Did you know that dogs don't just yawn when they wake up or when they're sleepy? This behavior can have different meanings, depending on the context in which the animal is and the posture it adopts when doing it. For example, if you've ever scolded your furry, you may have seen him yawn while showing your anger with his inappropriate attitude.
As we always mention on our site, dogs mainly use their body language to communicate with their environment and the individuals in it, including their guardians. If you want to better understand the behaviors of your best friend, it is essential to know how to interpret the dog's postures and their meaning, as well as to be attentive to the stimuli that occur in the dog's environment each time a behavior is shown.
Next we will talk about some frequently asked questions in the daily life of many tutors, such as the questions " Why does my dog yawn when I scold him? " or "Why does my dog yawn when I talk to him? ". If you also ask yourself this question or you like to know some curiosities about man's best friends, then we invite you to continue reading this article to discover the answer.
Yawning as calm signals in dogs
Like humans, dogs also yawn when they are sleepy or after waking up. However, yawning is also one of the most obvious calming signals in dogs.
Calm signals in dogs, as their name suggests, comprise various behaviours, expressions and actions that dogs carry out with different purposes. They may try to communicate that they feel calm and have no interest in getting involved in conflicts.
It is also useful for relieving tension or releasing pent-up energy. Likewise, they also use calm signals to express that they feel uncomfortable in certain circumstances or to start an interaction in a positive way, transmitting to their "interlocutor" that they are willing to meet him, among other purposes.
These physical signals are part of dogs' body language Puppies begin to learn it from birth to 3 months of life and They are essential for them to be able to develop their social and emotional skills, thus assimilating the codes of positive social behavior that allow them to interact and coexist peacefully with the other individuals in their herd and their environment.
For example, when a dog has been properly socialized, when meeting another dog in the street, it will perform some of the positive calming signals, such as sniffing the ground before approaching, thus showing your "interlocutor" that you feel calm and are willing to interact with him.
On the other hand, when a dog licks his lips very intensely during a training session or while being petted by his handler, he may be indicating that he needs space. It is as if he is asking us for a time to rest from the stimuli or orders that we present to him
What does it mean when a dog yawns a lot?
Yawning as a sign of calm often indicates discomfort or frustration It can happen when you find yourself in a situation you don't like or don't understand right. If you would like to know why your dog yawns when you hug him, you should know that most dogs do not like hugs, since they feel held back and have the natural need to free themselves from this uncomfortable situation.
Other situations in which the dog yawns
Before answering your question about "why does my dog yawn when I scold him" we want to mention some common situations in which the dog also tends to yawn:
Why does my dog yawn when I talk to him?
In this case you should consider that your dog probably does not understand what you want to sayand this causes him some frustration, since he will surely try to understand you without success. In this sense, we once again reaffirm the importance of learning to communicate better with your dog, remembering that your words must also be accompanied by body language that clearly conveys what you want your dog to understand.
As we mentioned, calming signals can have different meanings, so to interpret them properly, you'll need to pay attention to the context in which they occurand the postures and expressions that your dog adopts when performing them.
Why does my dog yawn when I hug him?
As surprising as it may seem, many dogs do not like to be hugged. This situation creates a conflict for them, since dogs don't like to feel imprisoned, something that we inadvertently provoke when we hug them. Thus, the dog shows its rejection by yawning, accompanied by other signs of calm.
Why does my dog yawn when I pet my dog?
In this case we might suspect that the dog has tired of the petting session and needs us to stop handling him. It could also mean that he does not like the area that we are massaging in particular or that he wants to sleep, for example. In short, yawning usually indicates rejection and discomfort, as you can see.
My dog yawns when I scold him, what does it mean?
Many guardians wonder if it's really bad to scold dogs. If you are also wondering, you should know that punishment is a moment of high stress for your dog, which causes negative emotions, such as fear, insecurity or anxietySeeing you so angry, it is very likely that your dog will carry out some calming signals, such as yawning, licking his lips, turning his head or stretching.
He tries to communicate that he doesn't want to get into a conflict with you.
Also, if you scold after many hours of "misbehavior", it is very likely that he will not understand why you are so upset. He may then yawn to express his frustration or discomfort at not being able to understand what you are asking or expecting of him
In this sense, it is essential to understand that punishments, whether physical or emotional, are not only inappropriate and counterproductive methods in the education of a dog, but they are also dangerous. Finding themselves in a situation of high stress, many dogs can react negatively when they understand that their well-being is at risk, thus adopting aggressive and/or defensive behavior
On the other hand, some dogs may feel such extreme fear in this context that they perform involuntary actions, such as urinating while being scolded by their handlers. It is very important that you be aware of these behaviors, especially if you have adopted a puppy or an adult dog, as they may indicate that your new companion has a history of physical and/or emotional abuseIt can also mean that it has not been properly socialized in its early stages.
In any case, if you suspect that your dog has suffered abuse or has various behavioral problems, it may be advisable to go to a dog trainer or visit a veterinarian specialized in canine ethology.
What should you do if your dog yawns when you scold him?
If your dog yawns when you scold him, the first thing you should do is avoid the so-called "snowball effect" and stop the punishment immediately. If you continue to scold your dog while he is uncomfortable or suspicious, you will only be raising the stress level of the situation even more, thus favoring the development of negative behaviors. Ignoring our dog can cause bond breakage, fear and even the appearance of behaviors related to aggressiveness.
As we have seen, scolding, as well as any type of punishment, are inappropriate, counterproductive and dangerous, so it is necessary to eliminate them from day to day and bet on positive educationBy using positive reinforcement to reward your dog's appropriate behaviors, you will be encouraging him to assimilate and repeat them in his day-to-day life, as well as promoting his cognitive, social and emotional capacity.
It will also be essential that you socialize your dog correctly to allow him to develop positive social behavior that allows him to know how to interact and enjoy the company of other individuals, whether they are people or animals. Ideally, you should start socializing your puppy during its first three months of life, since this is the phase where they assimilate the language and the basic codes of behavior that will be the pillars of their social behavior. However, it is also possible to socialize an adult dog to teach him to relate to his environment, always counting on the patience, affection and help that positive reinforcement gives us.
Last (and not least), we remind you that, when deciding to adopt a dog, you will need to learn to know and respect canine nature. Dogs do not behave (and should not behave) like human beings. They have their own ways of communicating, interacting, and showing affection.
Unfortunately, some owners scold their dogs for carrying out behaviors inherent in their nature, which is not educating but repressing the spontaneous expression of an intelligent living being. So, if you love your dogs and want to provide them with a decent and he althy life, we advise you to know and respect the 5 freedoms of animal welfare.
