On 9/11 (my first clue), I adopted Mya...she was 1 year 2 months old.  We started off walking about 2 miles per day; but, after a month or so we were walking 4 miles per day.  (however, I learned that a bath would relax her enough so that I could work so there have been a few bath days!)

While we're walking, her breathing seems a bit heavier for about 2 miles but much heavier after that. Once we get home and she lays down, her breathing is SOOOOO heavy.  There is even a deeper sound she makes.  Then after about 30 minutes, she gets back to normal. We were just WALKING!

She also does this at the dog park but it almost seems normal to me then because she is playing and running.  Yes, other people comment on how heavy she breathes. I've calculated our walking-rate to be about 3 miles per hour...not earth-shattering.

I've taken her to get looked at twice but she isn't breathing hard when they see her...just a bit heavier but that is normal at the doctor's office) I've now taken a video so I can show her vet.  That deeper sound she makes doesn't really come through on it though.

Yesterday someone said I should stop walking her until a vet sees her again.  If I don't walk her...nothing gets done and we are both miserable!

Thank you for all ideas, comments or concerns.
Pat

Is she coughing at all? Has she ever been tested for heart worm?

My little girl breathes hard on walks, she's a little thing though, and she hunts and sometimes pulls so I've kinda written it off as those things being the cause. I still keep an eye on it but it seems "normal" for her.

In addition to the questions that Jimmy asked I would also like to know how warm it has been when she breaths this way. It definitely takes time to build up any endurance. My latest addition doesn't have the stamina of my other two yet so if we do more than a couple miles he's working pretty hard to breathe sometimes while they are still fine, that being said, my dog is believed to also suffer from allergies induced asthma. It could be that your dog is having an asthma attack, especially if you see reverse sneezing during the labored breathing. I would go to the vet and instead of waiting in the waiting room to see a doctor tell them that you are going to be walking your dog around the building if possible. When they are ready for you to come in they will come out and find you (mine does). While you are outside jog around the parking lot or around the side of the building to try and get her breathing up where maybe she will make the sound for your vet.

She has been tested for heartworm and results were negative. She does not cough when she's breathing hard.

I live in northern California so at this time of year, it is much warmer than it has been. However, her breathing has been hard all along.

We've been walking about 4 miles for the past 7 months.

I like the idea of walking while we are at the vets waiting to get in to see him. I will try that.

Thank you for the ideas!
Pat

I have a bernessie husky mix runs about 10 km a day and the end trip is a body of water which he loves walking/swimming in to cool down I'd imagin. It's -50 here in the winter and he loves it won't come inside

<< laughing >> what's he do when he hits that "water" at a -50? Got pictures? I'd love to see pictures of him in summer and winter!