{"id":18706,"date":"2026-11-06T10:12:40","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T18:12:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/?p=18706"},"modified":"2026-11-06T10:12:42","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T18:12:42","slug":"do-dogs-smile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/do-dogs-smile","title":{"rendered":"Do Dogs Smile? The Science and Evolution Behind It"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"18706\" class=\"elementor elementor-18706\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1cc213 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a1cc213\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33d36ff elementor-widget elementor-widget-jffd_callout\" data-id=\"33d36ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"jffd_callout.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"jffd-callout jffd-callout--quick\"><span class=\"jffd-callout__title\">The quick answer<\/span><div class=\"jffd-callout__content\"><ul><li>Dogs <strong>can make smile-like expressions<\/strong>, usually a relaxed, slightly open mouth with a visible tongue, but these aren\u2019t the same as human smiles.<\/li><li>A grin signals comfort only when paired with <strong>soft eyes and loose, wiggly body language<\/strong>. An open mouth alone doesn\u2019t mean a dog is happy.<\/li><li><strong>Lips pulled tightly back<\/strong>, pinned ears, and a stiff or crouched body point to a fear grimace, not a smile. A \u201cguilty\u201d grin is a response to your voice and body language, not a confession.<\/li><li><strong>Read the whole dog<\/strong>: mouth, eyes, ears, tail and posture, compared with what\u2019s normal for your dog.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"jffd-callout__note\"><strong>Safety note:<\/strong> If your dog stiffens, turns away or shows the whites of his eyes, give him space.<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e508aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6e508aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When your dog lies upside down for a belly rub, is that a smile you see on her face? Along with the relaxed body language, that goofy grin looks like a smile, doesn\u2019t it? But a dog\u2019s grin can mean different things, and the face only tells part of the story.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dogs can make expressions that resemble smiles, especially when they\u2019re relaxed or playing, but they\u2019re not the same as human smiles.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this article, you\u2019ll learn what\u2019s behind that open-mouthed expression, the different types of canine grins and how to tell if your dog is happy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h2>Can dogs really smile?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4313fa3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4313fa3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"365\" src=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/happy-white-dog-in-meadow-looking-upward-2026-09-23-21-06-01-utc.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-18708\" alt=\"Do dogs smile?\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/happy-white-dog-in-meadow-looking-upward-2026-09-23-21-06-01-utc.jpg 800w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/happy-white-dog-in-meadow-looking-upward-2026-09-23-21-06-01-utc-300x137.jpg 300w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/happy-white-dog-in-meadow-looking-upward-2026-09-23-21-06-01-utc-768x350.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5db9da6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5db9da6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A dog smile can look like a human grin, with a relaxed, slightly open mouth and a visible tongue. When it accompanies soft eyes and loose body language, it can signal contentment and relaxation. Purdue University\u2019s College of Veterinary Medicine veterinarians <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu\/resource\/canine-body-language\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">identify these as signs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of a relaxed pooch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if your dog\u2019s body language is stiff or he is turning away from you, he may be in discomfort. You know your dog, so watch for such typical signs of stress.<\/span><\/p><h2>Why dogs smile: the science and evolution behind it<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do dogs smile? Like humans, they use facial muscles to move their lips and turn up the corners of their mouths. These create that grinning expression.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those muscles also offer clues about how dogs\u2019 communication changed as they moved into our homes and took over our beds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers at Duquesne University and Slippery Rock University <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC11967504\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">compared facial-muscle tissue<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from six dogs and four gray wolves. The dogs\u2019 sampled muscles generally had more fast-twitch fibers, which help produce quick facial movements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That difference offered a clue to how living alongside humans may have changed dogs\u2019 expressions, though it doesn\u2019t tell us whether your pooch\u2019s grin means she\u2019s happy.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learning may also play a role because a dog who gets attention for a grin may learn to repeat it.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-258523c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"258523c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/happy-brindle-dog-smiling-on-a-park-bench-2026-09-23-02-28-43-utc.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-18709\" alt=\"Dog smiling\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/happy-brindle-dog-smiling-on-a-park-bench-2026-09-23-02-28-43-utc.jpg 800w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/happy-brindle-dog-smiling-on-a-park-bench-2026-09-23-02-28-43-utc-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/happy-brindle-dog-smiling-on-a-park-bench-2026-09-23-02-28-43-utc-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3afe424 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3afe424\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Types of dog smiles and what each one means<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dogs can have different types of smiles depending on what\u2019s going on. Your pup might look blissful rolling around in something stinky with his tongue hanging out the side of his open mouth and have a completely different smile when you come home from work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3>Relaxed, happy smile<\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your dog\u2019s mouth hangs open and her tongue peeks out with easy, wiggly body language, those are classic signs of a comfortable dog.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You might see this expression when your dog brings you a toy to play with or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/why-do-dogs-sploot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sploots<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> beside you while you watch TV. If your pup always <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/why-does-my-dog-steal-my-spot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">steals your spot<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/why-does-my-dog-follow-me-everywhere\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">follows you everywhere<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, look to his body language and expression for clues as to how he\u2019s feeling.<\/span><\/p><h3>Submissive or guilty grin<\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some dogs pull their lips back, revealing their front teeth. This can be an appeasement gesture if it&#8217;s accompanied by a lowered head, soft eyes and a loose body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspcapro.org\/resource\/canine-body-language-tips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ASPCApro<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> recommends looking at your dog\u2019s overall body language to assess how she feels. If your dog is also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/why-do-dogs-lick-you\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">licking you<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, she may be looking for affection.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why do dogs smile when guilty? That apparent grin may be a response to your voice or body language.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A crouching dog with a lowered head next to the chewed sneaker isn\u2019t necessarily feeling guilty or confessing. He\u2019s responding to you.<\/span><\/p><h3>Fear grimace<\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a dog\u2019s lips are pulled tightly back, it can look a little like a smile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What does the dog\u2019s accompanying body language look like? Pinned-back ears and a crouched or stiff body indicate a stressed, unhappy dog.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes fear and submission can overlap. If you\u2019re holding your dog for a photo and she looks away and stiffens, it\u2019s best to give your dog a break. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9d2fcb elementor-widget elementor-widget-jffd_cta\" data-id=\"e9d2fcb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"jffd_cta.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"jffd-cta\"><div class=\"jffd-cta__body\"><span class=\"jffd-cta__eyebrow\">Formulated by vets<\/span><div class=\"jffd-cta__headline\">Vet-Support Meals with balanced nutrition<\/div><div class=\"jffd-cta__text\">Complete, human-grade recipes that meet AAFCO standards \u2014 no guesswork on nutrient levels.<\/div><a class=\"jffd-cta__btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justfoodfordogs.com\/\">Shop Vet-Support Meals<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c4deb66 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c4deb66\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>How to tell if your dog is happy or stressed<\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn to read canine body language, and you\u2019ll understand a lot more subtle cues. Your dog\u2019s mouth, ears, tail position and more tell a story.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3>Signs of a happy, relaxed dog<\/h3><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Relaxed mouth:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Your dog\u2019s mouth may hang slightly open with her tongue visible, though a comfortable dog can also keep it closed. Clues are loose lips and a relaxed muzzle.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Soft, blinking eyes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A gentle gaze says your dog is relaxed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Loose, wagging tail:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Your pup\u2019s tail is in its normal position or wagging in broad, easy strokes. Your dog doesn\u2019t have to wag constantly to be happy and content.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Relaxed, neutral ears:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Your dog\u2019s ears are in their usual position.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Loose, wiggly body posture:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A relaxed dog moves easily and might come to you for pets or play.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your dog\u2019s normal appearance matters, too. A husky\u2019s tail naturally curls upward, while a German shepherd\u2019s ears usually stand upright. Those features alone don\u2019t mean either dog is tense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Watch for changes from their typical posture and how they react to their environment. Those signals can give you the clues you need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h3>Signs of a stressed or fearful dog<\/h3><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discomfort can be quiet. If you notice your dog becoming still or keeps turning away even if letting someone pet him, he may need space.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ASPCApro recommends watching for these signals:\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tight mouth or rapid, tense panting:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Tight lips or lips pulled back are classic signs of doggie stress. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/why-do-dogs-pant-normal-vs-warning-signs-explained\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that doesn\u2019t fit recent activity or warm temperatures can also indicate stress.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Whites of the eyes showing:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Often called \u201cwhale eye,\u201d if your dog turns his head while continuing to watch from the side, that\u2019s another indication he\u2019s not feeling relaxed.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tucked or stiff tail:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Frightened dogs often tuck their tails between their legs, close to their bellies, for safety. They might also hold their tails straight and rigid with short, tight wags.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ears pinned back: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ears pressed tight against the head can indicate fear, especially if it comes with a tense body or other signs.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stiff, crouched or frozen body: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A frightened dog tends to stiffen. She may lean away, crouch down or go rigid.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Repeated <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/why-do-dogs-yawn-causes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">yawning<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a tense body and looking away are all signs of discomfort in dogs. If you see any of these signs of discomfort, it\u2019s a good idea to give your dog space.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h2>Good nutrition supports a happy dog<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8913bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f8913bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/happy-dog-with-furry-ears-outdoors-smiling-2026-09-23-12-41-57-utc.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-18710\" alt=\"Smiling dog\" srcset=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/happy-dog-with-furry-ears-outdoors-smiling-2026-09-23-12-41-57-utc.jpg 800w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/happy-dog-with-furry-ears-outdoors-smiling-2026-09-23-12-41-57-utc-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/happy-dog-with-furry-ears-outdoors-smiling-2026-09-23-12-41-57-utc-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-047a221 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"047a221\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your dog\u2019s grin is a clue to how he\u2019s feeling. His eyes, ears and other body language help you understand when your dog needs some time alone and when he\u2019s ready to play or snuggle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supporting your dog\u2019s comfort also means taking care of her exercise and nutrition needs. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/aafco.org\/consumers\/understanding-pet-food\/selecting-the-right-pet-food\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AAFCO recommends<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> choosing a complete and balanced food appropriate for your dog\u2019s life stage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A growing puppy has different nutritional needs from an adult dog, so check the nutritional adequacy statement on the label of the food you choose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a closer look at what a balanced diet provides, explore our guide to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/what-nutrients-do-dogs-need\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">essential nutrients dogs need.<\/span><\/a><\/p><h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00557fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-jffd_faq\" data-id=\"00557fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"jffd_faq.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"jffd-faq\"><details class=\"jffd-faq__item\"><summary>Do dogs smile when they\u2019re happy? <\/summary><div class=\"jffd-faq__answer\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They can! A relaxed, open mouth paired with a loose body and soft eyes can signal your pup\u2019s comfort. <\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, an open mouth alone doesn\u2019t mean your dog is happy. Learn to understand your dog\u2019s body language.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/details><details class=\"jffd-faq__item\"><summary>Do dogs smile at other dogs or only at people?<\/summary><div class=\"jffd-faq__answer\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dogs show smile-like expressions around other dogs, too. During play, they may use a relaxed, open-mouth \u201cplay face\u201d alongside bouncy movements and play bows. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/1568539X-bja10343\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recent research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> examined this expression across dog breeds and wolves, so canine grins aren\u2019t reserved for us.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/details><details class=\"jffd-faq__item\"><summary>Do dogs mimic our smiles when we smile at them?<\/summary><div class=\"jffd-faq__answer\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Your dog can respond to your expression without copying it. Research shows <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37587944\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">dogs use information from human emotional expressions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, but that doesn\u2019t establish that they imitate our smiles. A loose, wiggly response may tell you a dog is enjoying the interaction, even without a matching grin.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/details><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do dogs smile when they\\u2019re happy?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"They can! A relaxed, open mouth paired with a loose body and soft eyes can signal your pup\\u2019s comfort. However, an open mouth alone doesn\\u2019t mean your dog is happy. Learn to understand your dog\\u2019s body language.\\u00a0\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do dogs smile at other dogs or only at people?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Dogs show smile-like expressions around other dogs, too. During play, they may use a relaxed, open-mouth \\u201cplay face\\u201d alongside bouncy movements and play bows. Recent research examined this expression across dog breeds and wolves, so canine grins aren\\u2019t reserved for us.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do dogs mimic our smiles when we smile at them?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Your dog can respond to your expression without copying it. Research shows dogs use information from human emotional expressions, but that doesn\\u2019t establish that they imitate our smiles. A loose, wiggly response may tell you a dog is enjoying the interaction, even without a matching grin.\"}}]}<\/script>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7699f48 elementor-widget elementor-widget-jffd_sources\" data-id=\"7699f48\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"jffd_sources.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"jffd-sources\"><span class=\"jffd-sources__title\">Sources<\/span><ol><li><a href=\"https:\/\/caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu\/resource\/canine-body-language\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Canine Body Language. Purdue University, Canine Welfare Science.<span class=\"jffd-sr-only\"> (opens in a new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC11967504\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Burrows AM, Smith LW, Downing SE, Omstead KM, Smith TD. Evolutionary divergence of facial muscle physiology between domestic dogs and wolves. Anat Rec (Hoboken). 2025 May;308(5):1369-1377. doi: 10.1002\/ar.25580. Epub 2024 Oct 3. PMID: 39360643; PMCID: PMC11967504.<span class=\"jffd-sr-only\"> (opens in a new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspcapro.org\/resource\/canine-body-language-tips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Canine Body Language Tips. ASPCApro.<span class=\"jffd-sr-only\"> (opens in a new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/aafco.org\/consumers\/understanding-pet-food\/selecting-the-right-pet-food\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Selecting the Right Pet Food. AAFCO.<span class=\"jffd-sr-only\"> (opens in a new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/brill.com\/view\/journals\/beh\/163\/1\/article-p15_3.xml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Maglieri, V. (2025). Facial expressivity in domestic dogs: a functional analysis of the relaxed open mouth across breeds. Behaviour, 163(1), 15-36. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/1568539X-bja10343<span class=\"jffd-sr-only\"> (opens in a new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/37587944\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Albuquerque N, Resende B. Dogs functionally respond to and use emotional information from human expressions. Evol Hum Sci. 2022 Dec 6;5:e2. doi: 10.1017\/ehs.2022.57. PMID: 37587944; PMCID: PMC10426098.<span class=\"jffd-sr-only\"> (opens in a new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The quick answer Dogs can make smile-like expressions, usually a relaxed, slightly open mouth with a visible tongue, but these aren\u2019t the same as human smiles. A grin signals comfort only when paired with soft eyes and loose, wiggly body language. An open mouth alone doesn\u2019t mean a dog is happy. Lips pulled tightly back, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":18708,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_jffd_show_updated":"","footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[71,80],"tags":[395,394,397,396],"ppma_author":[293],"class_list":["post-18706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","category-wellbeing","tag-do-dogs-smile","tag-do-dogs-smile-when-theyre-happy","tag-how-do-dogs-smile","tag-why-do-dogs-smile"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.8 (Yoast SEO v28.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Do Dogs Smile? 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