Guest Labradork Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 (edited) This story was on SBS World News tonight. I couldn't find anything about it on the SBS website, but I found the same story on the American ABC news website... http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/10/bone-tired-study-shows-yawning-dogs-empathizing-with-owners/ Bone Tired: Study Shows Yawning Dogs Empathizing with Owners Weve all heard that a dogs bark can be worse than its bite, but what about its yawn? It turns out that aspect of canine behavior may provide evidence that dogs really are mans best friend. A study out of Lund University in Sweden found that our canine companions often yawn in reaction to seeing a human do the same thing. The phenomenon, known as contagious yawning, is prominent among many groups of animals, humans included. However, the process, which is believed to indicate empathy and help contribute to group mentality and social structure, has been less studied between species. Elainie Madsen, a doctor of psychology at Lund University who co-authored the study, told ABC News dogs were chosen because they spend so much time with us, and we spend so much time with them. For those of us who have dogs, she said, we often feel this very close connection with them, and we feel that they must understand or sympathize with our emotions and our emotional states. The study took 35 dogs between the ages of 4 and 14 months and exposed them to various yawning human beings. Madsen found the results fascinating. We showed that the dogs were yawning contagiously not just yawning but they also took on the emotion that yawning usually signifies, which is usually sleepiness and tiredness, she said. As with humans, age proved to be a significant factor in whether or not a dog exhibited contagious yawning. They go through what seems to be an empathy development that somehow mirrors humans empathy development, so its just obviously on a very different time scale, Madsen said. Human children dont begin to yawn contagiously until theyre about 4 years old. Below that age, they seem pretty immune to others yawning at them. In dogs, this happens when theyre about 7 months old. Dogs below that age dont seem to yawn, either. So what does this mean for dog owners? According to Madsen, its a reason to rest assured that your dog really does love you as much as you love it. Dogs really have a close emotional connection with people, she said, with owners as well as with other people. :) Edited October 28, 2012 by Labradork Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 (edited) I think I read this somewhere, I tried it on one of my dogs and he yawned when I did :D ETA: tried another few times, he does it every time :laugh: Edited October 30, 2012 by Aussie3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Labradork Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 (edited) I tried it on my Lab and she didn't yawn. She just went straight to sleep and started snoring :laugh: Edited October 30, 2012 by Labradork Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 I tried it on my Lab and she didn't yawn. She just went straight to sleep and started snoring :laugh: That means it was super effective, she bypassed the yawn and went straight for the sleep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Labradork Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 I tried it on my Lab and she didn't yawn. She just went straight to sleep and started snoring :laugh: That means it was super effective, she bypassed the yawn and went straight for the sleep Cool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke GSP Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Not sure if I dreamt this but from memory I think there was a book that i used to have that stated that yawning was a calming signal for dogs similar to licking your nose (you licking your nose not the dog licking yours or you licking the dogs ) i think that if you had a dog that was stressed or getting a little excited it was recommended that these calming signals were a way of saying hey dog, chillax :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Not sure if I dreamt this but from memory I think there was a book that i used to have that stated that yawning was a calming signal for dogs similar to licking your nose (you licking your nose not the dog licking yours or you licking the dogs ) i think that if you had a dog that was stressed or getting a little excited it was recommended that these calming signals were a way of saying hey dog, chillax :) Sounds like Turid Rugaas (and I am very likely to have spelt that wrong) 'On talking terms with dogs : calming signals'. Meanwhile, I am trying to figure out how I can lick my own nose, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I do this often ..esp when waiting in a vehicle..dogs are busting to get out ..so we do the yawning thing , and just relax .... (with cats . as a calmer.....try a really slow closing of both eyes a few times ) :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke GSP Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Not sure if I dreamt this but from memory I think there was a book that i used to have that stated that yawning was a calming signal for dogs similar to licking your nose (you licking your nose not the dog licking yours or you licking the dogs ) i think that if you had a dog that was stressed or getting a little excited it was recommended that these calming signals were a way of saying hey dog, chillax :) Sounds like Turid Rugaas (and I am very likely to have spelt that wrong) 'On talking terms with dogs : calming signals'. Meanwhile, I am trying to figure out how I can lick my own nose, lol. Thats the one. great book. I just lick my top lip, close enough for rock and roll :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizT Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 I read somewhere years ago that anthropolgists believe that yawning is a signal that predates language as we know and understand it to mean. "This is where we stop and rest". "Days end" Tools down". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Not sure if I dreamt this but from memory I think there was a book that i used to have that stated that yawning was a calming signal for dogs I've heard the same thing. In fact, I've got a list of strategies that were recommended to use with shy, under-confident dogs when they're stressed, and that's among them. I know that if I poke out my tongue to our tibetan spaniel girls, they poke their tongues out, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaCC Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 I read somewhere years ago that anthropolgists believe that yawning is a signal that predates language as we know and understand it to mean. "This is where we stop and rest". "Days end" Tools down". Yea I heard somewhere that contagious yarning was originally a greeting, apparently you won't yawn back to people if you don't like them I don't know about anyone else but I yawn just reading about yawning! But I do know that yawning lets you intake more oxygen than a normal breath :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Aussie Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Our old Chi x (RIP) would stick his tongue out if we made a kissing noise at him :laugh: everytime without fail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdogs Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Studies suggest yawning is a sign of empathy: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/contagious-yawn.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Labradork Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 (edited) Studies suggest yawning is a sign of empathy: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/contagious-yawn.htm I have often thought that myself. It reminds me of the part in E.T. when Elliot first brings E.T. home and they are getting to know each other. Very sweet. Edited November 22, 2012 by Labradork Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 “Dogs really have a close emotional connection with people,” she said, “with owners as well as with other people.” Now that's a radical new observation !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Labradork Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 (edited) “Dogs really have a close emotional connection with people,” she said, “with owners as well as with other people.” Now that's a radical new observation !!! I know I don't need scientific proof of the emotional connection I have with dogs - as a dog lover/owner I have firsthand experience of this. But sometimes I think it's nice to be reminded of it. Edited November 22, 2012 by Labradork Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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