There’s a condition in dogs called reverse sneezing. It’s cause by irritation and spasm or the back of the nasal passage and throat. It can sound like your dog can’t breath or can’t catch its breath but it is most often a benign process. There are some similar sounding/appearing problems which can be more serious, but those involve exhaling, not inhaling. If you find your dog in a reverse sneeze fit episode, offering a treat to get it to swallow or carefully pressing down on the base of the tongue can cause the episode to stop more quickly. If you aren’t sure if what you’re seeing is a reverse sneeze, the best plan is to check with your veterinarian.