Would it surprise you if we said it’s actually sort of a good thing?
Let’s go back to the beginning, though. You have a dog that consistently burps in your face, and you understandably want to know why.
First, it’s important to know that, as a rule, dogs burping is nothing to be alarmed about. Basically, all dogs burp just like all humans burp, and many other animals burp as well. It usually means your dog ate too fast, ate too much, or was lying in a distorted position that gave them excess gas.
If you’re still concerned, however — or you’d like to quell this behavior sooner rather than later — read on.
Why does my dog burp in my face?
Believe it or not, one of the main reasons your dog may be burping in your face is simply because you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. Again, dogs burp just like humans do. It’s an exhalation of excess air from the digestive tract and stomach, and it’s completely normal. Our bodies were designed to burp — to exhale the extra air that we’ve taken in from eating, drinking, and breathing.
Random Acts of Burping
Dogs will often burp in humans’ faces because they go to them directly after eating and drinking. If you give your dog dinner, for example, they’ll usually stay at their bowl and finish their meal, and then, they’ll come find you. They may be looking for you because they want more food or simply because they’re done eating their meal and they’re ready to hang out. Regardless of the reason, if they’re coming to you and putting their face in your face right after they’ve eaten, they may very well burp in your face.
Burping and Communication
There are some dog experts who also believe that dogs do burp in their owners’ faces on purpose. This line of thinking stems from the fact that dogs may get information from each other through their breath. It’s one of the ways they can connect and communicate with each other (similar to when they smell each other’s bums).
If a dog smells your breath, for example, they may get information from you such as what your usual diet is, what you ate most recently, and even how stressed out you are at any given moment.
Why does my dog walk up to me and burp?
Many dog owners feel that their dogs are not only burping in their faces by accident, but it’s really on purpose. It’s as if they only want to get near your face to burp in front of you, and then they leave.
If this is happening, it could be simply because they are attached to you, and they are giving you a compliment, saying, “Hey, I like you! Here’s a gift to show you just how much.”
It’s hard to understand, but dogs don’t feel the way we do about things like burping, pooping, peeing, farting, and other bodily acts. Humans are quite unique in the animal world in this regard. We have manners and a sense of decorum about these acts, but dogs do not. They may see these acts as not only totally and completely natural, but actually good and useful. If they burp in your face, it’s almost as if they’re giving you a pat on the back or a kiss on the cheek!
Again, this is hard for us to understand, but it’s something to pay attention to and consider – especially whenever you get mad at your dog for doing something like peeing inside or, yes, burping in your face. It’s not always a bad thing to your dog, so it’s best not to overreact right away. This can confuse them.
With all that said, if your dog is walking up to you and burping in your face, this is probably the case. Unless you notice any other symptoms in their daily life or worrisome actions they’re doing, it’s nothing to be medically concerned about. Some possible issues with excess burping in your dog may include:
- Issues with bloating
- Other gastrointestinal (stomach-related) issues
- Excess stress (excessive burping and other emissions of gas can be related to stress and anxiety in your dog)
Because excessive burping is usually related to something gastrointestinal, be sure to look for these other symptoms if you’re worried something is wrong:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Blood or mucus in the stool
- Constipation
- Increased flatulence (gas)
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
- A lack of thirst
- A lack of appetite
If you haven’t noticed any of the symptoms and you’re not really into your dog walking up to you and burping in your face, we certainly understand. Up ahead, we’ll talk about some ways that you can try to avoid being the victim of this behavior.
What to do about my dog burping in my face?
So, your dog is burping in your face, and you’d like it to stop. You’re not alone! Here are some suggestions:
1. Stay away.
Try to stay away from your dog, especially after they’ve just eaten or drank something. This is usually when burping will happen.
2. Try to keep your dog from eating too fast.
Often, dogs will end up burping a lot if they tend to scarf down their food. Certain breeds, for example, tend to eat very fast.
Sometimes, it’s more about personality. Your may have two dogs of the same breed, and one may eat super fast while the other eats rather slowly.
If you have a dog that eats fast, you can help slow them down by giving them smaller portions to begin with. Dole these portions out over the dinner hour instead of putting all of their dinner food down at once.
You can also try putting their food into a dog food maze or puzzle. This makes it so they have to work a little harder to obtain their food, and it slows them down.
3. Go for a walk after a meal.
Lastly, try going directly outside for a walk or playing with your dog in the yard right after they’ve eaten. This will get those burps out faster and you’ll be less likely to have to endure them later on when you’re snuggling on the couch.
Why does my dog keep burping?
Dogs usually burp for the same reasons that humans do. We have excess gas in our stomachs, and it needs a way to get out in one way or another. For this reason, there’s nothing to be worried about if your dog seems to be burping all the time, and there’s not so much you can do about it most of the time.
Some humans burp more than others. Some humans burp louder than others. Some humans burp longer than others. All of these things can be applied to dogs as well. Certain breeds may tend to burp more often than others, and this is something you should research if the excess burping particularly concerns you. You may find that it’s simply an unavoidable feature of your dog’s breed.
On the other hand, remember that dogs can’t communicate with us the way humans communicate with each other. In other words, they can’t talk to us and tell us if something’s wrong. If your dog has suddenly started burping all of the time and you’ve noticed other gastrointestinal-related symptoms as well. It’s time to book an appointment with your veterinarian to investigate this issue further.