They are his yawning partner. Contagious yawning is more than an indication of sleepiness or boredom. Scientists have found that it is also a sign of empathy, or the ability to mimic the emotional responses of others. Contagious yawning has been scientifically measured in humans, adult chimpanzees, baboons, and dogs.

Yes, just like some other mammals, dogs yawn when they see others yawn! After seeing another dog or person yawn, dogs sometimes contagiously yawn. This “fake” yawn is thought to be involuntary and likely has some evolutionary benefit for dogs. Decoding your dog's yawn does not require years of studying dog behavior.

They're Feeling Stressed Most trainers and behaviorists will advise owners to watch out for signs of stress in their dogs, and one of these signs is often excessive yawning. This is accurate information, as dogs do seem to yawn when they're feeling anxious.

Stress. Yawning can be a self-soothing mechanism, and dogs often yawn when they feel stressed out by the situation around them. Dogs often don't like being around conflict or loud noises, because these can be overstimulating. They may also feel threatened by strange people, kids, pets, or environments.