05/09/2024
Language of a Yawn
Yawning is one of the many signals that dogs use to calm themselves or others down when they’re feeling stressed or uncomfortable.
Neuroscience shows that yawning is also triggered during moments of transition from one behavioural or emotional state to another - waking up, falling asleep, moving from being relaxed to alert or from an anxious to a calm emotional state.
Although we may be unaware of it, we also use types of calming signals. Think about the kind of body language we might show when we’re in a situation that doesn’t allow us enough personal space, like getting into an elevator with a group of strangers.
We may instinctively not face anyone directly, look down at the floor, watch the indicator buttons, focus on our phone and avoid any eye contact - these are all “calming signals” that people use to prevent any potential conflict.
If you notice more yawning than usual, or yawning in a specific situation, look into what may be causing this.
A yawn caused by stress is usually longer, more intense, with the tongue curled up at the end.
Sometimes there is so much more to a yawn than we may think.
