Is Yawning Contagious In Dogs?

Many studies have been focused on determining if yawning between humans and dogs are contagious. Results showed that yawning was indeed contagious between humans and dogs, even with those they are unfamiliar with. In these situations, yawning was interpreted by animal behaviorists as a form of empathy or social connection with their humans. There were no indications of stress, anxiety, or even confusion. There are also studies that show stress yawns being contagious among dogs. One indicator of stress in dogs is a rise in the levels of cortisol in the saliva. Dogs that were found to have higher salivary cortisol levels yawned more often than dogs with normal levels of cortisol. Suffice to say, a dog’s yawn doesn’t always signify boredom or exhaustion.

If you notice sudden changes in your pet’s health and/or behavior, do make an appointment with an animal hospital Matthews, NC sooner rather than later.

Managing a Dominant Dog

Dominant behavior in dogs is pretty obvious. You may see growling and biting, but your dominant dog may act pushy and stubborn. He may bark or to suit his needs and insist on attention from you. Your dominant dog may drag you by the leash on walks. And your dominant dog resists training. Each dog has a distinct personality, but your dog needs to look to you to be the boss. Insist that he obeys all your training commands and train him with confidence. Deterrents and redirection work well to train your dog on what he isn’t supposed to do. Your dog may challenge your authority, but your training must remain consistent. Insist that rules are meant to be followed. Love your dog, be patient and treat him with kindness while establishing your role as leader. For more information, contact your vet clinic Matthews, NC.