Heart Rate for dogs

Question
I was watching my german shepherd sleep and noticed that his heart rate was not consistent and did not hold a constant pattern like people's do.  Is that normal for dogs?  What is normal for dogs in the 70-90 lb range?  Should I get him checked out?

Answer
Hi Amy, his heart rate was probably not consistent because he might have been dreaming.  Just like with humans, their heart rate can change while they dream.  how old is your dog.  Age also affects heart rate.  A normal aged dog's heart rate should be between 60-80 beats per minute.  Hope this helps,

Dawn