Dog Yawning: Should You Be Concerned?

A dog yawning is an otherworldly sight! Our furry friends don’t try to hide their yawns just to be polite! They open their mouths fully and yawn while looking into your eyes! As humans, we marvel at their freedom. But why do dogs yawn?

Yawning in dogs and humans has been a mystery for many years. Several theories have been put forward. Is this a way to get more oxygen into the body? Does it indicate boredom or tiredness?

We now know that dogs yawn as a form of communication. Experts suspect dogs use it to relieve stressful situations and let others know they’re anxious. They may also be tired, so calm yourself down before bed.

Why Do Dogs Yawn?

Dog yawns look a lot like human yawns—they open their mouths wide and take a deep breath. It is usually accompanied by high-pitched sounds.

The reasons why dogs yawn can be divided into physical reasons and emotional/social reasons.

The Physical Reasons Dogs Yawn

Some recent research by renowned neuroscientist Robert Provine suggests that yawning serves multiple bodily functions. It may stimulate the nervous system before the body asks for it. Yawning may also help to “cool down” the brain if its temperature is elevated.

The overall finding is that yawning may help the body transition from one state to another. That’s why you’re most likely to see your dog yawn when he wakes up and before falling asleep. Many other animals, including humans, yawn when they are tired. So, your dog may just be tired.

Yawning is also common when dogs become calm after being very active or anxious and alert after bored.

The Social and Emotional Reasons Dogs Yawn

It is believed that yawning is part of a dog’s body language. In particular, this is likely to be a reassuring gesture, so the dog will yawn in an attempt to dismiss a potentially threatening situation. They do this to calm the situation and deflect the threat.

That’s why you might see your dog yawn when another dog approaches while they’re trying to avoid a conflict.

It can also be a sign of stress and anxiety, so you might see your dog yawn when you take your dog to the vet, or during a fireworks display or thunderstorm.

Here are the main things your dog might be trying to say when he yawns:

#1 They Are Stressed

You can tell if a dog’s yawn is a sign of stress by considering what your dog is doing at the time and evaluating other body language. So, yawning in an obviously stressful situation means your dog may not be coping well. So, can dogs possibly feel stressed? There’s actually a long list, but probably at the top of the list are veterinarians, kennels, and all kinds of new environments, people, animals, and experiences.

Stressed and anxious dogs may also pace and jump around walls or people, or try to hide. Take a good look at your dog. Do they lower their ears and tail and raise their paws? Are they panting or licking their noses? These are all signs of stress in dogs.

#2 Empathy and connection with other dogs

Dogs sometimes yawn reflexively, which means they yawn when they see another dog yawn, almost as if it’s contagious. Exactly why they do this is not fully understood. However, we know the same thing happens in many other mammals, including humans. All of these animals live in social groups and, most importantly, depend on them for their survival. So it was likely a gesture of sympathy and a way to bond with other wolf pack members.

#3 Empathy and connecting with humans

The subject of human-dog interaction and communication is both fascinating and controversial. A great deal of research is currently being done in this area, but scientists have yet to draw any firm conclusions. Part of the study was to see if dogs catch yawns in humans in the same way they catch yawns in other dogs.

Several studies have found that dogs seem to yawn in response to humans yawning, regardless of how stressed they are. Further research found that dogs were more likely to “catch” the yawns of humans they were familiar with, supporting the theory that dog yawning is related to empathy.

However, recent studies have failed to find any evidence for this. Clearly, we still have a lot to learn about yawning and empathy in dogs!

#4 They feel uncomfortable

Have you ever noticed your dog yawns when you cuddle him? This usually indicates that they are not feeling well. Some dogs love being cuddled, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be happy to let you cuddle anytime. Other dogs simply don’t like this form of physical contact!

It’s important to remember that hugging is not part of a dog’s natural behavior or body language. Dogs show affection in other ways, such as licking. So, if your dog shakes and yawns after you cuddle them, they’re trying to relieve the tension they’re feeling. In short, they tell you to take a step back!

#5 Connect with others

Many dogs find unfamiliar situations threatening. Recent research conducted by the University of Guelph College of Veterinary Medicine in Ontario found that dogs are more likely to yawn in unfamiliar situations if their owners are around. It’s like dogs yawning to tell their owners they’re scared.

This supports the theory that dogs use yawning as a form of communication in social groups, like other humans they trust.

What to do if your dog is yawning a lot?

Are you concerned because your dog is yawning too much or more than before? The good news is that yawning is not a sign of a dog’s physical illness or condition. So, here are some potential reasons.

• tired. Is your dog tired? Are they getting enough sleep?
• pressure. Are there other signs of stress and anxiety you can observe in your dog? Are they facing situations that you know they are stressful about?
• anxiety. Do you have a dog with general anxiety? Do they need some help coping with their anxiety?
• tension release. Is your dog getting enough opportunities to let off steam? Is there room for them to put a zoom lens?
• avoid confict。 Is your dog constantly encountering other dogs they perceive as threatening? Are they showing other signs of submissiveness?
• Need downtime? Do you have kids who constantly fuss over dogs? Do they need some time alone to relax?

How to Help a Yawning Dog

One of the most important things you can do to fix this is to give your dog more control over their lifestyle. This means that you should never force interactions with people or other animals.

Do not leave your dog in a situation where they are clearly uncomfortable. Yawning won’t hurt you, but it may develop into more aggressive behaviors, such as growling or even biting. Here are some other things you can do:

Find out what’s stressing out your dog and work on it

All dogs are different. A situation that doesn’t upset one dog can completely terrify another. As their owner, it’s your job to give your dog exercise. If they feel that something is stressful, such as going to the vet or watching fireworks, take steps to help them cope. Gradual exposure is a tried and trusted method that involves using rewards to replace negative associations to certain triggers with positive ones. Get the help of an animal behaviorist or experienced dog trainer if necessary. You may need to avoid certain situations until your dog gets over his fear.

Give your dog a personal space

Dogs need to be left alone sometimes, which is especially important if you have young children who don’t understand canine boundaries! Make sure your dog has a comfortable bed, or even a crate to relax them in. You may sometimes want to cover the crate to make your dog feel extra safe.

provide plenty of exercise

Dogs love to let off steam, so take them to a safe place and let them run around. Grab a toy and play catch with them so they can go further than you!

Know Your Dog’s Body Language

Learn how to recognize when your dog is anxious, stressed, upset with strangers or needs a break. It is your responsibility to protect them from the things that scare them! If your furry friend is frightened, it’s rude to ask people not to come near your dog!

Next: