September 9, 2026, 6:54 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Dogs don’t just yawn when they’re tired. This behavior can often be observed in various situations, such as encounters with other dogs or interactions with humans. Experts suspect that yawning in dogs can serve functions beyond tiredness and often occurs as a displacement activity in stressful or conflicting situations. There is also evidence that dogs can catch yawns from their owners. However, whether empathy plays a role in this is still a topic of scientific debate.
Overview
Do Dogs Yawn Out of Empathy?
Scientists have been exploring for several years whether dogs can be prompted to yawn by their owners. A study in 2013 demonstrated that dogs do yawn contagiously when their owner yawns. Since the dogs only exhibited this behavior when they knew the yawning person, researchers concluded that contagious yawning might be a rudimentary form of empathy.
However, Swedish scientists found in their studies that the emotional closeness to the yawning person does not affect the strength of the contagion in dogs. A study by New Zealand researchers in 2020 also concluded that contagious yawning is not a signal of empathy. Even if dogs mimic a human’s yawn, it does not equate to empathy toward humans, the scientists wrote.
Contagious yawning does occur but cannot be attributed to empathy. This view is also supported by dog trainer and behavioral biologist Ariane Ullrich, who considers targeted “contagious yawning” by dogs unlikely.
Yawning Can Serve to Soothe Other Dogs
Dogs naturally display the body signal of yawning not only in their interactions with humans. It is an important part of communication among dogs. When several (unfamiliar) dogs meet, a conflict can arise. In such cases, yawning is used as a calming gesture, explains dog trainer Amy Bender for “The Spruce Pets.” If a dog is very dominant, other, more passive animals signal that they pose no threat. Dogs use yawning as a measure to de-escalate a situation with other dogs.
Dogs Yawn to Relieve Stress
Latent stressful situations can also trigger dogs to open their mouths wide and take a deep breath. A Japanese study from 2013 supports this theory. Sudden, loud traffic noise in the city or other stressors can lead to stress in dogs and trigger yawning. Yawning can therefore be used both to relieve stress and to calm other dogs.
This Cat Behavior Isn’t Always a Sign of Affection
Does Your Cat Groom Itself After Being Petted? Here’s What It Really Means
Yawning as a Displacement Activity?
When dogs find themselves in situations they cannot immediately assess and feel overwhelmed, yawning may follow. This reaction occurs unconsciously, explains dog trainer and behavioral biologist Ariane Ullrich when asked by PETBOOK. The dog’s body is assessing what to do in that moment. This happens in situations where the dog’s decision involves two opposing behaviors, such as choosing between fleeing and attacking. “Then a completely different behavior, like yawning, can occur.”
Dogs Also Yawn When They’re Happy
Dogs don’t just react with wide-open mouths due to stress or being overwhelmed. They can also express happiness this way. An example is an upcoming walk, to which the dog responds not only by wagging its tail and running excitedly back and forth but also by yawning. If the dog was home alone and greets its owner joyfully upon their return, yawning can also occur as a reaction.