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.

[laplata]

I agree. I don’t like them, and they attract a weird breed of people, too.

[Daffynition]

Our chocolate has the habit of *sighing*; never had a dog that did that. It’s endearing.

[Jonah Hex]

My Shorkie gives me her biggest grin when I come home from work...

[A Navy Vet]

Our Chi-Chi hears the Wife’s car garage open after coming home from work and goes absolutely crazy. She jumps out of a dead sleep, starts running up down the back of the couch, yapping and practically screaming while on her hind legs dancing around. She doesn’t stop until “Mommy” comes in and “Baby-girl” flops are her side for Mommy’s kisses and nails to scratch her. It should be on some show and happens every day - talk about joy!!