Your dog has a whole range of facial expressions that he uses very effectively to communicate with you and with other dogs he encounters. Regularly observing these expressions in play or, conversely, when he’s feeling scared or threatened can give you a good insight into your dog’s state of mind, particularly if you take into account other body language signals and the situation he is in.
By taking time to learn to pick up on your dog’s expressions early enough in an interaction, you can gauge how he is feeling and become far more adept at defusing potentially difficult situations.
| RESEARCH: Studies have shown that the severity of a dog’s bite can be gauged from his growl. American and German researchers measured growl frequency patterns for 21 breeds. The growls of larger dogs tend to show patterns that are more closely spaced, whatever the dog’s head shape. It is thought that dogs may use this information to assess each other’s strength.. |
UNDERSTANDING EXPRESSIONS
Happy: A happy, confident dog has his mouth slightly open and may be showing part of his tongue.
Worried: If your dog has his mouth clenched tightly shut and is turning his head away from something he’s seen, this is a signal that he is feeling insecure and worried. It is a pacifying rather than an aggressive gesture.
Curious: A dog that keeps his mouth shut but is looking ahead with his ears slightly up is interested in something he has seen.
Listening: Standing still with his mouth shut and ears straight up means the dog has heard something and is now trying to work out what it is.
Anxious: If your dog is afraid of something he will lower his head and pull his ears back. The lips are loose or pulled back.
Threatening: Your dog will curl his lips back to expose his teeth and gums. He will often do this after some other, more subtle, signals – such as looking away – have failed.
Aggressive: A dog that opens his mouth, wrinkles his nose and exposes all his teeth is giving a final warning that he is about to bite.
| Happy Dog Tip: Your dog relies on his mouth and teeth to hunt, feed, explore objects, pick them up and also to defend himself (and sometimes you!) from real or imagined threats. His muzzle, whiskers and neck are very sensitive, so always be careful when stroking him in these vulnerable areas. |
SMILEY DOGS
Some breeds of dogs, including Dalmatians, Dobermanns and many of the terrier breeds, are actually known as ‘smilers’, often greeting their owners with their mouths slightly open, exposing the incisor and canine teeth. Some owners worry that this is a sign of aggression to humans because dogs never greet other dogs in this way, but in fact it is a submissive gesture.
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Enjoyable. Dogs communicate through expressions. If you’re really in to dogs, you can understand them by learning as many of their expressions as possible.