Why Dogs Yawn, Lick Their Lips and Shake Off
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By Dr Duncan Houston
A yawn during a cuddle, a quick tongue flick when a child approaches, or a shake after grooming can be useful clues to how your dog feels. They are clues, rather than a reliable dictionary of emotions. What happens before and after the movement matters.
Quick Answer
Dogs yawn, lick their lips and shake for several reasons, including ordinary tiredness, food anticipation, wet fur and emotional arousal. Repeated signals alongside turning away, tense muscles or attempts to leave suggest that an interaction may be uncomfortable. Pause and offer space; new, persistent signs accompanied by drooling, pain, vomiting or ear irritation need veterinary assessment.
Read the whole dog and the situation
The MSD Veterinary Manual's account of canine communication explains why posture and context matter. Compare your dog's face, movement and willingness to engage with their usual behaviour. A loose body and the ability to move away are more reassuring than stillness alone.
| What you notice | Possible explanations | Useful response |
|---|---|---|
| A yawn after waking | A normal transition from sleep | Allow time to wake and stretch. |
| Repeated yawns or lip licking during handling | Uncertainty or stress, particularly with avoidance or tension | Stop touching, step back and let your dog choose whether to return. |
| Lip licking around meals | Food anticipation or cleaning the mouth | Notice whether it also happens away from food. |
| A brief whole-body shake | Wet fur or a transition after an exciting or uncomfortable event | Consider the preceding event; one shake does not diagnose anxiety. |
| Repeated head shaking or persistent mouth movements | Ear, skin, oral or digestive discomfort | Arrange a veterinary check, particularly with discharge, odour or appetite changes. |
When the message may be “I need space”
Watch for signals occurring together: turning the head away, leaning away, lowering the body, a tucked tail, a suddenly closed mouth, freezing, growling or trying to hide. A dog can also sniff the ground for many reasons; during a difficult interaction, it may accompany disengagement.
Stop a photo session, hug or grooming attempt if your dog becomes tense. Keep children from following, cornering or climbing on a dog. Never punish a growl: it provides information about discomfort, and suppressing it does not make the situation safe. The MSD guidance on fear and anxiety supports reducing exposure and using gradual, positive training rather than overwhelming the dog.
Do not overlook a medical cause
Persistent lip licking, repeated swallowing, drooling, bad breath or difficulty eating may reflect nausea or mouth pain. Oral disease can cause drooling and appetite loss; these signs should not automatically be labelled stress. Avoid forcing open a painful mouth or putting your fingers into it.
Seek urgent veterinary care for breathing difficulty, collapse, suspected poisoning, inability to swallow, or repeated unproductive retching with a swollen abdomen. Contact your vet promptly for ongoing drooling, food refusal, marked head shaking or a sudden change in behaviour.
A practical response plan
- Pause. Stop the current interaction and give your dog an easy exit.
- Observe. Note the setting, other body signals and whether the behaviour resolves when pressure is removed.
- Adjust. Use shorter grooming sessions, quieter routes or more distance from visitors.
- Build confidence. Pair manageable experiences with rewards and allow rest between sessions.
- Ask for help. A vet can assess pain or illness and advise whether a qualified behaviour professional is needed.
Predictable routines, suitable exercise, uninterrupted sleep and a quiet retreat support wellbeing. Common mistakes include treating every yawn as anxiety, repeatedly testing a dog's tolerance, and assuming a motionless dog is comfortable.
Frequently asked questions
Does a yawn mean my dog is bored?
Sometimes it simply accompanies tiredness. Look at the activity and the rest of the body before deciding what it means.
Is lip licking always an apology?
No. It does not prove guilt or an apology. Food, stress and physical discomfort can all be relevant.
Should I reward a shake after training?
You can calmly allow a break. There is no need to turn every shake into a trained behaviour; check whether the session was too demanding.
Can a video help my vet?
A short, naturally occurring clip can help show the pattern. Do not recreate a frightening or painful event to film it.
Learning your dog's usual behaviour makes small changes easier to interpret. Responding early and calmly helps them feel safer and helps you notice when a health check is needed.
ASK A VET™ supports thoughtful, compassionate pet care. If your dog's signals are new, frequent or hard to interpret, your veterinarian can help you understand the next step.
