Why The Yawn Before The Treat?

[Jerilyn]

Lila is 10 years old, I’ve had her over 6 years, it’s just the two of us and we have a very close relationship. I trust her completely (and I know the danger of that) and I assume she trusts me – she lets me do anything to her and she looks to me when she doesn’t know what to do.

Every day she gets a biscuit before I leave for work and one before bed. She knows the biscuits are coming and anticipates them. She appears calm before I give them to her, just laying down, not dancing around or anything. But every time, she yawns just before I give her the biscuit. She gets treats at other times during the day and does not yawn before them.

 

I’ve read about calming signals, but it doesn’t seem to make sense in this situation. We are both already calm. Unless she’s not, but it sure doesn’t look like it. So what’s going on in her pointy little head?

[ramonaghan]

I think they sometimes use calming signals in times of great excitement or anticipation. Sweep will yawn before car rides or walks.

[greysmom]

I think it might be the anticipation of getting the treat making her just a wee bit excited, so she yawns.

[XTRAWLD]

I agree with excitement making the yawn. Ryder often yawns before our walk, and I know he's pretty happy about going out every time!

[smurfette]

Sometimes a yawn is just a yawn. She gets a treat before sleeping time and is used to it. That's not a negative thing - just shows how well you know each other.... or your treats are boring (he, he - little joke).

And I often read the references of trust and danger and it makes me so sad. Trust is fundamental in every relationship. First you have to trust yourself to make the right decisions before you can trust another being, be it human or hound. Trust goes with responsibility. We have a saying in Germany - Angst trennt, Vertrauen verbindet (fear separates, trust unites). If you always live in fear you deprive yourself of many beautiful moments and your dog can feel that you don't trust her and in return won't trust you either. Insecurity is the danger and of course irresponsibility.

[Jerilyn]

All I meant by the trust thing is that I do trust her completely and therefore do things like lay on her bed with her when she’s sleeping and hug and kiss her. She enjoys it, but I know that I shouldn’t expect that level of tolerance from any other dog. And she is an intelligent being with her own free will and any day she can decide to react differently.

[LaFlaca]

Wendy will invariably lick her lips when asked, "Wanna cookie?"

[JohnF]

Calming signals do not idicate that there is a problem, they're just reassurance to the person receiving them that the treat 'a really big deal' is being repectfully anticipated. I've noticed that dogs who don't bother with the etiquette are often grabbers.

[Jerilyn]

Calming signals do not idicate that there is a problem, they're just reassurance to the person receiving them that the treat 'a really big deal' is being repectfully anticipated. I've noticed that dogs who don't bother with the etiquette are often grabbers.

 

I like that idea! Lila has very good manners and is not a grabber. A friend says she takes treats like she's taking communion.

[Guest Rainy]

Calming signals do not idicate that there is a problem, they're just reassurance to the person receiving them that the treat 'a really big deal' is being repectfully anticipated. I've noticed that dogs who don't bother with the etiquette are often grabbers.

I think you hit the nail on the head with this. Sounds like she's a well-mannered dog being especially good and polite for her special treat.

 

Mine will often yawn excitedly when I come home from work in the evening as her way of "asking for dinner". Or if she's sitting for a treat in front of me, pointedly turn her head away to show me how good she is (because eye contact is rude).

[Mercsmom]

I think it might be the anticipation of getting the treat making her just a wee bit excited, so she yawns.

 

I agree. A yawn, at least in humans, can occur when the body needs more oxygen (ever wonder why you might yawn when you're all hepped up about something? that's why). Excitement = yarn.

Btw, do you know how many times I yawned reading this thread?