- December 4, 2025
Can Dogs Smile? Most animal experts don’t really consider that a dog will “smile” in the traditional sense.
However, most of the time when dogs have that wide-mouth panting with tongue out, front teeth showing, sometimes a slightly upturned expression paired with relaxed body posture, soft eyes and a wagging tail, they are indeed happy. So it’s easy to relate that expression to human smiles.
A dog’s smile can stem from the fact that dogs recognize human facial expressions and tend to mirror them. In short, your dog is watching your face, and when you smile, they might try to match that energy. Then when we react by giving praise or treats — the dog is rewarded for this behavior and does it more often.
Dog smiles are more than just cute — they’re a part of how dogs communicate with us and with each other.
Another form of a “dog smile” can be a “submissive grin,” which is a dog’s way of letting you know that they are not a threat. This is much like how dogs lower their tail or lie down and expose their belly to indicate that they know you’re the boss
Your dog may also give a submissive grin if you want them to do something they don’t want to do — such as take a B-A-T-H. Your dog is essentially saying “please don’t make me take a bath.”
Or perhaps you came home to a torn-up couch cushion, or a trash bin strewn through the house. That submissive grin, coupled with the lowered head and tail between the legs lets you know who the guilty party is ... but who can be mad at that face? The submissive grin has worked to defuse the situation.
Submissive grins show the front teeth but not the longer canine teeth or “fangs.” If a dog bares his canine teeth, that’s a whole different story.
A dog may look like they are smiling during rigorous play or a brisk walk, but the “smile” could simply be your dog panting. Happy panting typically involves relaxed muscles, an open mouth, and a tongue hanging out as a way of cooling down. Watch always for overheating. A panting dog who is overheated may have bright red gums due to increased blood flow, or pale gums due to shock. They may show signs of tension in their body or face.
So, OK, maybe dogs can smile, but do they laugh?
The equivalent to laughter for a dog appears to be a sound that dogs make while playing. This “play pant” is a breathy, forced exhalation of air that dogs use to initiate play. Just like laughter reduces stress in humans, this “play pant” also can reduce stress in dogs. There’s even been research done with recordings of dogs playing and the “play panting” sounds replayed for dogs who were stressed. The recordingsappeared to lower the stress level of the dogs who were listening.
By learning canine body language and paying attention to the cues and signals that dogs give, we can better understand and communicate with our canine family members, strengthening the human/animal bond. We can all agree that our dogs make us smile, laugh and bring joy to our lives. Let’s hope that we can do the same for them.
Amy Carotenuto is the executive director of Flagler Humane Society, whose mission is to transform animals’ lives through compassionate care and services, outstanding educational programs and advocacy for all animals.
