. . .of course they do! There are experiences in life when science finally validates what some of us already knows or believes to be true. If you have spent any time observing dog behavior, you already know the answer to the question – Do Dogs Smile?
In case you think that Mac-Nanny was being a little rough with Pepper, there was a purpose to their “play” and it was supervised. Pepper was being too rough with her older brother who wouldn’t defend himself. I knew Mac-Nanny could demonstrate a few moves that would make Pepper a little less certain of herself! (I miss you Mac. Thanks for always being such a great puppy nanny)
I love to watch the antics of my dogs after their bath time! If given a chance, most dogs will roll around and frolic after their bath. While it appears they feel great and are doing a dance of joy, my guess is they are trying to get their stink back on!
Here’s Melody, my little Yorkie, after her bath. She always makes me smile. I like to think I’m smiling with her.
I took Melody to the vet (he is wonderful!) and I told him how she is better but because of her past, still pulls away from being touched. She had a heart murmur and was being checked for that condition. As he was palpating (touching) her, she flinched and made a purr-type sound. He said, she is ticklish. I love that!
I have to admit, I had never heard anyone put it that way. She is ticklish! As a dog used for breeding in a puppy mill, she most likely didn’t receive any affection as a puppy or as an adult for that matter. She has grown to love being touched and being held. AND, she is ticklish!
If there is a medical term for this, I prefer to let it go with calling her ticklish. Her nervous motion along with the sweet “giggle” she makes, brings a smile to everyone around her.
Is your dog ticklish?
Are your dogs ever silly? I don’t know what the term would be in dog world, but in human language, it is best described as silly!
I have written previously about Melody, a tiny Yorkie with a horrible past. If she never exuded a moment of happiness or silliness, it would be understandable. She, however, is beyond animated when she sees me approach or is ready for a meal.
She crab crawls, wiggles, spins, rolls and turns in excitement. She reminds me that regardless of how someone appears or what their past experiences have been, inside there may be a little silly waiting to express itself.
We expect puppies to be silly and on some days look forward to when they grow up. Melody, on the other hand, is far from being puppy age and is getting her silly on later in life. She shows us that it’s ok. I think I’ll join her.
It is fascinating to read the studies on the analysis of dogs and their expression of emotion. We, of course, refer to emotion in the sense that we experience it. Dogs; however, live in the moment so their emotion may be more raw than ours. I don’t think they are capable of deceiving us by expressing an emotion they aren’t really feeling at the moment. They don’t pretend as well as we do!
There are fun photographs of dogs smiling. And they do! Some more than others, but it still qualifies as a smile. I also have seen more than my share of grumpy-doggy face. The “it’s you again” look on some dogs when I (the trainer) show up for another training session can be very comical – for us humans more so than the dog.
With the cooler temperatures, the dogs seem quite content to cuddle on their beds a little longer than normal. And, some days, I think they get up on the wrong side of their cedar-chipped, double-organic-fiber-stuffed, memory foam dog beds! Perhaps they have bad dreams and restless nights too; so, I will cut them some slack.
Regardless, I think it’s fun to notice that much like a little child, a dog’s expression of “emotion” shifts in a nano-second. In a flash, they go from grump-dog to tail-waggin’-ready-for-a-walk dog. I wish it were that easy for us two-leggers! Once again, we learn from our dogs how blessed it is to live in the moment.
Most people get it by now that dogs pick up on our energy. We pick up on theirs as well, but most humans prefer to act like they don’t get it! Why is that?
I was wondering if dogs understand when we are being sarcastic? I think they do. Why? Because we have an energy about us that is usually playful and play is something they understand.
A few examples:
If I can be a little sarcastic with them, it helps me to take things in stride, and I do think they get it. They get my energy and intent about what I’m saying. For me, it’s entertainment. For them, they’re just words that make me smile and they like that.
