India, April 19 -- If you've ever seen your dog yawn and assumed it was simply tired, experts say that is not the only reason. New insights into canine behavior suggest that yawning in dogs is not just about sleep; it can signal stress, communication, empathy, and even emotional regulation.

Dog yawning is similar to human yawning in that it is characterized by an open jaw and may be a high-pitched sigh or sound.

But in many respects, it can still mean different things than it does for human yawning.

According to a report by Rover, dogs use yawning as a multi-functional behavior that goes far beyond fatigue. While tiredness and boredom remain common triggers, yawning can also reflect how a dog feels in a given situation.

Dr Shannon Bar...