Surely every owner of a four-legged pet, watching the corners of its mouth rise, thought about the dog’s reaction.
Is what we perceive as a smile really the emotion itself?
Let's look into this issue and dot the i's and cross the t's.
It is believed that the dog's grimace, which we take for a smile, actually appears on the animal's face reflexively.
But this reflex manifests itself if the dog is happy. Owners of four-legged pets often notice that the corners of the animal's lips rise when its belly is scratched or stroked.
Therefore, we can conclude that a relaxed and contented dog is indeed capable of smiling.
However, you cannot expect the same reaction from a dog as from a person.
In addition, it is necessary to distinguish aggression from contentment. This is indicated by the baring of teeth and a number of other signs.
A submissive dog also shows its teeth: then this is accompanied by a lowered head and a tucked tail.
