The smile of a dog is a complex expression that varies according to its disposition and context. The smile is the result of a dog lifting the front portion of his lips below his nose, exposing his front incisors. To understand the true meaning of this expression, you must first understand your dog’s personality.
Submissive grin
A submissive dog grin can be difficult to distinguish from an aggressive dog snarl or smile. The difference lies in how the dog poses and how it expresses its expression. Submissive dog grins are typically accompanied by lowered head posture, wagging tail and squinty eyes. If you are concerned about your dog’s grin, you can consult a behaviorist.
Dogs that smile in a submissive manner let guests know they’re not a threat. Sometimes, they accompany their submissive dog grin with other signs, such as lowered posture, tucked-in tail, and avoidance of eye contact. A snarling dog, on the other hand, may be a dangerous animal. Never approach a dog that is snarling or showing teeth.
Aggressive grin
There are two main types of dog smiles: aggressive and submissive. Aggressive smiles are obvious, but submissive smiles are often misinterpreted by humans. Submissive smiles are often accompanied by a lowered tail, laid-back ears and eyes, and relaxed body posture. While submissive smiles are not common, they do exist, and are closely related to the smiles that humans use to communicate with each other.
Dog grins are a symptom of stress, and stress in dogs often escalates into aggression. Dogs often bite people, and many incidents involve children under seven years of age. Sometimes, a dog will wag its tail, which is sometimes mistaken for happiness, but it can also be a sign of aggression.
Tired smile
When your dog lays down after a long day of work, he’ll probably smile. Aside from the familiar expression, this tired dog’s smile is often accompanied by loose body language, such as wagging his tail or performing the «happy dance.» A playful session or the arrival of his favorite human will likely bring out this grin. A relaxed grin will be evident when the dog is lying down on the couch to relax. It shows that both his body and mind are at peace. It’s a gentle expression.
Another expression that your dog may show is a snarl. This is a different form of the smile; it involves a chin lift that exposes the front incisors. A snarl is not necessarily a sign of aggressiveness; it could be a way to show fear or submission. It may also be an early warning sign of aggression.
Fearful smile
In the video below, a fearful dog is seen smiling, which may not be the most natural behavior, but is actually quite cute. Dogs have a high learning capacity, so a dog’s smile can be converted to a new trick by rewarding the dog with treats. A smile can also be used to calm a dog down when he or she is frightened or anxious.
A dog can also display a fear grimace, which is not to be confused with a smile. Unlike a dog’s smile, a fear grimace will have your dog pulling back his lips and showing off his clenched teeth, which may extend to his molars. The dog’s skin will also crease, which is another sign that he or she is frightened.
