Relaxation Signals are the "body language" that shows the dog is settling into rest. Reading them in real time is one of the most important skills for a trainer or owner.

The most common signals (from the most subtle to the most obvious):

Slower breathing — from fast and shallow to slow and even.
Longer blink — the eyes close for a fraction of a second longer than usual.
Yawn — controlled, not spasmodic.
Position change — from an alert sphinx pose to a side-lay, paws tucked under, hip shifted to one side.
Head dropping onto the paws or the floor.
Sigh — a long exhale.

Important: Relaxation Signals can look similar to stress signals (lip-licking, yawning fit both). Read them in context — if the dog is lying calmly on the mat and yawns once, that's relaxation. If the dog is standing tense in front of the vet's crate and yawns in a series, that's stress.

Rewarding Relaxation Signals (with a treat placed quietly under the nose) reinforces the emotional state, not just the behaviour. This is the foundation of work with anxiety, reactivity, and over-arousal.