Do dogs actually "smile"

[gee1111]

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Hi
Im a pro dog carer for many years now and fall more deeply in love with them week by week....just so you know this is not me being cynical:
Ive noticed in doggie posts like on YouTube how often humans attribute the open mouth tongue hanging thing to the dog smiling. I think this could be misleading..eg "oh look, she's smiling its ok"
I invite feedback

 

[JudyN]

Definitely misleading - after all, dolphins never stop smiling, do they?

Having said that, dog-savvy people who know their dogs well can read when their dogs are happy and doing the equivalent of a smile, which can also look like a smile. But it's more about the eyes and maybe the body posture than the mouth.

And then of course there's 'Oh look, they're friendly, they're wagging their tail'

Oh, and welcome to the forum

 

[gee1111]

Great reply which resonnates intuitively.

Dolphins even smile when they are fighting for territory

 

[gee1111]

Bank tellars also smile permaently

 

[Mad Murphy]

Id say its more about eye shape and they way my dogs ears are set that tells me the mood..