Have you ever come across a smiling dog? Dogs can't talk, but they can be very expressive from time to time - and the proof is that they can even express "human" feelings. That's why a laughing or smiling dog always arouses the curiosity of the guardians, who soon wonder if it is synonymous with happiness and joy. After all, does the dog laugh and smile,What does that mean?

If you've ever come across a picture of a dog smiling, or even caught your pooch with their lips curved upwards, it's time for the truth. o Paws of the House went after answers and explanations for a smiling dog. come with us!

My dog smiled at me barking, is that possible?

It is very easy to find an image of a dog smiling: there is no shortage of memes on the internet depicting this situation, just search! But is this curvature that we understand as a smile actually the result of a dog smiling, or is it just a coincidence? The truth is that science has not yet been able to find out what really happens to a dog's smiles?However, it is proven that there are other animals that can smile in the same way as humans - and it is quite possible that canines are included in this list.

A study by American researchers has found that chimpanzee, gorilla and orangutan species smile in specific situations, such as when they are tickled. There has also been other research that basically concludes that chimpanzees have very similar facial expressions to humans when they smile.

That's why dog smiling becomes a possibility, beyond primates. There's no consensus on this, but it's believed that when a dog smiles it's basically a "response" to human smiles. That is, your pooch sees you smile and automatically smiles back at you as a way of tightening that communication.

Dog smiling is an automatic response to human smiles

Dog laughing: what does research reveal about this behavior?

In addition to the photo of a dog smiling, another very pertinent question is whether laughter is also part of canine behavior. In this case, there is a greater basis for the answer. Research conducted by behaviorist Patricia Simonet , from the University of Sierra Nevada in Spain, concluded that dogs can, yes, laugh and this is even something that calms them. However,canine laughter is quite different from human laughter: dogs open their mouths and puff out, becoming a little breathless when they are laughing.

This sound happens mainly during play and "happy" moments for the dog, which feels stimulated to laugh. During the study, Simonet showed sounds of dog laughter to other dogs and observed their behavior. As a result, it could be detected that canine laughter positively influences the animal's feelings, making them more active. In shelters for abandoned animals, thiskind of sound conveyed reassurance to the others.

Dog that smiles or laughs: how do you know if your pooch is happy?

It's so cute to have a dog that smiles and laughs all the time, but are these the only signs of happiness in our pets? Of course not! In fact, there are several ways to tell if a dog is happy or not. Body posture, for example, always gives clues as to how the animal feels. If you come home after a long day out and your puppy greets you at the door with his little tailwagging and a few licks, it's certainly a sign of love and happiness!

In everyday life, other behaviors that can be noticed is the companionship and independence of the pet. A dog that is happy hardly presents aggressive and destructive attitudes. He is always looking for ways to play and have fun with you, besides doing everything to show that he loves you - following the owner around the house or sleeping on his feet is proof of that.