consult your vet.
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Other Sounds Dogs Make & What They Mean
Dogs may not be able to speak our language, but they can communicate so much of how they are feeling through vocalisations such as sighing.
Other types of vocalisations include:
- Yawning: Dogs don’t just yawn because they are tired. They also yawn as a way to reduce stress or because they are happy.
- Barking: Dogs can bark for all sorts of reasons, including territorial barking, attention-seeking barking, or barking to greet you. You will be able to tell which one is which based on their body language.
- Growling: Growling can mean lots of different things, and it doesn’t necessarily mean a dog is unhappy. Dogs also growl to initiate play with each other.
- Whining: Dogs will whine to communicate they are unhappy or sad.
- Panting: Dogs use panting to cool themselves down but can also be a symptom of Cushing’s Disease.
- Howling: Howling is a somewhat mysterious one, though one explanation is that dogs have inherited wolves’ instincts to communicate with each other over long distances.
- Yapping: Yapping is a high-pitched bark, often used to ‘raise the alarm’ and protect territory.
- Groaning: Groaning is something dogs do when in mild discomfort, like when getting up with arthritic joints.
Final Thoughts
We can tell so much about how a dog is feeling through the vocalisations they use. As dogs can sigh for many reasons, knowing which one applies to your pup will require you to read their other body language signals.
Your dog’s sighs are not usually a cause for concern, but keep an eye out for other signs of pain.
