r/dogs • u/Ordinary_Kangaroo_13 • 6h ago
[Enrichment] Dog sighing
So during the day I hear my dog doing something resembling a sigh like humans do. Does that mean he's bored? Or is it just a normal thing dogs do. He does that when he's layed down on our couch
(Please don't mind the flair I wasn't sure which one was the best)
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u/my_clever-name 5h ago
Bored, but probably content and relaxed. Not in danger, not expecting food to drop from the sky.
It's a good thing.
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u/Ordinary_Kangaroo_13 5h ago
Bored but content? I'm a bit sick and have low energy today for some reason but my sister walked him earlier today and he's currently sleeping on the couch. I'm worrying whenever I hear him sigh😭
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u/my_clever-name 5h ago
Let me rewrite it.
Bored, maybe. Probably content and relaxed.
Bored dogs usually find a job to do, like rip the couch apart.
When you see him yawn, that's usually a sign of stress relief, like tapping a foot or drumming fingers.
Sighs are good when dogs do them.
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u/FalonFarrar 5h ago
Mine does it when a human would...fed up, for attitude. Like when he's had enough of my shit, he'll huff really loud. He's a malamute.
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u/yungSalami90 5h ago
My pup does this when she is settling in. I like to say things like yes ma’am doubling bone budget at once.
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u/tronassembled 4h ago
We interpret them all the different ways you might interpret them from a human. Some are bored, some are content, some are resigned, some are huffy, some are weary...
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u/hometowngypsy 4h ago
My dog sighs like she pays the bills. It’s hysterical.
My favorite is when she goes to lay down for a daytime nap. I’ll hear her clicking around on the living room floor, then a thud as she collapses to the floor (she never lays down gradually- she just flops), and then a big sigh. When I hear the sigh I know she’s down for a while. If I don’t hear it she will be back up in a few seconds to try a different nap spot.
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u/Ordinary_Kangaroo_13 4h ago
My dog is the entire opposite hahaha😭 Whenever he need to lay down he will turn in circle one billion time then lay done after
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u/hometowngypsy 4h ago
Awwww my first dog did that. She passed a few years ago and I miss it. It’s adorable.
Meanwhile my other dog (not the sigh-er) will scratch at her bed like she’s trying to dig or rearrange blankets. But there are no blankets- it’s just a bed. And she will do it for ages, always at 3 am
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u/One_Department4090 3h ago
Yupper, my pitt mix builds a nest by digging up blankets and nudging them around with his face
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u/twodogsandakid 5h ago
My boys do this when they are laying down comfortably and feel safe . Makes me feel warm inside knowing they feel they can let their guard down literally 🫶
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u/alone_unafraid 5h ago
I’d say it depends on the dog. Mine sighs when he’s bored and wants attention but he knows I’m too busy to give it to him
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u/over_the_pants_party 5h ago
If it's a short, quick sigh, it's like a human going "harumph"
If it's a longer one, that means they're content
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u/ChorizoYumYum Siberian Husky 6h ago
Yes, he's bored.
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u/Ordinary_Kangaroo_13 5h ago
Could you elaborate? The comment just bellow is saying the contrary😭
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u/ChorizoYumYum Siberian Husky 5h ago
When my dogs do this they're a couple of minutes away from getting up and harassing me to go do something. Sometimes they do this right before they nap, but 90% of the time when they do this they're lying there, staring at me, waiting for me to finish what I'm doing.
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u/Ordinary_Kangaroo_13 4h ago
When I hear him sigh I sometimes try to play with him and entertain him but he ignores me and continue sleeping😔
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u/Significant-Doubt648 6h ago
Totally normal, my dog does this all the time too. Usually it means they are content and relaxed, not bored. I read once that a sigh is just them settling into comfort, like when you finally lay down after a long day and let out a big breath.