If your dog sighs when you pet them, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.
So, why does my dog sigh when I pet him? The most likely reason why your dog sighs when you pet them is that they are happy and relaxed.
There are a number of possible reasons why your dog has been sighing when you pet them and it could be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause.
Why does my dog sigh when I pet her?
Below are likely reasons why your dog sighs when you pet them and what would make them more likely.
Submissiveness
Sometimes, dogs will sigh when they are being submissive and it might be why your dog sighs when you pet them. This would be more likely if they also show other submissive signs such as making their body appear smaller, rolling onto their back or hiding the tail.
Intimidation
Dogs will also sigh when they are feeling intimidated and it is possible that yours has been doing it due to intimidation. this would be more likely if your dog sighs more when you pet them in an aggressive manner or when you are loud around it.
Boredom
Another possible cause is that your dog is bored. This would be more likely if your dog tends to sigh more before you have given it exercise.
Your dog is showing that it is relaxed
The most likely reason why your dog sighs when you pet it is that it is showing that it is relaxed and happy. This is because yawning is often a way of showing pleasure and relaxation.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your dog has been doing it.
If your dog always sighed when you pet him
If your dog has not always sighed when you pet them, it would help to consider what else happened when your dog first started doing it. If your dog started doing it suddenly, it might be due to things such as a change in the way you have been petting them, getting less exercise or something causing them to not be able to sleep so easily.
The timing of when your dog sighs
It would also help to consider the timing of when your dog does it. If your dog tends to do it when you pet your dog more aggressively, it would be more likely that your dog sighs due to being intimidated.
What to do about my dog sighing when I pet him?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Let her do it
If your dog seems to be doing it due to being relaxed and happy, the best thing to do would be to allow your dog to continue doing it.
Avoid intimidating it
If it seems to be the case that your dog has been doing it due to getting intimidated, it would also help to try petting your dog in a different manner and more gently.
Why does my dog huff when I pet him?
A likely reason why your dog huffs, when you pet him, is that he is showing that he his happy and relaxed. It might also be the case that it is due to things such as boredom or being tired.