See Turid Rugaas - calming signals. yawning is classified as a calming signal. first identified is wolves then in domestic dogs as a method of preventing or resolving conflict between each other. they are also used to lower anxiety within themselves when faced with conflict.

Dogs use these calming signals towards people aswell as to other dogs, in turn we can use them towards dogs we are dealing with.

yawning as such cannot be seen as a purley contagious behaviour indicative of a sense of self, it must be viewed in context of the whole situation.

If you shout at your dog to return to you on the park & you use a harsh tone of voice, frequently your body language will match making you appear aggressive to your dog. In turn you dog will try to calm you thus resloving the conflict using any number of calming signals; he may stop & sniff the ground, yawn, walk slowly towards you in a wide curve or even freeze. If you cannot read these signals you will presume your dog is being obstinate & you will become even more irrate at your 'disobedient' dog who inturn displays more claming signals & will more than likely display submissive behaviour once he has returned to you in an effort to prevent you from physically inflicting your aggression on him.

If you lean over your dog & pet on his far side he will turn his head away from you, yawn or lick his nose, these are efforts to resolve the conflict & anxiety he feels & to change your position & behaviour towards him. If you then lean back a little & pet him on the near side he will turn his head back to you & begin panting to show he is now more comfortable & relaxed.

Yawning at your dog conveys a calming signal to him to indicate your anxiety at his behaviour or body language, he in turn will yawn back & change his behaviour/body language in an effort to show you he has read your signal & is behaving accordingly. There are other calming signals pople can use around dogs including waling in a curve, turning the body or head away, sitting, freezing & splitting up.

For more information about calming signals please see Turid Rugaas' website: http://www.canis.no/rugaas/

I am not disputing that dogs may have a sense of self in some way, mearly pointing out that signs & signals from dogs must be taken in context of the whole situation.

As stated above; yawning indicates "some low-level attending to what others feel," how so when even humans yawn for different reasons; one persons yawn may indicate completely different feelings than the yawn of another. (i.e. tiredness compared to the body's attempt to attain greater oxygen intake.)

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