Sofie’s Smile
Sofie’s smile can make you melt. Some dogs, no matter how much trouble they can get into, just have that energy and personality that you have to love. Miss Sofie Bear is lucky because she has this killer dog smile to back up her personality. She is one of those dogs that tends to have a smile on her face most of the time. It must be the way her muzzle and jaws are, but I don’t really care much about that: to me she is a ‘smiler.’ A lot of people think this picture of her is ‘photo shopped’ but it is not. It was taken by her puppy trainer last year. She is just a happy girl. I started to wonder if dogs smile for the same reason humans do? It does seem like they smile when they are happy. Or did we humans create that response in them? In my research over the years on wolf behavior, I have learned that pulling back the lips but not showing the teeth (canines) is a submissive gesture (showing the teeth on the other hand is an aggressive gesture). A lower wolf will ‘smile’ at the alpha to show deference to position. Alpha’s on the other hand very rarely ‘smile’ because they do not need to. So I have been watching when Sofie smiles: (1) When she has done something wrong and wants to make sure that I am not going to yell at her (which is also when she rolls on her back and shows me her belly – another submissive gesture). (2) When she is really calm and staring at me. (3) When she is on a mission looking for something or is really having fun in a game.
I wonder if I encouraged the smiling behavior because of the praise and pats on the heads that she receives when she does it? “Oh, how cute! (pat pat pat)” Did I condition the response? When does your dog smile?
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
DogDaz Zoo 
themisadventuresofmisaki
August 21, 2012 at 05:02
Sofie has a lovely smile. I tend to smile when food is around BOL
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dogdaz
August 21, 2012 at 05:16
Oh yes – I know the food smile. 🙂
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Genevieve Petrillo
August 21, 2012 at 09:51
Sofie has the best doggie smile ever – bar none. I rarely smile, and mostly look intense and thoughtful. Mom says maybe I’m self-conscious because of my buck teeth. Either way, I’m smiling on the inside ALL the time.
Love and licks and keep smiling, Sofie!
Cupcake
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dogdaz
August 21, 2012 at 11:16
Lulu doesn’t smile much either. I think smiling on the inside is more important anyway, 🙂
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tinykitchenstories
August 21, 2012 at 16:41
OMG her smile is precious! And made me smile right away. My girl has a smile, as she’s part Pit and most pits have the best smiles ever. But Sophie’s is right up there! 🙂
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dogdaz
August 21, 2012 at 17:17
Yes – there is something special about Pit smiles for sure.
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Tya Khan
August 21, 2012 at 17:45
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww this is such an adorable picture 😀
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dogdaz
August 21, 2012 at 19:34
Thank you Tya. She knows it too
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Lindy MacDuff
August 22, 2012 at 01:04
What a joy it must be to see that sweet face every day! 🙂
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dogdaz
August 22, 2012 at 09:51
Yes – until she wakes up! (Just kidding)
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Basil
August 22, 2012 at 05:06
What a fantastic photo!!
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dogdaz
August 22, 2012 at 07:17
Thaks Basil
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bumpyroadtobubba
August 23, 2012 at 01:37
What a gorgeous smile! Bella and Beary smile a lot when the four of us are together.
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dogdaz
September 23, 2012 at 20:56
Dog smiles are the best (except maybe a good cat smile).
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Bassas Blog
August 26, 2012 at 02:18
Sofie is definitely a ‘smiler’ 🙂 Wonderful photo!
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dogdaz
August 26, 2012 at 06:58
Let’s see a Bassa smile
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Jessica
September 5, 2012 at 19:47
Oh my word! What a beautiful smile Sofie has! And very pretty eyes as well! As for Taylor, she smiles the most during her games of fetch and when her favorite visitors stop by. Since she’s the only “child”, interactions from other people (besides mommy and daddy) are moments that she goes bonkers over! 🙂
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dogdaz
September 5, 2012 at 20:02
We live a pretty quiet life here too. Sofie is one of those dogs that really doesn’t know how pretty she is. Thanks for reading.
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