Our wee Smudge is quite communicative, and has his ways of 'talking', particularly when he wants to play or whilst we are playing.

However, I have also noticed, again mostly when he wants to or is playing, that he sneezes - a lot; its as if this sneezing is part of the communication? It doesn't seem to bother him, or be out of any discomfort, as his tail is going and he is playful throughout - is this something that some dogs do more than others?

Mother taught Murphy to sneeze after grooming - as in "Achoo" = 'A chew'

We still haven't completely untaught that one.

Don't think it has any meaning - but he has gotten a positive reaction from sneezing, so uses it to try and get more attention.

I wonder if that is the case with Smudge, as Little C generally laughs when he does it, and I must admit that I keep saying 'bless you' to him

Danny sneezes when he wants to bark, but knows he mustn't ..like when my husband is getting his shoes on to take him for a walk he barks with excitement, but he knows he mustn't bark when it's his last walk late at night before bed, so he runs about sneezing instead

My Westie does the same thing when he's playing. He'll also sneeze to get our attention so he gets some cuddles or more playing. Its very cute really

My dog sneezes a lot, I think it's cute. Someone told me it's a dog's way of laughing, I'm not sure if that's true or not.

There is a meaning to dogs sneezing, they either have a cold or their nose is tickly, simple, end of

No need to start a topic about it for goodness sakes

Um I don't think dogs get colds. They can get kennel cough but can be quite unwell with it.

If you think it's a pointless topic, why bother replying?

Dogs can get colds :

Cats and dogs can certainly get colds. In cats, the most common "cold" is viral (herpes/calici virus) and more recently it has been demonstrated they often get a bacterial "cold" from Bordetella bacteria. The most common "cold" that dogs get is a combiantion of Bordetella and Flu virus. In cats, they usually sneeze in rapid succession and dogs usually manifest as a cough.

©Michael Goldberg DVM

Michael Goldberg DVM
Hudson Place Veterinary Clinic
1300 West 73 Ave.
Vancouver, B.C. V6P 3E7
604-266-2731

It just amazes me that some people on here worry about the slightest things

I dont think anybody is worrying as such, just curious as to whether other dogs behave the same way

I am sure dogs can get colds, but my dog definatly doesn't have a cold.unless it is one that makes him sneeze only once a day, late night ..I think he has probably just learned he can make a sneeze like sound to express his excitement and help him contain his barks

Dogs mainly sneeze when theyve got something up their noses dust or something similar that irriates them,while as some humans may pick there noses

Dogs only real choice is to sneeze

I was curious, rather than worried, however thank you for your input, and I apologise for asking a question about my pet, on the pet section of this forum, and wasting your time.

I have no knowledge about cats. I didn't know dogs could get 'colds' per se but I know kennel cough can be caught in the same way as colds.

If a dog is sneezing, I wouldn't worry, if they are coughing too, they need to see a vet. Oscar didn't sneeze more when he had it but some dogs do.

Dogs sneeze when they are excited, they have been described as doggy giggles. So nothing to worry about, he's happy! (unless he is obviously unwell of course!)

That's what I was told and I'm glad it's true, my dog sneezes quite a lot.

Tsk Tsk whatever will you do next, you rebel you

Our dog had hay fever!

My eldest lab sneezes when he barks .... but my younger one doesn't ... not quite figured out why ...

They can get allergies too. I think some breeds may be more prone to it than others.

Doggy giggles! Thats a good way of putting it - he is a happy wee fella, and fit as a fiddle, so I reckon that 'doggy giggles' is a good way of putting it


I know, I'm terrible - I might, just for the hell of it, go and ask how to make some scones on the Food and Drink section - - think I'll get a ban for that?

Our dog is very vocal and has lots of different barks and growls for different situations. And every morning, she runs round to my husband's side of the bed and sneezes/snots in his face. We have no idea why, but it seems to be a 'good morning'.

She doesn't do it to me, just him.

Maybe my dogs have passed it on through successive generations as a command they've taught me but whenever my dogs sneeze at me it means "Yes" or "Yes I want..."
Head turned away to the side means "No".