Why Do Dogs Yawn?

Give this little test a go today. Sit close to your dog, get their attention and make a slow, large yawn. Then wait. There is a fair chance your dog will respond with a yawn.

What's happening? Does your dog feel sleepy, bored or copying you? A dog's yawn can have many meanings and that is the simple answer. Fatigue is just one of them. How you can tell which one you are seeing.

When a dog yawns, it is similar to when humans yawn, with a wide open mouth, a deep inhale and then a deep exhale. The reason for animals yawning remains a mystery. In dogs, however, a "yawn" is another means of "talking," without using words. To read it, note what is happening around your dog.

Dogs tend to yawn when they are tired, typically when they are moving between rest and activity. Consider a yawn right after waking, or just before going to sleep. Body is loose, face is soft. If your dog yawns, stretches and curls up, it is just ready for sleep.

This is the odd one out. Yawning helps dogs to relieve stress. Trainers refer to it as a calming or pacifying signal.

Imagine two dogs come together and one begins to be a little pushy. The other dog can turn its head and yawn. It is not giving up. It's saying, "I don't want a fight." This is what wild dogs and wolves do as well.

They may do the same if voices are loud around the house.

Occasionally, a dog's yawn is an indication that it is feeling uncomfortable. It could be a self-soothing mechanism for the dog. It may be seen at the veterinarian's office, in an overcrowded area, or during a thunderstorm.

Rarely a stress yawn will show itself without the presence of other symptoms. Watch for other clues, such as:

If you notice multiple of these, then your dog is not sleepy, but rather anxious.

Do you find your dog yawning while training? It may not be bored. When a dog doesn't know what to do or is being pushed, it's common for them to yawn.

If this occurs, keep sessions shorter and make it easier.

Not all yawns are worrying. Some pups yawn when they're about to have fun. You may see it upon picking up the leash and just before play time. The tail wags, and the body is bouncing.

Let's go back to that test we started at the beginning. Dogs really can "catch" yawns from humans.

A study published in PLOS One studied 25 dogs. The dogs observed humans making movements with their mouth or yawning. After seeing real yawns they yawned more. They also yawned more when their owner yawned as compared to a stranger. They did not have increased heart rates, which indicates that the yawns were not stress-induced.

This aligns with the theory that dogs may experience some type of empathy, the researchers said. But, it's not confirmed and your dog may yawn back because it feels close to you.

Less exercise and brain games = more doggy yawning. If a dog is dull and restless, a daily walk or sniffing game or puzzle toys can help.

It is normal for a dog to yawn occasionally. There is a difference with lots of yawning, particularly during short bursts. Frequent yawning may be associated with stress, discomfort or pain.

If the yawning is accompanied by any of the following, call your vet:

Read the setting and the body, then act:

So, what is the reason behind dogs yawning? They may be fatigued at times. But many times the yawn means something. It can imply "I'm uncomfortable," "Let's stay cool," "I am excited" or even "I feel close to you." Observe the moment and the body language and soon your dog's yawns will begin to be meaningful.