For dogs, stretching doesn』t always mean that they just woke up for a nap, or are trying to get limber before playtime. Stretching is a sign of affection and love towards somebody. When you walk through the door and your dog is stretching when they see you, it』s not because they were sleeping.
They are excited to see you and these kinds of stretches usually look similar to the play bow. So, if you see your dog stretching, go give them some love in return.