"From their empathetic eyes to their smile to wagging their tail, it can be hard to resist assigning human emotions to our dogs' behaviors. But dogs do something even more relatable: sighing. When your dog sighs and stares at you while standing next to its empty food bowl, or after plopping down on the couch (after circling the same spot nine times), it feels like they're communicating something with you."
"Contentment or relaxation: A long exhale while flopping down, often with eyes half-closed or body relaxed, is like a "happy sigh." Frustration or resignation: A sigh after trying to get your attention (e.g., pawing at you, then lying down) may signal "I give up." Stress relief: After an exciting or stressful moment, a sigh helps release tension - similar to how people decompress. Like humans, sighing helps regulate breathing and can be a way of resetting their body after stress or excitement."
"Context and body language are key, Ellis says. Here are some clues to help you decode what your dog is expressing with its sigh and how to respond: Relaxed and happy When a dog signs and then flops down with loose muscles, it's probably relaxed and happy, says Dr. Nita Vasudevan, a veterinarian at Embrace Pet Insurance. Its eyes may also be soft or half-closed, Ellis adds. This shows that they are bonded to you and feel"
A dog's sigh meaning depends on context and body language. Sighs can express contentment or relaxation, such as a long exhale when flopping down with half-closed eyes, resembling a 'happy sigh.' Sighs can indicate frustration or resignation after attempts to gain attention, signaling 'I give up.' Sighs function as stress relief by releasing tension and resetting breathing after excitement or stress. Some dogs use sighing to seek attention because the behavior elicits a human response. Observing accompanying posture, facial expression, and muscle tension helps interpret whether a sigh signals relaxation, resignation, relief, or attention-seeking.
Read at Scary Mommy
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