diff --git a/adafruit_led_animation/animation/pulse.py b/adafruit_led_animation/animation/pulse.py
index fdd4a7c..849b457 100644
--- a/adafruit_led_animation/animation/pulse.py
+++ b/adafruit_led_animation/animation/pulse.py
@@ -37,12 +37,18 @@ class Pulse(Animation):
     :param float speed: Animation refresh rate in seconds, e.g. ``0.1``.
     :param color: Animation color in ``(r, g, b)`` tuple, or ``0x000000`` hex format.
     :param period: Period to pulse the LEDs over.  Default 5.
+    :param breath: Duration to hold minimum and maximum intensity levels. Default 0.
+    :param min_intensity: Lowest brightness level of the pulse. Default 0.
+    :param max_intensity: Highest brightness elvel of the pulse. Default 1.
     """
 
     # pylint: disable=too-many-arguments
-    def __init__(self, pixel_object, speed, color, period=5, name=None):
+    def __init__(self, pixel_object, speed, color, period=5, breath=0, min_intensity=0, max_intensity=1, name=None):
         super().__init__(pixel_object, speed, color, name=name)
         self._period = period
+        self._breath = breath
+        self._min_intensity = min_intensity
+        self._max_intensity = max_intensity
         self._generator = None
         self.reset()
 
diff --git a/adafruit_led_animation/animation/sparklepulse.py b/adafruit_led_animation/animation/sparklepulse.py
index efb0d1d..2132005 100644
--- a/adafruit_led_animation/animation/sparklepulse.py
+++ b/adafruit_led_animation/animation/sparklepulse.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class SparklePulse(Sparkle):
     :param int speed: Animation refresh rate in seconds, e.g. ``0.1``.
     :param color: Animation color in ``(r, g, b)`` tuple, or ``0x000000`` hex format.
     :param period: Period to pulse the LEDs over.  Default 5.
+    :param breath: Duration to hold minimum and maximum intensity. Default 0.
     :param max_intensity: The maximum intensity to pulse, between 0 and 1.0.  Default 1.
     :param min_intensity: The minimum intensity to pulse, between 0 and 1.0.  Default 0.
     """
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ class SparklePulse(Sparkle):
         speed,
         color,
         period=5,
+        breath=0,
         max_intensity=1,
         min_intensity=0,
         name=None,
@@ -56,6 +58,7 @@ class SparklePulse(Sparkle):
         self._max_intensity = max_intensity
         self._min_intensity = min_intensity
         self._period = period
+        self._breath = breath
         dotstar = len(pixel_object) == 4 and isinstance(pixel_object[0][-1], float)
         super().__init__(
             pixel_object, speed=speed, color=color, num_sparkles=1, name=name
diff --git a/adafruit_led_animation/helper.py b/adafruit_led_animation/helper.py
index 126ea74..822a74c 100644
--- a/adafruit_led_animation/helper.py
+++ b/adafruit_led_animation/helper.py
@@ -322,7 +322,8 @@ def pulse_generator(period: float, animation_object, dotstar_pwm=False):
     :param animation_object: An animation object to interact with.
     :param dotstar_pwm: Whether to use the dostar per pixel PWM value for brightness control.
     """
-    period = int(period * MS_PER_SECOND)
+    period = int((period + (animation_object._breath * 2)) * MS_PER_SECOND)
+    breath = int(animation_object._breath * MS_PER_SECOND)
     half_period = period // 2
 
     last_update = monotonic_ms()
@@ -338,7 +339,11 @@ def pulse_generator(period: float, animation_object, dotstar_pwm=False):
         last_pos = pos
         if pos > half_period:
             pos = period - pos
-        intensity = pos / half_period
+        intensity = animation_object._min_intensity + ((pos / (half_period - breath)) * (animation_object._max_intensity - animation_object._min_intensity))
+        if pos < half_period and pos > (half_period - breath):
+            intensity = animation_object._max_intensity
+        if pos > (period - breath):
+            intensity = animation_object._min_intensity
         if dotstar_pwm:
             fill_color = (
                 animation_object.color[0],