Lea

When looking at your dog, you might have noticed that sometimes they wink at you out of nowhere. Maybe you’re thinking this is just a cute quirk or maybe they are trying to tell you something? We always like to try to figure out our little fur babies and like to know what they are thinking or why they are doing certain things.

Instinct

Between dogs it is normal that sometimes dogs want to establish their dominance. When meeting a new dog, usually both dogs will stare at each other for some time. They want to keep an eye on a possible threat. Eye contact in a dog’s body language conveys alertness and challenging the other. Once one or both blink, wink or look away, it usually signals that they submit and are non-threatening. Of course, there are other signals dogs sometimes choose to give to show that they just want to play like laying down. But breaking a gaze is one of the most common signs used to demonstrate that they want to do no harm. If neither one submits, a fight is likely to break out.

When your dog winks at you it is likely due to instinct and showing you that they submit to you, too. Similarly, you might see him look away for a few seconds when you look at him. Those are simply signals that they keep from interacting with other dogs.

Imitation

Dogs are smart and pick up on things that others do. They learn little things from interactions with other dogs but also with humans. You might have noticed that your dog started playing more using his paws after playing with another dog that did that. It is very similar. If you wink at your pup a lot, he might pick up on it and eventually start imitating your wink.

Medical Issues

While in most cases the winking should be harmless, it can potentially be a symptom of a health problem. Short nose breeds are prone to entropion, a genetic condition, where the eyelids flip inwards. In this case the dog blinks and winks out of pain. If you think this might be the case or your dog is showing excessive winking or blinking, you should see a vet. They will be able to tell you for sure and consult to find a solution to the problem.

It is also possible that your dog simply got something into his eye. Similar to when we get something small into our eyes, we blink as well.

As you can see winking is not just a quirk or response to something you said. You can also try to teach them to wink on command but for that you would need to reward your dog when he ‘accidentally’ winks at you.

A lot of pet owners worry about their furry friends when they behave different than usual or than they expect. First time dog owners might especially ask themselves why is my dog breathing really fast, it is normal, and if they should be worried or not. There are multiple reasons for it. But first thing you should know is what is a normal respiratory rate.

What is a normal breathing rate for my puppy?

For puppies, normal is 15-40 breaths per minute.

For an adult dog, normal is 10-30 breaths per minute.

So, puppies often have a little bit faster breathing rhythm compared to adult dogs. It can also depend on the size of your dog.

How to count the breathing rate?

You want to know how fast your pup is breathing right now? Take a look at your puppy’s chest moving up and down, expanding and contracting.

Now count the number of breaths for 15 or 30 seconds, and multiply by 4 or 2 respectively. This gives you a breathing rate. You can also count how many breaths in one go for 60 seconds to get the same result.

Once you know their breaths per minute you can compare it to the normal values. If it is clearly higher, you know that yes, your pooch is definitely breathing rapidly.

Should I be concerned?

There can be multiple reasons for your dog to have heavy breathing, but one reason for difficulty breathing might be a symptom of medical conditions. If you feel worried or it is not getting better, it is always best to take your dog to the vet to get a professional opinion. If your pup’s rapid breathing is accompanied by other breathing problems such as coughing and panting, it is definitely a good idea ask your vet.

For example, kennel cough is common in puppies and it is transmitted easily from one dog to another. Your pup could also potentially suffer from allergies or even heart or lung problems.

Therefore, please do go to see a vet if you feel worried.

Other reasons for rapid breathing in dogs

Dreaming

Breathing fast while sleeping is usually because they are having vivid dreams during the rapid eye movement phase. It is also sometimes accompanied by movements of the body like kicking as well as sounds like whining or a little bark. It’s hard to know if your dog is having a nightmare or a pleasant dream. In both those responses can occur.

In general, rapid breathing should become normal again once he wakes up. It is not advised to wake up your doggie while he is sleeping as this can be a shock for him and you don’t know how he will react. Some dogs, when taken out of their dream abruptly, can snap at the person waking them up.

Being Hot

If your puppy has spent a lot of time in the sun and now is breathing so fast, he might be overheated. Dog’s body temperature can get very high from laying and playing in the sun. In this case bring him inside the house or into the shade and give him water to cool down.

Rapid breathing may also be caused because your pup feels too hot while sleeping in a hot room during the summer or if the heater is on high. If this is the case, then lower the temperature, turn on the air conditioner or a fan to help cool down your pup. Make sure to take your dog out of the sun and provide him with cold water. You don’t want your pup to have a heatstroke. Also, never leave your dog locked in a hot car.

Being Active

Puppies tend to have so much energy and love their zoomies. After an energetic and wild play session or a long walk or hike, fast breathing can be a sign of over exertion. It is similar to us humans when we go for a run or do other physical activity with high intensity.

Your dog may just need a break and lay down for a little bit. Before you have another play session, wait until his breathing goes back to normal. If you’re going on a hike, consider taking a backpack or carrier for your dog to be in if he shows signs of exhaustion.

Stress

When first bringing home your new puppy it is a completely new experience and environment from what they’re used to. It can be kind of stressful for them. This can cause fast breathing or panting.

Later on, having a lot of people over can also stress your dog a bit. While those instances are also exiting, they are unusual situations for a puppy. He will need to get used to new people or strangers stopping by.

Similarly, the first times being in a car or visiting a new place can be frightening for them because they simply don’t know what is going on.

After your dog has gotten use to the new home or having strangers sometimes come visit, the fast breathing should also get better. For new places they go to, try to give them comfort and offer treats to show that this is okay and nothing dangerous. If your pup is having separation anxiety and your puppy is breathing fast when you try to leave the house, you should work on it yourself or with a dog trainer.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, you may not have to worry right away about your dog’s rapid breathing as there can be easy solutions and preventions. We always say, however, better safe than sorry. If you are still worried or your pup is showing other symptoms of a possible health issue, you need a vet’s opinion in person.