Understanding your dog’s body language

There are two ways dogs communicate. Firstly, vocalisation and secondly, through body language. If you can understand these it will help you understand your dogs emotional state.

In this article I’m focusing on yawning.

When your dog is not sleepy or relaxed she/he may yawn lots of short yawns. This can be a signal of stress and anxiety. They are trying to tell you something - hey I am uneasy, a bit unsure, starting to feel anxious. By yawning, your dog can help release a little of this tension they are feeling in the moment. “I NEED A BREAK!”

Here is an example:

When I take Tippy, my 4 year old Cavoodle, to the groomer she starts to YAWN lots of short yawns as we get to the salon door. This is followed by two front paws on my thighs and flipping of her tail. Sometimes she lets out a little cry.

Her body language is telling me a lot about how she is feeling. I bought a doggie hair dryer for home and I have worked out that when the dryer is blown near her face she doesn’t like it. She loves water and doesn’t mind being dried on her legs and body but anywhere near her face she starts yawning and wants out.

This is so helpful as when we go to the groomers I advise Lara (our excellent groomer) that if she yawns a lot and tries to sit, just stop and leave her face.