Do Dogs Smile When They’re Happy?
We all love seeing our dogs’ mouths curl up into what looks like a smile when we come home, bring them to the park, or smile at them. But are they actually smiling? The short answer: probably not. To learn more about dog smiling and how our furry friends express their happiness, read on!
Masters of Manipulation
While we may think that our dogs are smiling at us out of sheer happiness, what we see as a smile may actually just be an adaptive evolutionary expression. Dogs are masters at observing human behavior and manipulating their expressions and actions based on these observations. We react positively to our dogs’ cute facial expressions, so they’re positively reinforced to keep on smiling! You may think your dog is cute, but they might just be fooling you to get their way. Pretty smart, if you ask us!
Signs of Happiness in Dogs
While our dogs’ “smiles” may not mean what you initially thought they did, don’t fret! There are many other ways that our dogs express happiness. Unfortunately, some of them are pretty subtle. Even just the smallest blink could be a signal from your dog that they’re feeling happy, but you probably wouldn’t notice anything different. Other signs, like tail wagging or a play bow, are more obvious. These signs indicate that your dog is in a good mood and is ready to play! If they’re expressing their good mood to another dog, you’ll notice changes in their whole body. Pay attention to your dog’s body language, rather than just their facial expressions, and you’ll have a better idea of when they’re happy or sad.
Other Possible Explanations for Dog “Smiles”
According to dog experts, there are other possible explanations for doggie smiles. For example, dogs have a “submissive grin” when they are being scolded and they draw their lips back and expose their teeth. When dogs squint their eyes and give their submissive grin, it can look like a smile. In reality, they’re only submitting to your authority. Additionally, when we see smiles, oxytocin is released that makes us feel good. Therefore, we may be interpreting facial signals as smiles when they aren’t actually smiles because we want that extra boost of oxytocin. Whatever the reason behind dog smiles, we’ll still find them adorable!
Dogs may not smile like we do, but they have an entire language of their own. Pay attention to the signals your dog is giving you, and you’ll better understand their emotions and in turn, strengthen the bond that you share.