Why do dogs…

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
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… sneeze when they get up in the morning?
Tawny brings her toy pig in to us when she hears us getting up. If she’s a bit early she hops on the bed, usually stamping on OH’s nethers on the way, then drops the pig and sneezes on me. Now this works as a get the humans out of bed strategy but why the snot?
 
Some dogs sneeze when excited. My sister's Fluffbutt does it all the time: pick up a lead, she sneezes. Grab a treat, she sneezes. Put your jumper on, she sneezes. It also seems to be contagious as in when Fluffbutt stayed with me for a while, Liberty started the excited sneezes, which slowly phased out after Fluffbutt went home.
Perhaps Tawny is just excited for the new day to come and the chance to play with the toy pig.
 
It means "I may have overstepped the mark slightly but we are still playing".
You especially see it when 2 dogs are play fighting & things get very growly but it can also just be the way a lower status dog asks for a game.
Sign of a well socialised dog because it's one of the last things they pick up, after a lot of time with other dogs.
 
I'd interpret it as one of the social sneezes - in this context a sort of 'polite greeting, human! I'd like you to get up now but understand I may be a little early so I'm going to be careful about asking'.

The snot to the newly opened eyeballs is gross but I prefer this one to the sit-on-the-chest-like-a-lead-weight-and-stare-you-out approach.
 
Ours love a beer. Not a pint you understand but a little in a saucer if hubby has a beer on the go. Not often. You can count back down from 5.....4....3....2....1 Achoooooooo!! Funny!
 
Clodagh said:
… sneeze when they get up in the morning?
Tawny brings her toy pig in to us when she hears us getting up. If she’s a bit early she hops on the bed, usually stamping on OH’s nethers on the way, then drops the pig and sneezes on me. Now this works as a get the humans out of bed strategy but why the snot?
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I think you need a terrier 😁😁. I don't get any discharge at all from mine 😊
 
I’m pleased it’s a positive thing, mainly because I’ve always thought my lack of house work skills (very limited) might be a factor or my dogs all had allergies. 😆.
The beagle is the next sneeziest but I suppose living in a hunt kennels you learn social skills very quickly. They all sneeze more often than I’d have thought. Very interesting.
 
Good Lord Clodagh! Not sure I have ever heard my dogs sneeze, most certainly not first thing in the morning but then they don’t come up to the bedroom, I go down and let them outside.
I am now on high alert to see when/ if they ever sneeze !
 
Chiffy said:
Good Lord Clodagh! Not sure I have ever heard my dogs sneeze, most certainly not first thing in the morning but then they don’t come up to the bedroom, I go down and let them outside.
I am now on high alert to see when/ if they ever sneeze !
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I have hayfever all year round, maybe they want to bond with me?
 
Mine sneezes quite a lot and that's usually my cue to get out of her way 🤣
When my two males had to be in my Mum's kennels, which are next to one another with no visual barrier, her father would kick off at the other dog every time he moved and then have a sneezing fit before calming down again. It was his way of Shaking It Out.
 
The hooligan does lots of sneezing when he’s excited / is anticipating either you joining in with whatever daft game he’s playing or walkies / some other outing or fun event.

He doesn’t do it to other dogs that I’ve seen - just the daft humans!
 
I've just cast my mind back a couple of weeks - I was training something and my female was getting a little bit confused and started explosively sneezing just like her daddy and I turned to the people on the sidelines and said 'I had better stop before I get bit' and they laughed and laughed and laughed.


I was joking. Mostly.
 
I’ll look out for this, but I don’t think mine do this. Goose’s go to is lying down pathetically when he knows he’s going out, odd response to excitement. I’ve taken to just opening the boot which is always close to the front door and he gets in happily.

Pearlsasinger said:
No wonder we have the 'no dogs upstairs' policy in this house!
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Overnight, yes, although I’ve started allowing it when the OH is on nights. Goose stays, Mitch has token cuddles then takes himself off.
 
New rescue dog does loads of sneezing when I get up in the morning and come downstairs, whereas Clover doesn't! They play a lot of bitey face though and sneeze when playing these, it's to show they're only playing and don't mean any harm with the bites :)
 
Cinnamontoast said:
I’ll look out for this, but I don’t think mine do this. Goose’s go to is lying down pathetically when he knows he’s going out, odd response to excitement. I’ve taken to just opening the boot which is always close to the front door and he gets in happily.
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Tawny used to go and lie in her basket when I got my boots on for shooting. I think it was stress. Looking back I’m not sure how much she enjoyed her day, although she was incredibly driven and very good at it. She shook all day as well. Mine all shake while waiting for the first drive but she did it all day.
 
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