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🇦🇷 Argentina /Health & Science

Dog trainer Tony Silvestre: “When dogs sneeze, they are not sick, they are expressing a mood”

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • French dog trainer Tony Silvestre says dogs often sneeze while playing, relaxing or receiving affection as a form of emotional communication.
  • A sneeze can also occur before enjoyable routines, such as going for a walk, or after water enters the nasal passages.
  • Persistent sneezing accompanied by loss of appetite, low energy or fatigue should prompt a veterinary consultation.

A dog’s sneeze does not necessarily signal illness. In many cases, French dog trainer Tony Silvestre says, it expresses the animal’s emotional state.

“When a dog sneezes, it is not sick, but expressing a mood,” Silvestre says. The trainer, known on Instagram as @esprit.dog, urges owners to examine the situation before assuming a respiratory problem.

When a dog sneezes, it is not sick, but expressing a mood.

· Tony SilvestreThe dog trainer’s central explanation for sneezing linked to emotional well-being.

Dogs may sneeze while playing with their owners, relaxing in a calm environment or receiving affection. Silvestre says the animals sneeze because they are happy, triggering an internal process that releases air pressure and helps restore comfortable breathing during moments of excitement.

Dogs sneeze because they are happy; this activates an internal process that makes them sneeze.

· Tony SilvestreSilvestre explains why dogs may sneeze during play or other exciting moments.

Positive anticipation can produce the same reaction. A dog may sneeze just before an enjoyable routine, such as going for a walk. Owners can assess the wider body language: a calm gaze, a fluidly wagging tail and a relaxed posture suggest that the sneeze reflects contentment. Silvestre jokes, “If it does not sneeze, it means it does not love you.”

Veterinary guidance also recognizes external causes, including water entering the nasal passages after swimming or drinking. But repeated sneezing alongside loss of appetite, listlessness or fatigue requires attention. If the behavior has no connection to play or excitement, the owner should consult a veterinarian. Other signs of well-being include relaxed ears, playful behavior and showing the belly while lying on the back, which indicates trust and a lack of fear.

If it does not sneeze, it means it does not love you.

· Tony SilvestreThe trainer jokes about sneezing as a sign of affection and positive emotion.
About this summary

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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