Why do canines yawn?

WHY DO DOGS YAWN?

To be honest, we don’t even know why people or canines yawn. There are a few hypotheses as to why dogs yawn, but regardless of the reason, a yawn from a dog looks the same. Like human yawns, they consist of a wide-open mouth, narrowed or closed eyelids, and a deep inhalation. When they yawn, they may produce a funny sound, like a grunt or a squeak that sounds like a puppy.

Observing the context in which your dog is yawning and reading his or her body language might help you determine the cause of this behavior. So, what are these various explanations for “why do dogs yawn?”?

SOMETIMES THEY’RE JUST SLEEPY!

We automatically assume that a yawning person or dog is tired. In fact, yawning is a common sign that both humans and dogs are either beginning to wake up or are getting ready to fall asleep. After a long day of walks, games, and training, your dog may be overtired and start yawning when they finally settle into bed.

THEY’RE SWITCHING MOODS

There is a strong correlation between yawning and a “change in the state of arousal,” which might mean anything from getting ready for sleep to waking up to experiencing an emotional shift. Your dog may yawn as its body transitions from active to sleeping mode after a long day of play outside and subsequent return to the comfort of the sofa. Your dog may yawn when he or she experiences a shift in state or emotion, such as going from sleep to wakefulness, anxiety to calmness, boredom to excitement, and so on.

Can you tell me why my dog keeps yawning?

What’s making my dog yawn?
We’ll get into why yawning is such a big deal when it comes to canine communication down below.

IT WAS A CONTAGIOUS YAWN

Have you ever caught yourself yawning in response to a friend’s yawn? Individuals who are able to catch a yawn are said to have high levels of empathy and emotional intelligence. The only animals that will yawn in response to seeing another yawn are humans and a few other species. It has been scientifically proven that dogs, like humans, are susceptible to yawning.

When our furry pals see another dog yawn, they catch the habit too. In fact, some puppies will mimic a human’s yawn if they saw one. In other words, if you yawn and your dog yawns in response, that’s an indication that you two are close and that your dog is empathic toward you (adorable!).

For whatever reason, human youngsters don’t “catch” a contagious yawn until they’re around 4 years old. Similarly, puppies don’t exhibit contagious yawning until about 7 months of age, almost the same stage of physical development as a 4-year-old child, demonstrating this level of emotional empathy is tied into a physical stage of development.

SHOWING INDIFFERENCE

Dogs yawn for several reasons, one of which is to express boredom or disinterest. Dogs use yawning as a form of appeasement and relaxation.

Dogs communicate with one another in a variety of ways. Your puppy may yawn to reassure a dominant or aggressive dog that they are safe. Although it’s not a sign of submission, yawning also doesn’t indicate dominance. The phrase roughly translates to “relax out” in dog.

Similarly, if your dog encounters a hyperactive puppy that’s eager to play, your dog may yawn and look away to convey that it’s not interested in engaging in play or social interaction.

The same signals could be communicated to you by your dog. Your dog may yawn and lay down if you try to play with it or if you’re being too harsh on it. But yawning can also be a sign of boredom or exhaustion.

A SIGN OF STRESS

We also know that yawning in dogs is a sign of anxiety. You can tell when your dog is anxious, agitated, or otherwise not feeling comfortable because of the yawning they do.

If your dog yawns whenever you take it to a new location, it may be because it is nervous about what it will find there. Equally concerning is your dog’s excessive yawning in the car while you drive.

WHY DOES MY DOG KEEP YAWNING AND STRETCHING?

Dogs, it is theorized, yawn and stretch for the same reasons as people do. After waking up or getting up from a rest, most people and dogs will yawn and stretch. It indicates that the body is transitioning from a state of relaxation to one of full awareness. Getting up to stretch after lounging for a bit surely feels wonderful too.

Stretching can also be a way to say hello. You’ve probably seen your dog trot over to you and pause when you come downstairs in the morning or after a long day at work, stretching their legs out in front of them, bum and waggy tail in the air. As if in a bow to you, this group says! Stretching out at the start of a conversation is called a “greeting,” and it’s often accompanied with a yawn. In fact, it’s a good omen if your dog stretches and yawns in anticipation of you when you get home because dogs only do this to people they know and trust.

WHY DOES MY DOG YAWN WHEN I PET THEM?

Dogs often yawn to express their distress or anxiety. Your animal buddy may not appreciate a human hug or pet all the time. If they start yawning while you’re snuggling them or shortly afterward, especially if it’s repeated, it’s a sign that you’re making them uncomfortable.

Keep in mind that dogs may not respond the same way to human displays of affection. A dog may yawn to express anxiety because, for instance, a close embrace might be quite frightening to a dog.

As to the question, “Why do dogs yawn?”

The canine yawn begs the question: why?
Keep an eye out for additional signs of discomfort, including as a stiff or rigid body, a low tail, ears pushed back, lip licking, whale eye, and pinned back ears, which could all be your dog’s way of attempting to communicate with you. If your dog is yawning and displaying the aforementioned behaviors, it’s probably nervous about what you’re doing and needs some space.

SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT MY DOG YAWNING?

A dog’s yawn is typically harmless and indicative of nothing serious. If, on the other hand, your dog is yawning excessively or displaying other signs of tension or anxiety, you may need to do an investigation of your home or the surrounding environment to determine the source of their distress.

Talk to your vet if you notice a change in your dog’s behavior to be sure there isn’t a medical issue.