Does Your Dog Yawn When You Do?

[lizbud]

Oreo yawns when I do, too.

A trainer once told me that for dogs, yawning and lip licking are self-calming behaviors. She suggested that if Oreo is nervous about a new sound or person and if she looks at me to "check in" or for reassurance, that I should fake a yawn. She said this would show Oreo that I'm calm and that she doesn't have to worry about the new thing either. It does seem to work! She usually sees me yawn, then yawns herself, and then lies down. Internesting!

Wow, that's funny because I tried that too when Smokey was going
through a bad time & it worked. I got to be pretty good at faking yawns.