This Is Why Dogs Smile

Yahoo.com - Lifestyle ^ | Dec 12, 2018 | Ashley Moor

[ETL]

One of the things that makes dogs so special is the myriad ways in which they manage to communicate with you. There’s the way they stare at you when you’re eating dinner, the speedily wagging tail when you come home after a long day, and the goofy grin they give you when that belly rub truly hits the spot. But why dogs smile actually has more meaning than you might think.

According to the experts at the ASPCA, a dog’s smile can be characterized as a display of the front teeth, normally paired with a lowered head, wagging tail, flattened ears, a “soft body posture,” or squinty eyes.

While a dog’s smile could indicate that they feel happy around you, according to the experts, in most cases, it actually means that they are showing their submission to you.

In fact, according to doghealth.com, a dog’s smile is merely a gesture of appeasement or nervousness as they attempt to tell you that they like you enough to give you full control over their well-being. In other words, they are indicating, through that smile, that they will not challenge your authority because they like and trust you.

Aside from communicating a sense of fulfillment, a dog can also learn to smile from you, a phenomenon called laughter contagion.

In most cases (whether or not you take notice), according to Purina, your canine pal will often reciprocate your own smile at the moment, grinning back at you to communicate the fact that they consider you a companion.

[ETL]

[a little elbow grease]

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Doggie smiles when you tell him he looks like Winston Churchill.

[C210N]

But smiling is usually a human thing...

[RandallFlagg]

I knew someone who had a droopy-faced Basset Hound.
If I got that dog in an exited and playful mood, she would put out this incredibly hilarious smile. It was SOOO cute!

[laplata]

The more I get to know some people, the more I love dogs.

[RedMonqey]

"This Is Why Dogs Smile”

They can lick their own hind quarters?

[jonsie]

My dogs yawn when they’re happy.

[a little elbow grease]

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Doggie smiles when you tell him he looks like Winston Churchill.

[ETL]

Next question: Why do dogs laugh?

[a little elbow grease]

"Say, what?"

[ETL]

[Farmer Dean]

“Don’t make me come over there.”

[Snickering Hound]

[ETL]

Snickering Hound

[CaliforniaCraftBeer]

[ETL]

Okay, we know why HE’s smiling.

[A Navy Vet]

"...a dog’s smile is merely a gesture of appeasement or nervousness as they attempt to tell you that they like you enough to give you full control over their well-being. In other words, they are indicating, through that smile, that they will not challenge your authority because they like and trust you."

I am so sick of these know-it-all types over thinking everything. Sheesh, most times dogs are just happy to see you and appreciate the affection. Domestic dogs have an inate instinct to love humans.

[Ezekiel]

Because... bacon?

Surely you have a pic (or 2 or 3), Daf.

[Farmer Dean]

Some of the dogs look like they’re lite.

[Concentrate]

In fact, according to doghealth.com, a dog’s smile is merely a gesture of appeasement or nervousness as they attempt to tell you that they like you enough to give you full control over their well-being. In other words, they are indicating, through that smile, that they will not challenge your authority because they like and trust you.

It's like smiling at your boss!