Normal Dog Heart Rate

What Is a Normal Dog Heart Rate?

A dog's normal resting heart rate depends primarily on their size. Smaller dogs have faster hearts; larger dogs beat more slowly. Here's the standard reference range:

• Large dogs (over 30 lbs): 60–90 bpm
• Medium dogs (15–30 lbs): 80–120 bpm
• Small dogs (under 15 lbs): 100–140 bpm
• Puppies (under 1 year): Up to 160–180 bpm

These ranges apply to a resting dog. Heart rate naturally rises with exercise, excitement, heat, or stress — always measure when your dog is calm.

Normal Dog Heart Rate by Breed Size

• Great Dane, Mastiff, Saint Bernard: 60–80 bpm
• Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd: 70–90 bpm
• Beagle, Cocker Spaniel, Border Collie: 80–110 bpm
• Pug, French Bulldog, Shih Tzu: 100–130 bpm
• Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese: 100–140 bpm

What Affects a Dog's Heart Rate?

Several factors can temporarily raise or lower heart rate without indicating illness:

• Exercise: Heart rate rises significantly during and after activity — always measure at rest
• Heat: Panting and heat cause elevated heart rate
• Excitement or anxiety: Vet visits, car rides, and loud noises can spike heart rate temporarily
• Sleep: Heart rate drops during deep sleep — this is normal
• Age: Puppies have faster rates; senior dogs may have slightly lower rates

What Does an Abnormal Heart Rate Mean?

Too fast (tachycardia) — above normal range at rest:

• Fever or infection
• Pain
• Dehydration or shock
• Anemia
• Heart disease
• Hyperthyroidism (rare in dogs)

Too slow (bradycardia) — below normal range:

• Hypothermia
• Certain medications (beta-blockers, sedatives)
• Heart conduction disorders
• Severe electrolyte imbalances

Irregular rhythm (arrhythmia): Any skipping, extra beats, or irregular pattern should be evaluated by a vet, even if the rate is within normal range.

How to Check Your Dog's Heart Rate at Home

The most accurate method is using a stethoscope on the left side of the chest, just behind the front leg. Count beats for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. See our full step-by-step guide on how to check dog heart rate at home.

🩺 Recommended Tool: 3M Littmann Cardiology IV Stethoscope — More than 2x louder than standard stethoscopes. Picks up heart sounds clearly even through thick coats.

📲 Recommended Tool: Veterinary Handheld AM1000A-Vet Pulse Oximeter — Gives instant digital pulse rate and blood oxygen readings. Ideal for ongoing monitoring of dogs with heart conditions.

When to Call the Vet

Contact your vet if your dog's resting heart rate is consistently outside the normal range for their size, if you detect an irregular rhythm, or if an abnormal heart rate is accompanied by lethargy, pale gums, coughing, or difficulty breathing. These combinations can indicate serious cardiac or systemic disease.

Final Thoughts

Knowing your dog's normal resting heart rate is a simple but powerful health habit. Check it monthly and log the results — trends over time are often more informative than a single reading. Pair it with temperature, breathing rate, and gum color checks for a complete at-home vital signs assessment.