Submissive smiling is a dog's way of saying, “I just met you, but I humbly respect you.” They use the submissive smile to communicate to other dogs and humans alike that they are not interested in fighting, they want to be friendly.
What most people don't know is some dogs bare their teeth in what's called a submissive grin. This sounds like what your girl is doing. Often during an initial greeting these dogs will pull up their front lip to expose their front teeth.
When your dog exhibits submissive behavior towards you, he is usually trying to show respect and affection. It may also mean he trusts you and is comfortable being vulnerable around you. He may see you as the dominant member of the relationship, but that does not mean you need to change your behavior in any way.
The submissive grin is a tactic dogs use to shut off aggression from another individual, either human or canine. This behavior is commonly seen in greeting situations where the dog is actively soliciting attention in a nonthreatening manner.
Each individual dog will have their own idiosyncrasies. The problem with the “submissive grin” is that it can look very similar to an aggressive “smile” or snarl. Dog's will also pull their lips back to reveal with front teeth when they are about to bite.
Dogs show submissive behaviors in a lot of ways such as lowering their head, showing their belly, putting their tail between the legs or avoiding eye contact. Some dogs even pee on greeting you as an act of submission.
Your dog may show its teeth when smiling at you while letting you know it accepts that you're the leader. It's a sign of respect, not of aggression. You can typically tell the difference by looking at your dog's posture. If it is relaxed, then there's nothing for you to worry about.
Dog Smiles Are Different from Human Smiles
If you see a dog with its mouth closed (or almost closed with teeth showing) and the mouth corners (commissures) drawn back, the dog is likely stressed. This behavior usually is associated with social anxiousness.
Your dog isn't smiling because they find something humorous. Instead, they're smiling because they are calm and relaxed and, because of that, one could venture that your pet is happy. Similarly, some dogs will appear to smile if they are showing submission to their human counterparts.
A happy dog will have a relaxed body posture and often, a wagging tail. Their face will look soft and calm, and if they're playing or running, you'll often see a wide, panting smile. Most dogs aren't particularly subtle when they're happy, and they will reflect your happiness, as well.
Submissive smiling is a dog's way of saying, “I just met you, but I humbly respect you.” They use the submissive smile to communicate to other dogs and humans alike that they are not interested in fighting, they want to be friendly. It's easy for people to mistake a submissive smile for an aggressive one.
Calm, Submissive
When a dog is calm and submissive, her ears will lie back against her head and the tail will droop to the middle position. Her body will appear relaxed. A calm, submissive dog will also frequently sit or lie down, with the most submissive dog placing her chin on her paws or the floor.
Most pet owners know without question that they (and, to a lesser extent, their human family members) have to be Pack Leaders when interacting with their pooch. He should be submissive even to younger children so aggression and other problem behaviors don't arise.
There are many reasons a dog may begin licking to communicate with you. Dogs often lick to tell you they're hungry, they're submissive, or they want to be friends with you. Of course, when your dog communicates with you, it's important that you respond back.
Submissives are concerned with facts rather than emotion, and won't spend time getting to know you on a personal level. In conversation, submissives are serious, direct, and formal and often like to be dealt with at arm's length.
Dogs absolutely can see TV, and many seem to enjoy it. There are a number of features about television shows that dogs find attractive. Some of these are visual, such as motion, while others relate to the sounds coming from the TV. Dog eyes are very different from human eyes, so they see things on TV differently.
According to Animal Behaviorists, 'dogs don't understand human kisses the same way that humans do. ' When kissing a young puppy, you may not notice any signs of recognition at all because they have yet to associate kisses with affection.
This “dog smile” usually occurs in situations when they are relaxed and appear happy, which is why dog owners think it is a smile. These “dog smiles” also often occur in response to a human smile, which is a phenomenon called laughter contagion. Dogs may appear to smile because we smile at them.
Your dog's smile could also be a nervous grin or a sign that your pup is stressed, uncomfortable, or sending a warning. Therefore, when your pup appears to be sending a smile your way, assess their body language.
Until you start looking for it, a 'tongue flick' or 'lip lick' is easy to miss. But once you recognise this signal, you'll realise it's an incredibly common use of body language in your dog's repertoire. And what is he trying to tell you? He's letting you know that he's feeling anxious about what's happening right now.
Dogs choose their favorite people based on positive interactions and socialization they have shared in the past. Like humans, dogs are especially impressionable as their brains develop, so puppies up to 6 months old are in their key socialization period.
Growling during play does not mean your dog is aggressive. It simply means they're having a great time. Your dog might even growl during a particularly pleasing cuddle or patting session. Many dogs growl talk to communicate contentment or as a greeting.