We have had two dogs in a row who, after a brief association (six months) with us, start sighing. As in, my brother had a dog that came to live with us who never sighed and started when he “moved in.” Then second dog was a pound rescue, so Og only knows what he was like before we got him.
This is not a mere exhalation of breath. It sounds just like a human sighing (actually, it sounds like my mother when she sighs), and it often occurs when a human would sigh—especially the ever popular “long-suffering” or annoyed sigh (Ah-hnnnnnnnnnn) and occasionally the relieved, comfort sigh (usually just after they lie down for a nap—sort of an Ahhhhhh).
So my questions are (1) Do other dogs sigh? (2) Do all dogs sigh? (3) Do said sighs occur for the same reasons that humans sigh (or am I anthropomorphizing)? (4) Can sighing be learned or is it simply a matter of the dogs becoming more comfortable around us—i.e. they were on their best behavior before, but after a while realize that we are not going to beat/eat them?
Thank you in advance for any help,
Innanna.
[sub]PS I searched for a previous thread about this, but I didn’t find anything, so I am sorry if this has already been discussed before.
PPS I am pretty sure that this is the right forum for my query. Apologies if it isn’t.
PPPS Can you tell this is my first thread?[/sub]
I have observed other dogs sigh. Our did in my youth and I now have a friend who has a rescued Greyhound and just got a Greyhound puppy. The older dog does a lot of sighing.
My job entails a lot of sitting quietly and concentrating, which means that I often have periods where I am breathing very shallowly. Sometimes I will involuntarily sigh just to get some oxygen back in me.
So I don’t think sighing necessarily has to have an emotional component.
Our dog sighs a lot, especially when she’s resting. Even more when you’re bugging her a little bit when she’s resting. Also when she has indicated that she wants attention but is ignored, she often lies down and sighs.
Khadaji, perhaps it is more prevelant in older dogs? Or certain breeds? Neither of my dogs was a young pup and they were both largish animals.
Scarlett67, that is reasonable. I have a tendency (along with every other crazy animal person) to “humanize” my animals. But they do seem to be trying to convey something–usually annoyance at somone waking them up or making them play or move. But they could just be getting up steam (by getting more oxygen in, as you suggest).
Vetch, all of my animals are terribly disappointed in me. Not enough playing, or treats. And sometimes I wake then up (and it can take them up to 3 seconds to go back to sleep). But I couldn’t imagine being barked at–was it an effective training method?
I had a cat who would yowl to much the same effect–especially as the yowling got louder the longer he was without what ever it was he wanted. As I didn’t want the ASPCA complaining that I was torturing the cat, I learned to jump to–and he learned that yowling was a good way to get stuff.
I have two dogs that sigh. Usually, it’s when I make them move to another spot on the bed, or when I refuse attention. One of my dogs catches my yawns, too.
I have two dogs that sigh. Usually, it’s when I make them move to another spot on the bed, or when I refuse attention. One of my dogs catches my yawns, too.
I’d forgotten about that. My dog (long gone now) used to sigh all the time, and at the same cues as people would sigh. If he wanted out, for example, and I was too slow he would sit by the door and sigh over and over.
My cat never sighed. Given the same circumstances, he’d attack.
Thanks for the memories.
Peace,
mangeorge
Rabid_Squirrel, It was something like that that caused me to ask. My mother was laughing and woke the dog up. He sighed and tried to go back to sleep.
elmwood,, I have made my cat yawn, but never my dog. They seem, from what I can gather here, to sigh in a “I am so put upon” way. (By the way, how are the PWD’s settling in at the new place?)
mangeorge, You are quite welcome. I hadn’t realized that this would be a “bringing back memories” kind of thread, but it is for me too. (and cats are not, I have noticed, patient critters)
So, the consensus seems to be that (admitting that this is an incredibly small sample) dogs do sigh–and in a way that would lead people to believe that they do so in the same way that people do. I wonder now what sort of advantage sighing might serve for dogs. Do dogs in wild packs sigh? Do wolves (it strikes me as a bit passive agressive for wolves)? Are there any non-sighing breeds?
By the way, this has kind of turned into a IMHO thread, so if the mods want to move it, I won’t complain. If they think that it is fine, then I won’t complain. (I guess I am just not a complainer. No getting ahead in the Mod pit contest from me, sorry).
OT: So far so good. It’s a two-story (rental) house with smaller rooms, so they don’t have as much room to run around inside as much. I’ve still got to find a dog park. Nonetheless, they’re getting used to things; they do love to run up and down the stairs.
I have a 1 1/2 year old Golden Retriever and you’d better believe she sighs. Sometimes the sighs are the most god-awful over-dramatic things you’ve heard. Usually she’ll try for a coupla hours during the day to get me to quit working and play with her. When that doesn’t work, she lays under my chair and “si-i-i-i-gggggggggg—hhhhhhh”
