Dogs find yawns contagious because they’re in tune with human’s feelings Dogs reportedly find our yawns contagious and not because they’re bored or tired but because man’s best friend is simply in tune with our feelings, it seems. Dogs can recognise human emotions and replicate our yawns to show empathy, say scientists – just as people do.  Researchers tested 35 dogs, aged from four to 14 months, to see if they would yawn when humans did.  Puppies were chosen because human  empathetic ability develops from around the age of four.  The scientists made two main findings. Firstly, it doesn’t matter if the dog knows the person, they will copy any human yawning. And secondly, only dogs aged seven months or over ‘catch’ our yawns.
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Dogs find yawns contagious because they’re in tune with human’s feelings

Dogs reportedly find our yawns contagious and not because they’re bored or tired but because man’s best friend is simply in tune with our feelings, it seems.

Dogs can recognise human emotions and replicate our yawns to show empathy, say scientists – just as people do. 

Researchers tested 35 dogs, aged from four to 14 months, to see if they would yawn when humans did. 

Puppies were chosen because human  empathetic ability develops from around the age of four. 

The scientists made two main findings. Firstly, it doesn’t matter if the dog knows the person, they will copy any human yawning. And secondly, only dogs aged seven months or over ‘catch’ our yawns.

Source: metro.co.uk