Do you think dogs can smile?

[M&M's Mommy]

Do you think dogs can & really do smile when they're happy (the same way we smile when we're happy)??, or it is just their natural facial expression that look like a smile to us?. I had a discussion with two of my co-workers this morning. Both of them hold a doctorate (Ph.D) degree in science, and both have dogs, but both said that doggies don't smile, they're just simply "showing their teeth" . The discussion stems from a batch of pictures I sent to them with the tittle "Smiling dogs" featuring my dogs' beautiful smiles.

They think I'm nut . I think they're bigger nuts What do you think?

For me, I still think dogs can & do smile, because it is not possible to look at this picture and think they cannot!.

[Aspen and Misty]

I don't think Dog's smile like we do. However, since liveing with Konnor I find that his eyes change a lot more then people's eyes do. When he is happy, sad, hyper or any other emotion you can read it all in his eyes, I just love it.

I love that picture of Muffin!

Ashley

[moosmom]

When I was growing up, we had Airedales that smiled AND whispered. So yeah, I think they can smile (and whisper).

[Kfamr]

She sure has the prettiest smile I've ever seen!

[Taz_Zoee]

How bout this for proof? Kay, post a picture, like the one you already did, obviously showing Kiara smiling. Then post another picture of Kiara not smiling. I would, but it'd probably take me a while to find the pictures.
I think Nala and Kiara have the best smiles. And M&M's Mommy, all three of your doggies are always smiling in your pictures.

[dukedogsmom]

They most certainly can. My Duke had such a beautiful smile *sigh*

And here's double smiles

What would you call this?

[cyber-sibes]

Of course they smile. Every dog lover knows that!
Maybe they don't flash a smile like humans, or force a smile lif they don't feel like it, but they smile. I can tell the difference between open mouth panting & smiling - they smile when they are very content. And I agree, their eyes are very expressive, too.

[chocolatepuppy]

Here's Lacey with a happy smile...

and a silly smile...

and if this isn't a smile on RB Mandys face, I don't know what is...

my Layla doesn't seem to smile much.

[abbersmom]

Definately...

Smiling...


NOT smiling...

[Kfamr]

What would you call this?

That's what I call a big goofball! Thanks for posting those, bittersweet memories.

[Suki Wingy]

Dals do!
Most other breeds, no. It doesn't mean the same thing. My dog can just be hot and "smile" even though he's really bored. He is the best smiler, he does if all the time! My sig has my favorite picture in it.

[Canis-Lupess]

Some dogs do learn to deliberately smile by copying humans. Normal panting wouldn't be classed as a smile even if it looks like one although dogs do have what they call a laughing pant where they pant with mouths quite wide and eyes wide open when they are excited but not hot. If I do this back to our dogs, they get really excited.
None of the dogs in this thread are doing the deliberate smile. They just look like that simply because they are panting or they are laying in a position that makes their lips fall back. Parrots and other birds always look like they are smiling too because of the shape of their beaks...doesn't mean they are though.


But for actual smiling, dogs will stretch the back corners of their mouths back to reveal all of their teeth like humans do. Our Mist did this a few times and one of her other daughters, Tess, also used to smile. Some dogs open their mouths to do this also but many keep their mouths closed.
We also had a terrier that smiled at me once. Showing all his teeth whilst I was fussing him. I was only a younger teenager and it took me by surprise at first but then I realised what he was doing. An aggressive teeth showing would be quite different because the dog pushes the back corners of it's mouth forward so you only see the teeth at the front. A smile copied from humans is totally different.

Many dogs never learn to do this deliberate smile copied from people but quite a lot do. They see us pull this particular face and associate it with when we are pleased or excited and so they try to copy it in certain situations.

No doubt the dogs above are content and happy but those smiles aren't deliberate smiles copied from humans.

It would be interesting if somebody had managed to photograph their dog when it smiles deliberately.