There is no doubt that a dog is truly man’s best friend. These adorable furry creatures are affectionate, loyal, and never fail to bring their human family endless joy and companionship. The pet will stay with you through thick and thin. Dogs are known to imitate what their masters do. It is actually a lot of fun to see that a dog will identify with the master even with a yawn. A teacher who comes home from the office very tired will yawn; the dog can also be seen yawning.

People yawn when they are bored, sleepy, and fatigued. Interestingly, fetuses that are 12 weeks old are seen yawning. However, yawning in dogs does not have a definitive reason. When we see our pets yawn, we take it for granted that their reason for yawning is pretty much the same as the reason we do it.

Scientists have theorized that dogs yawn when bored. If you are an observant pet owner, you will immediately see that the pet is bored. Most of the time the dog will look at you with pleading eyes, yawn, and then drop to the ground. The dog tells you “come on, play with me”

A yawning dog with a tight, stiff body is a sign that the dog is nervous. This reaction is often seen in obedience classes where the dog is pressured. The dog wants to please the owner but does not know how. If you are training your dog and you notice that he is yawning, you better stop. Continuing with the training will not have positive results anyway. Let the dog rest for a while and encourage him with verbal praise.

Excitement is another reason why dogs yawn. Dogs in agility competitions are often noticed yawning. This is the way dogs cope with emotion. A dog at the starting line is ready and eager to climb the obstacle. By yawning, the dog prepares his body for action. Deep breaths fill the lungs and increase the flow of oxygen to the brain. This also increases the heart rate. Really amazing how the dog will cope with situations like this!

Dogs usually yawn because they are tired and sleepy. Yawning is a precursor to sleeping. Dogs like cats sleep a lot, so it will be nothing extraordinary to see your pet yawn.

Studies have shown that yawning is contagious. If you yawn, someone else will too. Dog sitters have taken advantage of the fact that yawning can energize, calm and relax a dog. By yawning, they can induce the pet to yawn as well.