Pet dogs can 'catch' human yawns

[Willard]

Yawning is known to be contagious in humans but now scientists have shown that pet dogs can catch a yawn, too. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7541633.stm

[Dan Gould]

I haven't tested our dogs for yawning but there's no doubt that they empathize with their "parents" - they don't like it at all if my wife cries, and will immediately come to her and try to give her kisses and make her stop crying. And they do the same thing when I yell at the TV set when Papelbon blows a save or Chris Rix throws an interception - they come over and try to make me feel better.

[GregK]

I always thought this was common knowledge

[Shawn]

I haven't tested our dogs for yawning but there's no doubt that they empathize with their "parents" - they don't like it at all if my wife cries, and will immediately come to her and try to give her kisses and make her stop crying. And they do the same thing when I yell at the TV set when Papelbon blows a save or Chris Rix throws an interception - they come over and try to make me feel better.

I've had a few cats over the years that would do the same thing when I got upset, come and jump up in my lap and try to put their paws on my mouth. Probably just wanted me to shut up.

[Jazzmoose]

I always thought this was common knowledge

No shit. Perhaps next they can test the theory that vision seems to improve during daylight hours...

[BruceH]

I'm still trying to get research funding to test my theory that breezes can be felt better outside.