Your dog yawns while you scold them. They lick their muzzle when a stranger approaches. They turn their head away when you stare at them.

Many owners see these gestures as unimportant details, or misinterpret them (boredom, stubbornness, provocation, or disobedience). In reality, the dog may simply be communicating.

They use a set of sometimes very subtle behaviors to manage social tension, express discomfort, avoid escalation, or try to maintain a peaceful interaction.

As humans, we do the same thing constantly. We sometimes look away during an uncomfortable conversation, we smile to ease tension, we take a slight step back when someone gets too close, or we cross our arms when we feel uneasy. A large part of communication happens through non-verbal language.

Dogs also largely communicate through these body signals. They don't have words to express their discomfort or ask for an interaction to slow down. So they use their body, postures, movements, or certain facial expressions to convey information to other dogs or the humans around them.

Understanding these signals is not an oversensitivity or a whim. On the contrary, it is an essential basis for correctly reading canine body language and avoiding punishing a dog when they are precisely trying to de-escalate a situation.

A dog who turns their head away, yawns, or licks their lips is not necessarily disobedient or stubborn. They may simply be saying that they are uncomfortable, that they need distance, or that they are trying to make the interaction calmer.

Learning to recognize these signals often makes it possible to intervene before the situation truly escalates. Many conflicts, fear reactions, or bites do not come out of nowhere: dogs have often communicated their discomfort long before the drama. Better understanding their language therefore improves the daily relationship, reduces misunderstandings, and gives the dog the opportunity to be heard before they feel obliged to use more pronounced and potentially violent responses.

What Science Establishes

The term "calming signals" was popularized by Turid Rugaas, who used it to describe a set of social behaviors observed in dogs, particularly in contexts of tension, conflict avoidance, or peaceful communication.

Her work has had a major influence in the world of dog training. However, it is important to be rigorous: it was originally a framework for applied observation, not a universally standardized experimental nomenclature in scientific literature.

The most directly useful scientific data is the study by Mariti et al. (2017), published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior. The authors analyzed interactions between dogs to evaluate the function of several behaviors usually categorized in this group.

Their conclusion is cautious but important: some of these behaviors appear to have a communicative function and can contribute to de-escalation after an aggressive signal or during a socially uncertain interaction. The authors themselves recall that this is a pilot study, which means that its results should not be taken as an absolute rule.

In other words, science does not say that every yawn is a calming signal, nor that all behaviors often presented to the public are validated in all contexts.

It rather supports the idea that certain subtle canine behaviors have real social value, appear in situations of tension or uncertainty, and can modify the dynamic of an interaction.

However, not all dogs use them in the same way. Individual history, socialization, morphology, and past experiences can influence how a dog communicates. Some signals will be very visible in some individuals and much more subtle (or different) in others.

In a way, dogs share a common body language, but each individual has their own behavioral "accent." Just as humans use the same general rules of communication without all expressing themselves in the same way, context and the individual remain essential for correctly interpreting these behaviors.

What These Signals Truly Mean

The most important thing to understand is that these behaviors often have a dual interpretation.

On one hand, they can reflect an internal state: tension, uncertainty, discomfort, or motivational conflict.

On the other hand, they can have a relational function: slowing down the interaction, diverting attention, reducing social pressure, or signaling a non-confrontational intention.

These two functions are not contradictory. A tense dog can communicate their discomfort, and this communication can influence the other dog or human by reducing the risk of escalation.

This is also why several behaviors described as "calming signals" also overlap with signs of stress or discomfort described in scientific literature.

Therefore, two mistakes should be avoided:

• considering these behaviors as innocuous;

• considering that they alone prove significant suffering.

They primarily indicate that an element of the situation deserves closer observation.

The same behavior can have multiple functions depending on the context. The dog's entire body language must be taken into account, not an isolated signal.

What This Means in Practice

Among the frequently cited behaviors are:

• yawning outside of obvious fatigue;

• turning the head or gaze away;

• licking the muzzle or lips outside of an eating context;

• approaching in a curve rather than a straight line;

• sniffing the ground in a socially tense context;

• shaking off after an interaction;

• certain postures aimed at reducing body size;

• sometimes paw lifting in a context of uncertainty.

It is important to understand that these behaviors derive their meaning from their context.

A yawn after a nap does not have the same meaning as repeated yawning during a reprimand, a veterinary examination, or an uncomfortable encounter.

Similarly, sniffing the ground can simply be exploratory activity, but it can also sometimes contribute to avoiding or reducing a tense social interaction.

Therefore, it is not the isolated gesture that matters, but its timing, repetition, and the other behaviors that accompany it.

The study by Mariti et al. (2017) supports this: certain behaviors appeared more frequently during interactions involving social uncertainty or aggressive behavior from the other dog.

What Is Often Misunderstood

"He's yawning because he's bored."

Not necessarily.

In a tense, socially charged, or uncomfortable context, yawning can be one of the behaviors associated with stress, uncertainty, or social regulation. The context remains crucial.

"He's turning his head away because he doesn't care."

This is a common mistake.

Turning the head can help avoid a direct confrontation, especially when a human leans over the dog, stares at them, or adopts a socially assertive posture.

Punishing this behavior as disobedience sometimes amounts to sanctioning an attempt at peaceful communication.

"He's licking his lips because he's hungry."

In the presence of food, this is possible.

Outside of this context, especially when the behavior is brief, repeated, or associated with other signs of tension, it may be related to a situation of discomfort or uncertainty.

"My dog never does that kind of thing."

This is relatively rare.

These behaviors are often very subtle and humans perceive them poorly or not at all. The study by Mariti et al. (2012) also shows that owners do not always correctly recognize signs of stress in their dogs.

For Which Dogs Is Reading More Difficult?

All dogs can exhibit these types of behaviors, but they are not always easy to identify.

In some dogs with modified morphology, particularly brachycephalic breeds, certain facial expressions may be less visible.

In poorly socialized dogs, the behavioral repertoire may be less readable or less effectively used.

In environments with a high density of interactions, such as some shelters, animal-assisted intervention facilities, or very demanding contexts, the first signs of tension can be extremely subtle and easily missed.

This is also why professionals working with therapy or assistance dogs must be trained to recognize early signs of stress before more obvious manifestations appear.

When to Consult

It may be helpful to seek support when:

• the dog frequently exhibits these behaviors, including in usually neutral situations;

• they seem constantly vigilant, avoidant, or uncomfortable;

• early signals are quickly followed by flight, freezing, or aggression;

• the owner has difficulty interpreting what the dog is expressing;

• daily interactions become tense or unpredictable.

In this context, a veterinary behaviorist or a professional working with non-coercive methods can help distinguish between simple sensitivity, chronic stress, misreading of signals, or an established behavioral problem.

Sources

1. Rugaas T. On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals. 2nd edition, 2006.
2. Mariti C et al. Analysis of the intraspecific visual communication in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris): A pilot study on the case of calming signals. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 2017.
3. Mariti C et al. Perception of dogs’ stress by their owners. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 2012.
4. Beerda B et al. Manifestations of chronic and acute stress in dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 1997.
5. Townsend L, Gee NR. Recognizing and Mitigating Canine Stress during Animal Assisted Interventions. Veterinary Sciences, 2021.