• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pets Reporter

Pets Reporter

How to understand your dog or cat better?

  • Home
  • Facts
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Stories
  • OMG

Why Do Dogs Make Silly Facial Expressions?

October 17, 2021 by Jessica Meyer

Many dog owners have noticed that their dogs make a variety of expressions that seem to have no real purpose, such as the ‘kissy face’ – a snarl with lips spread wide. Many people think these facial expressions look silly and wonder if they serve any useful function at all.

Humans may never know what goes through a dog’s mind when they make these expressions, but we can be better pet owners by understanding more about our best friends.

Recent research suggests that these facial movements are not random or meaningless. They are evidence of dogs communicating with each other by using the muscles around their lips, eyes, and ears in a certain way

Dogs make these expressions when they are playing or about to play with another dog. For example, dogs use the ‘play bow’ to initiate play with another dog. Their bodies are stiff while their front legs are bent so they are on their front feet while extended back or to the side.

The ‘play bow’ is followed by a ‘play face’ where the lips are spread wide and back ears are either relaxed or pulled slightly back. The dog may also make the ‘kissy face’ during play.

This facial expression, which includes an open mouth with bared teeth, relaxed lips, wrinkled nose, squinty eyes, and a high head, is thought to be a signal that the dog does not want to harm the other dog.

The ‘play bow’ is different than the ‘submission bow’. The submission play usually has their rear end and tail down while their front half is up in a play posture. These facial expressions likely evolved as dogs became more social, developing into important communication tools.

If you notice your dog making silly expressions, just remember these movements have meaning—they are not random. Even though we may not fully understand what our dogs are trying to say with these gestures, they can be important indicators of when our dogs are feeling playful, stressed, or threatened.

While these expressions may look silly to us, they likely serve an important function in the lives of dogs. Understanding how dogs use their facial muscles and what those movements mean can help dog owners interact more successfully with their canine companions.

Filed Under: Facts

Primary Sidebar

More to See

Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family: Factors to Consider

January 24, 2023 By Sarah Carter

The Importance of Proper Training and Socialization for Your Pet

January 22, 2023 By Emma Cooper

What is the Personality of Cat People

January 19, 2023 By Sarah Carter

Why Are Birds so Beautiful

January 17, 2023 By Emma Cooper

Carnavrau: Veja As Fantasias Mais Geniais Dos Últimos Anos Para Você Se Inspirar em 2023

January 16, 2023 By Jessica Meyer

The Most Jaw Dropping Pet Stories

January 15, 2023 By Jessica Meyer

Footer

About Us

We have a passion for pets and in my blog you’ll read about who is smarter: cats or dogs? Who is more loyal and loves humans better? How to choose the right pet for you? Why is it dangerous to kiss you pets? How to know your pet is sick and is crying for help sending you some alarming signals? How to understand your dog or cat better? You’ll find answers to these and many other important questions.

  • Terms of Service
  • petsreporter.com Privacy Notice
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Search

Copyright © 2023 · petsreorter.com