My english shepherd is always panting, it drives me crazy. It is not hot in Minnesota anymore! Whenever I'm trying to train him he is always open mouthed, sometimes drooling. He has a huge mouth like a borzoi.

He is not nervous, hyper doesn't really describe him. He is high energy and he does have a huge coat. He is an intact male who will be 2 in May.

I bet some of you folks with big GSDs have this too.

Is there some way to have enthusiasm without all this panting?

He has done this all along, since you got him?

I know that you know all about CHF, lung disorders, Cushing's, pain, etc. Is there anything else, maybe less common, like a med? No meds? Or a dental thing going on?

No intact females around?

Could it actually be that coat? Maybe raking out some undercoat ... ?

He's not overweight, right?

I'll sure be interested in other replies.

My Boerboel bitch is a prolific panter, has been from a pup, and it doesn't matter if it's 80 degrees, or there's snow on the ground.

I noticed it when she was a young pup, and when we had Harry, then Kaiser, I would watch them before and after exercise to see if they were all doing it, and while they and the pointers would all pant after a work out, Sugar would pant for ages after the others had returned to resting.

I had it checked out around the time she turned two, because one of the things that crossed my mind was heart problems, but the vet gave her a clean bill of health, and said it was probably over excitement.

She isn't over weight, but she is a huge framed female, not too deep chested, but definitely heavy set, and her switch is always 'on'.

When she is concentrating, like when we are playing with the chuckit over the fields, she pants like a pair of bellows, rigid with anticipation and intensity. When we come home, she will pant for around an hour, while the others have long since stopped.

She also pants while I'm getting their food ready, and when Sam comes home or Jamie turns up, off she goes again.

It is very irritating at times, especially when I'm on the phone or trying to listen to the news, but I am assured she is completely fine, just a bit intense and full of energy!

I'm glad to see this post. Kasey has always been a big panter. Drives me nuts sometimes. But like Tracy, he's been all checked out several times and they can't find anything wrong - and they don't ever seem concerned about it. We always marvel at the times that we are cold, but there he is, still panting!!

Amber pants alot too, mainy in the car which I think is anxiety based, she'll pant when its fifteen degrees out and fog the windows. I don't know anyway to stop it.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I'll sure be interested in other replies.

Here is an "Occum's Razor" reply, Connie:

Panting can frequently be either an Excitement Reflex or a Stress Response -- It's one way in which a dog may indicate either, "Oh BOY Oh BOY" or "OH No OH No"...

 Quote: Candi Campbell

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I'll sure be interested in other replies.

Here is an "Occum's Razor" reply, Connie:

Panting can frequently be either an Excitement Reflex or a Stress Response -- It's one way in which a dog may indicate either, "Oh BOY Oh BOY" or "OH No OH No"...

 Quote: Candi Campbell

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I'll sure be interested in other replies.

Here is an "Occum's Razor" reply, Connie:

Panting can frequently be either an Excitement Reflex or a Stress Response -- It's one way in which a dog may indicate either, "Oh BOY Oh BOY" or "OH No OH No"...

This is what I was thinking, too. Kenzi is an excitable dog and was a big time panter (is that even a word? lol) when I first got her. But, with time and maturity, it has signifficantly dwindled. She still pants more than Kipp but it's not like it used to be.

 Quote: Candi Campbell

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I'll sure be interested in other replies.

Here is an "Occum's Razor" reply, Connie:

Panting can frequently be either an Excitement Reflex or a Stress Response -- It's one way in which a dog may indicate either, "Oh BOY Oh BOY" or "OH No OH No"...

This is what I was thinking, too. Kenzi is an excitable dog and was a big time panter (is that even a word? lol) when I first got her. But, with time and maturity, it has signifficantly dwindled. She still pants more than Kipp but it's not like it used to be.

Drivey dogs with a bit of an edge toward being somewhat hectic (not totally clear headed) can be big panters.

This is a description that may be better understood by working dog folks. Not really sure how to better describe what I mean. Someone else here may have a better way to explain what I am trying to say in more layman terms.