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Why Does My Dog Yawn So Much? Here's What You Should Do

Name: Earth Buddy Pet CBD Oil for Dogs
Brand: Earth Buddy Pet
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August 19, 2025

Do you know the difference between a "tired" yawn and a "stressed" yawn? A dog's yawn can mean a lot more than just sleepiness. Read on to find out what your dog is trying to tell you.

Key Takeaways

All kinds of animals yawn, including dogs and humans.
Yawns can be a sign of tiredness, empathy, and may even be done to cool down the brain.
However, dogs may also yawn when stressed, scared, or frustrated.
If you think your dog is yawning from stress, consider using one of our calming dog treats to promote relaxation.
There's an ongoing debate among experts over what, exactly, dog yawning means, which we explore below.

Dog Yawning Decoded

Few things are as cute as a sleepy dog's yawn. But what if we told you dogs yawn for many more reasons besides tiredness?

That might surprise you, but it's true. In fact, even we humans might yawn when we're not tired. Various scientific studies have found that yawning (in humans, dogs, and other animals) might be caused by boredom,¹ empathy,² and even to cool the brain.³

In short, yawning is far more complex than it might first appear. Researchers still don't fully understand all of the purposes of this strange behavior.

However, we do know quite a lot about the reasons dogs yawn. And while it's entirely possible your dog is yawning because they're tired, you shouldn't dismiss their yawns outright.

How to Read Your Dog's Body Language

Sometimes, your dog's yawns could be an attempt to communicate with you. Remember, dogs communicate through body language.

As such, you should pay close attention to your dog's yawns, especially if they are yawning more than usual. What might they be trying to say to you?

dog yawning on grass dog excited both humans dog lets warm room advise owners

Why Does My Dog Yawn So Much?

Your dog's yawns could signify a number of things. We'll cover some of the most common causes of yawns here.

Yawning Due to Stress

Have you ever yawned because you're stressed? No? Well, dogs feeling stress often yawn — and these stress-induced yawns can be contagious.

For example, a study from 2020 examined whether the administration of oxytocin affected how likely dogs were to yawn. Oxytocin is a crucial hormone that regulates the stress response in both dogs and humans.⁴

The study found that dogs given oxytocin were far less likely to yawn than dogs given a placebo. Researchers also noted that dogs who were more likely to yawn were also more likely to lick their lips, another sign of stress in dogs.

All this led the researchers to conclude that excessive yawning can be caused by situational or environmental stress.⁵

Confusion

Another reason for excessive yawning is confusion or frustration. These emotions are closely related to stress. (In fact, some sources define them as types of stress.)

When might you encounter this type of yawn? Well, your dog might become confused and frustrated during training. Perhaps they aren't able to figure out what you're trying to teach them.

That's a stressful situation for a pup! Their favorite person in the world wants something from them, and they can't figure it out. So they may yawn as a form of communication, letting you know they're stressed.

Tiredness

Of course, you'll likely see your dog yawn even in comfortable and familiar environments. They're likely not stressed, so what's the deal?

Well, dogs also yawn due to tiredness, just like us humans. It's possible your furry friend just needs to take a nap!

Bonus: Does Dog CBD Oil Go Bad? Tips to Maximize Shelf Life

three dog playing extensive research physical need anxiety behavior pets pain vet accurate information

Social Bonding

Yawning as a behavior is most often found among animals that form close social bonds. As you no doubt know, dogs form incredibly close bonds, both with other dogs and humans. (And, occasionally, other animals!)

The ability (and proclivity) to form such bonds might be the reason yawning is so contagious. Think about the times you've seen someone yawn. Haven't you felt the urge to yawn yourself?

Interestingly, there's a debate in the scientific community over whether contagious yawning can cross between different species. Some studies suggest dogs can "catch" yawns from humans, while others argue they can't.

In one study from 2008, almost two-thirds of the dogs tested yawned when they saw a human yawning. None yawned when seeing other mouth movements.⁶

In another study, this one from 2012, dogs showed signs of contagious yawning, but only once they were older than seven months. Researchers suggested dogs might have to learn to identify the emotional states of humans before becoming susceptible to contagious yawning.⁷

Yet another study measured the heartbeats of dogs while they yawned. These dogs yawned when they saw humans do so, without any change in heartbeat, suggesting their yawns were not due to stress.⁸

However, one study from 2020 argued that the above findings are controversial among scientists. The researchers in this study found no evidence that the dogs they tested were susceptible to contagious yawning.⁹

Scientists also debate what, exactly, contagious yawning might mean. Some studies suggest it's a sign of empathy.¹⁰ It's nice to think that our furry friends are yawning because they are in tune with our emotions.

But other studies conclude that dogs do not yawn because of empathy at all.¹¹

Don't worry, though. This doesn't mean your dog isn't empathetic at all. Multiple studies conclude that dogs do, in fact, feel empathy for their humans. They just might not yawn because of it.¹²

Excitement

Anticipation or excitement is often considered a sort of positive stress. So it shouldn't be too surprising to learn that dogs may yawn when they're getting hyped!

For example, your dog might yawn before a vigorous play session, or when they're about to go on a walk, or any other occasion that might cause their heart to race.

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How to Respond to Your Dog's Yawning

Your dog's yawns may often be nothing to worry about. It's totally natural to get tired sometimes, or become frustrated, or experience any of the situations that might elicit a yawn.

However, that doesn't mean we should ignore yawns. For example, if your dog seems to be getting confused and stressed during training or obedience classes, you might want to adjust your approach.

Additionally, if your dog is constantly yawning, it could be a sign that they are often feeling uncomfortable. This is especially true if your dog's yawns are accompanied by other signs of stress, as in the study we discussed above, or if your dog is yawning without being tired, excited, or confused.

If this is the case, then we obviously want to help. But how can we do that?

Help Them Manage Stress

If your dog is nervous, hyperactive, discontent, or is generally responding to environmentally-induced stress, how can you help? One great option is CBD. Hemp-derived CBD products can have a calming effect on the nerves, helping your pup cope with external stresses.

CBD also helps support normal emotional balance, promotes relaxation, and can even enhance brain function.

We offer a wide range of high-quality calming supplements, from delicious Duck & Apple Calming Soft Chews to a handy Quick Calm CBD Spray. You can also try our CBDa and CBD oil, which can be mixed into your dog's food or given to them straight from the dropper.

Oh, and there's also our Sleep Support Hemp Extract, which helps promote relaxation.

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Conclusion

Yawning is a natural, normal behavior shared by all kinds of animals, humans and dogs included. It can be a sign of a tired brain, an attempt to regulate body temperature, and a sign that your dog is paying attention to your emotional state.

But dogs also sometimes yawn when they're feeling fearful, to diffuse tension and send calming signals to those around them. If you think your dog is yawning because they're stressed, consider trying one of our calming supplements to help promote relaxation.

Keep Reading: What Are the Benefits of Liposomal Glutathione for Dogs?

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Earth Buddy is an environmentally conscious and family-owned company dedicated to providing natural solutions for pets. From our CBD oils to our colostrum supplements, our products are designed to promote calmness and encourage relaxation for our furry friends. To learn more and stay connected, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.