What is a normal heart rate for a dog?

A dog’s heart rate is one of the simplest vital signs an owner can check, yet it often tells more than you might expect about fitness, stress, or early illness. Learning what to look for and how to act can make the difference between an ordinary next-day check and an urgent trip to the clinic.

What your dog’s heart rate reveals about their health

As a veterinarian I routinely see owners who pick up subtle changes in their dog’s behavior but are unsure how to interpret them. Knowing a normal heart rate gives you a baseline to compare against when a dog seems “off” — less active, more panting, or unusually quiet. That baseline can help you spot early signs of disease, assess recovery after injury or surgery, and decide whether a situation is an emergency.

Certain dogs benefit more than others from routine checks. Puppies have faster rates and may tolerate brief spikes that would worry you in an older dog. Senior dogs are more likely to develop heart disease or arrhythmias that change resting rate. Brachycephalic breeds (short-nosed dogs) often show higher rates with mild exertion because of airway resistance, and athletic dogs may have very slow resting rates because their hearts are conditioned. Tracking heart rate is useful for training progress, monitoring recovery after illness, and quickly recognizing emergencies like heatstroke or shock.

Finally, a resting heart rate recorded under consistent, calm conditions provides a personal wellness reference. I typically see owners who bring a note of several readings taken over a week; that simple record often speeds diagnosis and keeps discussions with the veterinarian focused and practical.

Typical resting heart rates for dogs — by size and age

Below are approximate resting heart-rate ranges you can use as a quick reference. These are typical resting values for calm dogs — rates will normally rise with activity, excitement, or stress.

• Adult small breeds (under ~20 lb): about 100–140 beats per minute (bpm).
• Adult medium breeds: about 80–120 bpm.
• Adult large and giant breeds: about 60–100 bpm.
• Puppies: often 120–180 bpm, with the youngest pups sometimes higher.

As rough thresholds to watch: a sustained heart rate well above the upper end of these ranges may suggest tachycardia (fast heart rate) and one well below the lower end may suggest bradycardia (slow heart rate). For practical guidance, persistent resting rates above ~160–180 bpm in most adult dogs or below ~50–60 bpm in large breeds usually warrant prompt veterinary attention, but context matters — a trained athlete with a low resting rate may be normal for that individual.

Inside the canine heart: how it pumps and why rate matters

The heart pumps blood by contracting rhythmically; stroke volume (the amount of blood ejected with each beat) times heart rate equals cardiac output, which is the total blood delivered each minute. If stroke volume falls — because of dehydration, poor heart contractility, or certain diseases — the body often compensates by increasing heart rate to keep tissues supplied with oxygen.

Two branches of the autonomic nervous system regulate rate: the sympathetic system increases rate and contractility (the “gas pedal”), while the parasympathetic system slows rate (the “brake”). When a dog is excited, stressed, or exercising, sympathetic tone rises and heart rate increases; during sleep or deep relaxation parasympathetic tone predominates and the rate slows. This balance is why heart rate can be a sensitive but non-specific indicator of many different states.

Oxygen delivery is linked to metabolic demand. Fever, pain, or activity increase oxygen needs and generally raise heart rate. Age, fitness, and chronic disease change baseline physiology: older dogs may have stiffer hearts and less reserve; fit dogs often show lower resting rates because their stroke volume is greater; cardiac disease may blunt appropriate increases in rate or produce irregular rhythms.

Common triggers that make a dog’s heart rate change

Not every rise or fall in heart rate signals a problem. Exercise, excitement, being handled, or a trip in the car commonly produce temporary increases. I often tell owners to wait at least 10–15 minutes in a quiet room before taking a resting measurement to avoid confusing excitement with illness.

Non-exercise causes that raise rate include fever, moderate-to-severe pain, dehydration, anemia, and some endocrine problems (for example, an overactive thyroid in rare canine cases). Many medications — stimulants, some inhalants, certain bronchodilators — may elevate rate, while sedatives, beta-blockers, and some antiarrhythmics may lower it. Toxins such as caffeine or certain plants can also affect rate and rhythm.

Environmental factors play a role. Heat stress raises rate; a dog that has been running in the sun may show a very fast rate that slowly falls with cooling and rest. Time of day matters as well: many dogs have lower rates during nighttime rest and higher rates during daytime activity.

Red flags to watch for — warning signs of a dangerous heart rate

Some changes should prompt immediate veterinary assessment. A persistently very high heart rate at rest (especially above ~160–180 bpm in an adult), or a very slow rate below expected for the breed and size, may indicate a systemic problem. Collapse, marked weakness, fainting, or unresponsiveness are red flags and require urgent care.

Watch for breathing signs that accompany rate changes: labored breathing, prolonged or frequent coughing, blue or pale gums, or a dog that cannot be roused. Irregular or very rapid rhythms that you can feel as erratic pulses — or a pattern of repeated fainting spells — are concerning. Those signs may suggest arrhythmias, severe dehydration, shock, or acute heart failure and usually merit emergency evaluation.

If you’re worried: clear, practical steps owners can take

1. How to find and count a pulse: place your hand gently on the side of the chest behind the front leg to feel the heartbeat, or palpate the femoral artery inside the thigh between the groin and the leg. Count beats for 15 seconds and multiply by four for a quick estimate, or count for 30 seconds and double the number. Do this when the dog is calm, standing or lying quietly.
2. Record context with each reading: note the dog’s activity level in the previous 10–15 minutes, ambient temperature, any medications or known medical problems, and the exact number of beats per minute. A short note such as “resting, cool room, 92 bpm” is often enough to be useful at a clinic.
3. When to call the vet: call your regular veterinarian if the resting rate is consistently above or below the typical range for your dog’s size or if you see worrying signs like collapse, fainting, labored breathing, pale gums, or persistent cough. Go to an emergency clinic right away if the dog is unresponsive, repeatedly collapsing, or has severe breathing difficulty.
4. Basic first-aid steps: stop activity immediately, move the dog to a cool, quiet area, and remove tight collars. For suspected heatstroke, cool the dog gradually with tepid water and fanning — avoid ice-cold water which can cause shock. If you suspect poisoning, keep any packaging and call your vet or a poison control service. Provide the clinic with your recorded heart-rate numbers and the context when you arrive.

Training and environmental tips to keep your dog’s heart steady

Long-term strategies reduce risky spikes and support heart health. Introduce exercise gradually: for dogs starting a fitness program or returning from illness, increase duration and intensity slowly over weeks. Structured conditioning that includes walk intervals, controlled play, and rest days is more heart-friendly than sudden sprints.

Heat avoidance is critical. Plan walks for cooler times of day, provide shade and fresh water, and know early signs of heat stress. Behavior and stress reduction—through desensitization to triggers, predictable routines, and positive reinforcement—can lower baseline sympathetic tone in anxious dogs and reduce unnecessary heart-rate spikes.

Weight control matters: carrying extra pounds increases the heart’s workload. Regular preventive care — vaccinations, parasite control, bloodwork as recommended for age and breed — helps catch conditions that may affect heart performance before they become severe.

Home monitoring tools: collars, apps, stethoscopes and what they tell you

A few safe, practical tools can help owners track heart rate. A basic stethoscope allows you to listen to heart sounds at home; with practice you can confirm rate and note obvious murmurs, though interpretation of subtle findings is best left to a veterinarian. I often encourage owners to learn simple auscultation at a clinic visit so they feel confident using a stethoscope at home.

There are wearable heart-rate monitors made for dogs; devices specifically tested and validated in dogs are preferable to human fitness bands because fit and motion artifacts differ. Some veterinary practices use ambulatory ECG monitors (Holter monitors) for persistent problems, but those are prescribed and interpreted by vets.

Pulse oximeters can provide useful information about oxygen saturation and pulse rate, but on furry paws or thick-coated digits readings can be unreliable. If you use one at home, treat values cautiously and focus on trends or very low saturations rather than a single borderline number. Finally, keep a simple logbook or use a tracking app that lets you export notes to your veterinarian — a series of readings over days is far more informative than a single measurement.

Which experts to consult — your vet, cardiologist and when to escalate

For individual concerns, your primary-care veterinarian is the best first step; they can do a focused exam, listen to the heart, take bloodwork, and recommend imaging or specialist referral if needed. For complex cardiac disease or arrhythmia management, a board-certified veterinary cardiologist (an ACVIM Diplomate) offers advanced diagnostics and treatment plans.

Reliable background material is available from professional bodies and textbooks. Patient-facing pages from the American Veterinary Medical Association give useful overviews, and detailed clinical guidance can be found in Merck’s Veterinary Manual. For research and specialist guidance, peer-reviewed articles in journals such as the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine and consensus statements from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine provide deeper review and recommendations.

References and further reading

• Merck Veterinary Manual: “Cardiovascular System — Clinical Evaluation” (Merck Veterinary Manual, section on cardiac auscultation and vital signs)
• ACVIM Consensus Statement: “ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs” (Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, guideline document)
• AVMA Client Education: “Heart Disease in Dogs — Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatment” (American Veterinary Medical Association client resources)
• Kittleson, M.D. “Small Animal Cardiovascular Medicine” (textbook reference for clinical cardiology and physiologic principles)
• Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine review articles on ambulatory ECG monitoring and canine arrhythmias (selected peer-reviewed reviews)