What is the normal respiratory rate of an MWD?

• A. 10-30 breaths per minute
• B. 5-15 breaths per minute
• C. 20-40 breaths per minute
• D. 30-60 breaths per minute

Answer: (A)

Normal resting respiratory rate for a Military Working Dog is about 10 to 30 breaths per minute. This reflects calm, unlabored breathing with the chest and abdomen rising smoothly. If the dog is resting but breathing faster than this, it can indicate heat stress, pain, fever, or illness and warrants checking the dog’s condition. Very high rates, such as 30–60 breaths per minute, usually point to panting from exertion or heat rather than normal resting breathing. Rates well below 10 breaths per minute are uncommon in a healthy resting dog and could indicate bradypnea or sedation. In short, 10–30 is the standard resting range; the other values reflect states outside normal rest.