{"id":186387,"date":"2022-07-18T11:10:17","date_gmt":"2022-07-18T11:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/"},"modified":"2022-07-18T11:10:17","modified_gmt":"2022-07-18T11:10:17","slug":"are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/","title":{"rendered":"Are pit bulls actually smiling?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Are_pit_bulls_actually_smiling\" title=\"Are pit bulls actually smiling?\">Are pit bulls actually smiling?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Why_are_pit_bulls_so_cuddly\" title=\"Why are pit bulls so cuddly?\">Why are pit bulls so cuddly?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Do_dogs_smile_when_stressed\" title=\"Do dogs smile when stressed?\">Do dogs smile when stressed?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#How_do_you_know_when_dogs_smile\" title=\"How do you know when dogs smile?\">How do you know when dogs smile?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Do_pitbulls_smile_when_theyre_happy\" title=\"Do pitbulls smile when they&#8217;re happy?\">Do pitbulls smile when they&#8217;re happy?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#What_does_it_mean_when_a_pitbull_smiles_at_you\" title=\"What does it mean when a pitbull smiles at you?\">What does it mean when a pitbull smiles at you?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#How_do_you_make_a_pitbull_smile\" title=\"How do you make a pitbull smile?\">How do you make a pitbull smile?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Why_Pitbulls_are_so_clingy\" title=\"Why Pitbulls are so clingy?\">Why Pitbulls are so clingy?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Do_Pitbulls_have_a_favorite_person\" title=\"Do Pitbulls have a favorite person?\">Do Pitbulls have a favorite person?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Are_Pitbulls_the_most_cuddly_dogs\" title=\"Are Pitbulls the most cuddly dogs?\">Are Pitbulls the most cuddly dogs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Why_do_Pitbulls_lean_on_you\" title=\"Why do Pitbulls lean on you?\">Why do Pitbulls lean on you?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#What_does_it_mean_when_a_dog_looks_like_its_smiling\" title=\"What does it mean when a dog looks like it&#8217;s smiling?\">What does it mean when a dog looks like it&#8217;s smiling?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Why_do_dogs_smile_when_stressed\" title=\"Why do dogs smile when stressed?\">Why do dogs smile when stressed?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Are_dogs_actually_happy_when_they_smile\" title=\"Are dogs actually happy when they smile?\">Are dogs actually happy when they smile?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Why_does_my_dog_smile_with_his_mouth_open\" title=\"Why does my dog smile with his mouth open?\">Why does my dog smile with his mouth open?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#How_do_you_know_if_a_dog_is_smiling\" title=\"How do you know if a dog is smiling?\">How do you know if a dog is smiling?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Do_dogs_know_when_were_smiling\" title=\"Do dogs know when were smiling?\">Do dogs know when were smiling?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#What_happens_when_a_dog_smiles_at_you\" title=\"What happens when a dog smiles at you?\">What happens when a dog smiles at you?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#How_do_you_know_when_a_dog_is_happy\" title=\"How do you know when a dog is happy?\">How do you know when a dog is happy?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Why_does_my_pitbull_smile\" title=\"Why does my pitbull smile?\">Why does my pitbull smile?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Do_all_pit_bulls_smile\" title=\"Do all pit bulls smile?\">Do all pit bulls smile?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Do_dogs_smile_when_they_are_happy\" title=\"Do dogs smile when they are happy?\">Do dogs smile when they are happy?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#How_do_pitbulls_show_affection\" title=\"How do pitbulls show affection?\">How do pitbulls show affection?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#When_pitbulls_smile_Are_they_happy\" title=\"When pitbulls smile Are they happy?\">When pitbulls smile Are they happy?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/are-pit-bulls-actually-smiling\/#Why_do_dogs_smile_at_you\" title=\"Why do dogs smile at you?\">Why do dogs smile at you?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_pit_bulls_actually_smiling\"><\/span>Are pit bulls actually smiling?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Social media is full of pictures of dogs appearing to grin, but it seems that, much like with laughing, dogs can&#8217;t smile in the same way as humans. However, <b>dogs can make their faces appear to smile. This happens when they open their mouths and pull back their lips, letting their tongues lap over their teeth.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_are_pit_bulls_so_cuddly\"><\/span>Why are pit bulls so cuddly?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Pitbulls tend to be oversized lap dogs, loving nothing more than to put as much of their body in contact with their favorite person as possible. Pitbulls are likely so cuddly in part <b>because they are such physical dogs<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_dogs_smile_when_stressed\"><\/span>Do dogs smile when stressed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>When your dog is experiencing fear, they may pull back the muscles of their lips to expose clenched teeth as far back as the molars, looking like a forced smile. Because of the tension in the face during a fear grimace, you may also see creasing of the skin around the eyes, corners of the mouth and forehead.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_know_when_dogs_smile\"><\/span>How do you know when dogs smile?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A great example of this is the submissive grin. The ASPCA noted, This is also a gesture where a dog shows his front teeth, but a smiling dog is doing just that. <b>He usually shows a lowered head, wagging tail, flattened ears, a soft body posture and soft, squinty eyes along with those teeth<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_pitbulls_smile_when_theyre_happy\"><\/span>Do pitbulls smile when they&#8217;re happy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Look at your dog&#8217;s body language. A happy dog will have a relaxed body posture and often, a wagging tail. Their face will look soft and calm, and if they&#8217;re playing or running, you&#8217;ll often see a wide, panting smile. <b>Most dogs aren&#8217;t particularly subtle when they&#8217;re happy, and they will reflect your happiness, as well.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_it_mean_when_a_pitbull_smiles_at_you\"><\/span>What does it mean when a pitbull smiles at you?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A. It sounds like <b>your dog is displaying an appeasement gesture, called a submissive grin, to show you and others that she&#8217;s no threat. Submissive grins are a way for a dog to show deference to another individual.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_make_a_pitbull_smile\"><\/span>How do you make a pitbull smile?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>If a dog is genuinely smiling, he or she will relax their posture and facial muscles. A submissive grin looks different than smiling and baring of teeth and tends to resemble the human smile. But if your dog is aggressively baring his or her teeth, be careful.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Pitbulls_are_so_clingy\"><\/span>Why Pitbulls are so clingy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Pitbulls are renowned as having a clingy nature <b>due to how they have been bred; as dogs designed for human companionship in more modern times. Because of this, Pitbull Terriers will follow their owners everywhere and are prone to suffering with separation anxiety.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Pitbulls_have_a_favorite_person\"><\/span>Do Pitbulls have a favorite person?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Pit bulls are loyal, protective and people-oriented, but <b>they do not reserve their loyalty for just one person. While they will show favor to their master, pit bulls can be rehomed and learn to bond with new people. In the family context, they&#8217;ve got plenty of love and loyalty to go around.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Pitbulls_the_most_cuddly_dogs\"><\/span>Are Pitbulls the most cuddly dogs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>They thrive on human interaction and are champion snugglers. <b>Pitbulls are extremely affectionate, and the emotional bond between a pitbull and its human is unparalleled. The fun loving, spunky and affectionate attitude of the pitbull terrier is what most admirers come to love most about these dogs.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_Pitbulls_lean_on_you\"><\/span>Why do Pitbulls lean on you?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Dogs lean on people <b>because they want to be close to them. By nature, dogs are social pack animals. Most dogs enjoy physical contact with humans. While smaller dogs can be picked up and cuddled, bigger dogs do what they can to get close.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_it_mean_when_a_dog_looks_like_its_smiling\"><\/span>What does it mean when a dog looks like it&#8217;s smiling?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>happy<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_dogs_smile_when_stressed\"><\/span>Why do dogs smile when stressed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>When your dog is experiencing fear, they may pull back the muscles of their lips to expose clenched teeth as far back as the molars, looking like a forced smile. Because of the tension in the face during a fear grimace, you may also see creasing of the skin around the eyes, corners of the mouth and forehead.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_dogs_actually_happy_when_they_smile\"><\/span>Are dogs actually happy when they smile?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Even aggressive baring of the teeth can be mistaken by some as a friendly greeting. However, <b>most of the time when dogs smile, they are indeed happy, so it&#8217;s easy to relate that expression to human smiles.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_does_my_dog_smile_with_his_mouth_open\"><\/span>Why does my dog smile with his mouth open?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>An open mouth and upturned lips can definitely be <b>a sign of happiness and relaxation, but it can also indicate stress, fear or submission. In order to interpret canine smiles, we must take into account the language of the entire body.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_know_if_a_dog_is_smiling\"><\/span>How do you know if a dog is smiling?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If a dog is smiling and happy, she will <b>have ears forward or in the relaxed state for the breed, relaxed eyes, and a big wide open mouth, with tongue hanging out, sometimes panting too, according to Lotz.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_dogs_know_when_were_smiling\"><\/span>Do dogs know when were smiling?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A new study indicates <b>dogs can learn to distinguish a smile, even on the faces of some strangers. This ability to learn to recognize smiling faces may have been important to the success of dogs living with humans, the researchers noted in their study. But can dogs distinguish between human expressions?<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_when_a_dog_smiles_at_you\"><\/span>What happens when a dog smiles at you?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A. It sounds like <b>your dog is displaying an appeasement gesture, called a submissive grin, to show you and others that she&#8217;s no threat. Submissive grins are a way for a dog to show deference to another individual.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_know_when_a_dog_is_happy\"><\/span>How do you know when a dog is happy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Signs your dog is happy<\/b><\/p>\n<li>A high and waggy tail. This is probably the most well-known sign your dog is a happy pooch.<\/li>\n<li>Floppy ears. By this, we mean that their ears are relaxed, not tense or flattened against their head.  <\/li>\n<li>Their body&#8217;s relaxed.  <\/li>\n<li>They&#8217;re playful.  <\/li>\n<li>They lean in to you.<\/li>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_does_my_pitbull_smile\"><\/span>Why does my pitbull smile?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This dog smile <b>usually occurs in situations when they are relaxed and appear happy, which is why dog owners think it is a smile. These dog smiles also often occur in response to a human smile, which is a phenomenon called laughter contagion. Dogs may appear to smile because we smile at them.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_all_pit_bulls_smile\"><\/span>Do all pit bulls smile?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>They have amazing smiles (not locking jaws)<\/b> Others may have a higher prey drive, which paired with their tenacity, makes them a bad match for cats. As with any dog, it&#8217;s important to know how to read your pit bull&#8217;s signals in any situation.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_dogs_smile_when_they_are_happy\"><\/span>Do dogs smile when they are happy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Dogs smile when they&#8217;re happy and excited. They will also loosely wag their tails, do a happy dance and have relaxed ears when greeting someone they know and like.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_pitbulls_show_affection\"><\/span>How do pitbulls show affection?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Pitbulls typically show affection by <b>being as close to you as possible. They love to lean, cuddle, and climb into your lap. They are also prone to jumping up and licking your face, wagging their tail with intensity, and gazing lovingly at you while sticking by your side as much as they possibly can.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_pitbulls_smile_Are_they_happy\"><\/span>When pitbulls smile Are they happy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This dog smile <b>usually occurs in situations when they are relaxed and appear happy, which is why dog owners think it is a smile. These dog smiles also often occur in response to a human smile, which is a phenomenon called laughter contagion.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_do_dogs_smile_at_you\"><\/span>Why do dogs smile at you?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Instead, they&#8217;re smiling <b>because they are calm and relaxed and, because of that, one could venture that your pet is happy. Similarly, some dogs will appear to smile if they are showing submission to their human counterparts. This relates to the dog being in a relaxed muscular state.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents Are pit bulls actually smiling?Why are pit bulls so cuddly?Do dogs smile when stressed?How do you know when dogs smile?Do pitbulls smile when they&#8217;re happy?What does it mean when a pitbull smiles at you?How do you make a pitbull smile?Why Pitbulls are so clingy?Do Pitbulls have a favorite person?Are Pitbulls the most&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[622],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186387"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=186387"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186387\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=186387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=186387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=186387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}