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Questions
- Why does my dog stick their tongue out?
- Why does my dog stick the tip of his tongue out?
- Should I be concerned if my dog’s tongue is always out?
Our beloved pets do a whole host of behaviours we may not fully understand. Every dog’s behaviour is entirely individual so while your dog might do it quite frequently, it can cause other puppy parents to scratch their heads. There is usually a reasonable explanation for most things our dogs do. Sometimes it’s a behaviour that is instinctually part of them or something they have learned to do for a reaction.
Dogs can do all kinds of things if they learn that it gets them a positive reaction. For example, dogs who ‘smile’ are appeasing. On a behavioural level, they show their teeth like that because they’re worried, however, if a puppy does this and gets an immediate chorus of cooing and attention, they may learn to do it to grab attention. Our canine companions are smart so it’s always interesting learning about why they do the things they do.
Why does my dog stick their tongue out?
Dogs stick their tongues out for several reasons and while we might think it’s just absolutely adorable, it often serves a purpose too. Whether it’s to express how they’re feeling or to help them cool off, we have everything you need to work out why your dog sticks their tongue out in different ways.
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While they are sleeping
When our beloved companions sleep, they are in a state of complete and total relaxation. A dog sleeping with their tongue out is similar to if humans sleep with their mouth open. Sometimes the best sleep you will ever have is an open-mouthed nap when you are utterly exhausted and it’s no different for our canine companions.
The tongue is made up of a set of extremely movable muscles. Even when we aren’t aware, it’s often doing something like helping us swallow or communicate and it’s the same for our pets. When your pup sleeps then they generally aren’t using any of their muscles and the deeper the sleep, the more those muscles relax. Just like us, their jaw can relax as well and when that happens, their tongue is able to poke between their teeth. You might only see a little bit or the whole thing can be lolled out to the side but both means that they’re just having a great nap.
When you pet them
One of the most common reasons for a dog to pant is to cool themselves down which can happen in a number of situations. Unlike humans, they can only sweat in very few areas and their bodies are not the best at cooling off when they get too hot. If they were to sweat across their whole body their coat would become damp and it wouldn’t benefit them. When they get too hot, they tend to breathe quicker with an open mouth and their tongue out to the elements. For your pooch, this is a much easier way to cool themselves down because the cooler air can come into contact with their tongue and help to lower their body temperature.
When you pet your pup, they often get excited. We are one of the most important resources to our canine companions so attention from us is very exciting for them. An exuberant round of petting can leave them a little warm and so they will often stick their tongue out to combat their rising body temperature and cool off. Similarly, if you’re petting a dog that is unfamiliar to you, panting can also be a sign of stress. Stress will also cause a dog’s internal temperature to rise and they will pant to cool down in the same way. Being able to tell if a dog is anxious or excited when you pet them is all down to understanding their body language.
Why does my dog stick the tip of his tongue out?
If your pooch is only sticking their tongue out a little, this could be because they are nice and relaxed or they could be deep in concentration. If they’re flopped over on their side or happily sunbathing, it’s pretty safe to assume they’re relaxed. If they’re staring out a window or watching a squirrel in the garden, they’re often just concentrating and not thinking about what they’re doing with their tongue.
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If your pup is taking in deep breaths while their tongue is poking out a little and their upper lip is curled back, this is called a flehmen response. Many animals do this to help take in a smell. It amplifies the scent by drawing it up into the vomeronasal organ to get more information about it. If your dog seems to be taking nice deep breaths with their tongue out, they could be doing this.
Should I be concerned if my dog’s tongue is always out?
If your dog’s tongue is often out, there may be nothing to worry about. If you lead an active lifestyle then chances are you may see your dog’s tongue more than someone with a more sedentary lifestyle might. If you have a working breed who is rarely still and doesn’t like to snooze the day away, you may notice that they’re panting more often than less high stress or active breeds.
However, if you feel like your dog’s tongue is always out, there is a small chance they could have hanging tongue syndrome. This is something a dog is usually born with rather than develops and is usually due to anatomical or neurological defects. If you notice that your puppy’s tongue is out all the time, a vet check is a good way to rule out anything you may need to be worried about. Most of the time it’s because we tend to breed dogs with very short noses that cause their tongue to be too long so it can hang out.
If your pooch undergoes a dental where several teeth are removed, this can be the cause of their tongue always being out too. Teeth help the tongue to stay in the mouth, especially the longer canines so when these are removed you often see dogs with their tongue falling out the side of their mouth. It can sometimes be a little dry but offering plenty of water and keeping them hydrated will help to look after it.
For more advice about your canine companion’s quirks, discover the rest of our blog articles here.