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One of the most endearing traits of Golden Retrievers is their adorable smile.
But you might have wondered what exactly their smile means.
Is it the same as when a person smiles?
Are they really as happy as they look?
In this article, you’ll learn:
- What a dog smile is
- Why Golden Retrievers smile
- How to know if it’s a smile or something else
What is a Dog Smile?
Most experts agree that a human smile and a dog smile aren’t quite the same thing, but there are some similarities.
What we see as a dog “smile” is a wide, soft open mouth, maybe with a floppy tongue hanging out.
The eyes might be soft and gentle, or bright and wide open.
Because this mimics a human smile in some ways (minus the tongue!), we label it as such.
When people smile, it’s usually because they are feeling positive emotions, such as happiness, enjoyment or excitement.
Is this also true of dogs?
Let’s find out!
Why Do Golden Retrievers Smile?
Golden Retrievers smile when they are feeling relaxed, content, playful or happy.
It’s an outward expression of how the dog is feeling, and both people and other dogs can observe that signal and understand the dog’s emotional state.
Human smiles have the same function.
You’d never know someone was feeling happy if they had a serious facial expression.
But when you see a smile on someone’s face, it gives you insight into how they’re feeling.
Of course, people can fake a smile, but dogs are much more honest with their emotions.
And when you see a smile on someone’s face, it can put you at ease and sometimes even get you smiling as well.
A dog smile communicates to other dogs how they are feeling, and can help the other do