I just had a strange question about my puppy. He recently started sleeping in my room (in his crate), and I've never had a dog in my room at night before. I've noticed that when we "go to bed", he seems to start panting once he lays down in his crate. I have no idea if this is normal or not since I've never slept near a dog before. He hasn't been running or exerting himself before bedtime, just hanging out w/me in the living room. I'm sure he's not sick or distressed or anything, but I just wondered: 1) Is this normal? ,and 2) Why does he do this? (Is he "cooling down" to go to sleep or something?)

Curiosity killed the cat, I guess. Thanks!

 Quote: kori bigge

I just had a strange question about my puppy. He recently started sleeping in my room (in his crate), and I've never had a dog in my room at night before. I've noticed that when we "go to bed", he seems to start panting once he lays down in his crate. I have no idea if this is normal or not since I've never slept near a dog before. He hasn't been running or exerting himself before bedtime, just hanging out w/me in the living room. I'm sure he's not sick or distressed or anything, but I just wondered: 1) Is this normal? ,and 2) Why does he do this? (Is he "cooling down" to go to sleep or something?)

Curiosity killed the cat, I guess. Thanks!

With his tongue out?

What breed is he?

http://www.mcafeeah.com/ph/petsick.htm

Scroll down to "Difficult or labored breathing."

He's a GSD, 3-1/2 mos old. I don't think his tongue is out, but since I haven't looked (lights are off) I can't say for sure. Sometimes when he does this is the daytime, he "pants", but his tongue isn't out, unless he's been running around. I checked the link you mentioned, I really don't think he has "difficulty" or "labored" breathing. I can't really explain it, he's just breathing a little faster than normal for a while. maybe he's excited to be going into my room (bedrooms are all forbidden except my room at nighttime, in his crate only). So he's checking out all the kids' toys, junk, laying around on his way in there. I don't know - I am sure he isn't sick though.

Thanks for the link. I'll keep it for future reference, too.

Could be something serious...or it could be...he's just tired lol.

When Grace was a pup, my mom and I would stress out about her panting..."oh, she's hot, oh, she needs water, etc". Yep...she pants when she's tired and about to fall asleep...still does it almost 6 years later and then she'll let out a big sigh and fall asleep.

I know with my pup (who is 6 months now and has been like this since the day I brought him home) it's excitement when he isn't cooling down from mad dashes and play. He pants ALL the time. And whines. He is ready to go anytime I give the signal for his butt to leave his place. I think maybe it is a wind up action noise for him and makes him run faster. He pants in his sleep too and often I wake up with him panting in his crate by the bed after falling asleep to him panting. I think he would pant while eating if he could manage it but usually in the middle of a nap he will sigh and then stop finally and I know he is offline for maintenance. Oh he doesn't pant while tracking which is amazing! Doesn't sound labored to me and I've had him checked out by two vets just in case and he's healthy and happy so I guess it is just 'his thing'.

I did notice with GSD's more than any other breed whenever I see them out or on tv, or in Ed's videos they are panting happily and assumed it was a breed specific thing. My dobe never panted unless we were out on the tail end of a really long walk in the summer. I'd be more worried about my pup now if he wasn't panting. Good luck with yours!

~Magdalena

Edited by Magdalena Ciepla (10/25/2007 10:31 AM)
Edit reason: Edited to add pup age

Consider yourself lucky. My one year old male GSD SNORES !!!!!!!!

Terry

My GSD almost always has his mouth open, panting in excitement or just panting to breath through his mouth. In fact, if his mouth is closed I get suspicious that he has something in there he knows he shouldn't have. And sometimes I'm right

Kori,

Hi there, and don't worry. My GSD did exactly the same thing, frequently, when he was a young pup and I worried and posted about it too! Ed responded that a possible medical problem could be worms...so get the stool checked by a vet, just to be safe, and have them listen to his lungs.

BUT, in my case, it turned out to be nothing. Stool and lungs checked and he was healthy. He outgrew it. He just turned one year old and he hasn't done it in a very long time.

It still seems odd to me that he would start panting heavily for no reason when he was sleeping or at rest, but it's just one of those weird puppy things, I guess. An immature respiratory system, maybe? In any case...it turned out to be harmless, and temporary.

So go to the vet, just to be sure. But the good news is that your pup is probably okay and he's just one of those puppies that freaks their owners out occasionally!

Kori - I noticed my 9 week old puppy panting as well while in the crate this morning. She's a long coated puppy and I just attributed the cause to being warm. I'll make a note of this for the next time she goes to the vet.