Why Do Dogs Lick Their Lips and Yawn?

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 17, 20263 min read

Lip licking and yawning are everyday behaviors, but they can also be early warnings. Learning to tell them apart helps you spot stress before it escalates.

Ordinary reasons

• Lip licking: after eating, when anticipating food, or when nauseous.
• Yawning: tiredness, waking up or boredom.

If a dog licks after a meal, no mystery. If a dog yawns after a nap, no problem.

As stress signals

Dogs may lick their lips or yawn when they feel uneasy, tense or conflicted. These may be called calming signals, behaviors that may help reduce tension, or displacement behaviors, which appear when a dog is torn between options. See dog stress signals checklist.

When to suspect stress

Look at context and other signs:

• Repeated, quick lip licks without food
• Yawning in tense moments, such as at the vet
• Turning away or avoiding eye contact
• Panting without heat
• Tucked tail or lowered body
• Freezing or slow movement
• Whale eye. See what is whale eye in dogs

Examples

• A dog being hugged yawns and licks his lips.
• A dog at a crowded event licks lips repeatedly.
• A dog told off lowers head and yawns.
• A puppy in class yawns when overwhelmed.

What to do

• Pause and reduce the trigger.
• Give your dog space.
• Speak softly.
• Offer a break or a quiet place.
• Reward calm behavior.
• Avoid scolding, which adds stress.

During training

If your dog yawns or licks lips during training, the session may be too hard, too long or too intense. Make the task easier, take a break or end on a success. See how to end dog training sessions well.

Medical reasons

Excessive lip licking, drooling or swallowing can signal nausea, dental pain, allergies or digestive upset. If it is frequent and unrelated to stress, talk to your vet.

Do dogs yawn when we do?

Some studies suggest dogs may yawn in response to human yawning, and this contagious yawning may relate to social bonds. The research is still developing.

Common mistakes

• Assuming yawning means tiredness.
• Ignoring repeated lip licking.
• Pushing through stress.
• Overlooking medical causes.

Real-life examples

A dog at the groomer licks his lips each time the dryer turns on. A puppy yawns repeatedly in a loud training class. A rescue dog yawns when a visitor reaches out to pet her. Each case is a subtle request for less pressure. In contrast, a dog who yawns and stretches after a nap is simply waking up.

Troubleshooting

• Constant lip licking at home: check for nausea, dental pain, or allergies with your vet.
• Licking air or surfaces: can be a sign of digestive upset or compulsive behavior.
• Yawning during training: shorten the session and make the task easier.
• Yawning when you approach: soften your approach, turn sideways and avoid direct eye contact.
• Lip licking at night: may be reflux, so talk to your vet.

A simple plan

1. Note when the behaviors happen and what is going on.
2. Look for patterns, such as sounds, people or places.
3. Reduce the intensity of the trigger, or add distance.
4. Pair the trigger with rewards at a level your dog can handle.
5. If it continues, ask your vet and a qualified behavior professional.

Why it matters

Early signals are your chance to help before fear grows. Dogs who feel heard tend to cope better with the world.

Helping dogs who signal often

If your dog regularly shows these signals in daily life, make a short list of the situations: vet visits, crowds, certain people or noises. Then work on one at a time. Start far from the trigger, reward calm, and move closer only when your dog stays relaxed. Keep sessions short and end on a good note.

The takeaway

Lip licking and yawning can be ordinary or meaningful. Read the context and other signals, and respond with care.