How to Respond
If your dog is baring his teeth at you or someone else, take a look at his other body language.If you are uncertain of the cause or it appears that the teeth are bared in an aggressive manner, you should carefully remove yourself and/or your dog from the situation. Then seek the help of a dog professionals which may include a combination of a dog trainer, behaviorist, and veterinarian to rule out a pain related/medical issue. Its important you act quickly before your dog bites someone.
If you are unsure whether your dog is exhibiting a submissive smile or becoming aggressive when he bares his teeth, your best bet is to call in the help of a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. These experts are specially trained to detect the most subtle clues in your dogs body language and behavior. Its always a good idea to put safety first.
If you feel absolutely certain that your dog is simply smiling and his body language otherwise appears submissive, you probably dont need to be alarmed. However, it is important that you keep watching your dog determine if he becomes uncomfortable or nervous in his current situation. You should also keep observing to make sure you are not misreading the signs.
Sometimes when you have two dogs of different ages in the same household it can cause a tooth-baring clash. If you acquire a playful, boisterous pup which you then introduce into your home, your old dog may not always be in the mood for its antics. When your more mature dog bares his teeth at the younger one, hes letting it know hes not in a playing mood and to leave him well alone.
Its a common misconception us humans have that all dogs are, in general, docile and reasonably good-natured with just some sporadic moments when they display a bout of bad temper. This is not always so. Just like people, dogs come with all different personalities and not always good ones. Some dogs, frequently smaller breeds like Chihuahuas or Yorkshire Terriers, can be quite the divas around the household and as small as they are, dont hold back in showing their teeth to make sure everyone in the household is well aware of whos running the show.
Dogs have very few ways of physically expressing themselves. When theyre in a situation they are not happy with and the need arises and if they feel theyve got a point to make, they may well bare their teeth. Its a canine way of warning you that your dog is just not in sync with what is going on around him. It may be you said bath and he hates taking one, it could even be he overheard the word vet and is expressing his dislike at attending an appointment. It might be hes done something wrong and isnt appreciating the telling off hes getting and has gone into a self-protective mood because he knows hes in serious trouble.
It is quite normal for a dog to show its teeth, but its not always a desired trait. Think of it from your dogs point of view. Showing his teeth is the only way he has of communicating to you that hes not in the best of moods and it is a sign he wants you to back off and leave him alone. Take it as a definite warning signal and one which you need to take notice of.
Its easy for a dog to fall into the bad habit of showing its teeth to get his own way if you react wrongly to the situation. If hes asleep in your chair and when you go to move him, he bares his teeth and you back off, hell be in the dominant role. To reassert your control and stop him showing his teeth, you might want to consider some sessions with a professional dog trainer. Theyll be able to advise you on the correct techniques to use to prevent your dog being aggressive toward you.
In most scenarios, when you see your dog showing their teeth, you should probably be cautious as its usually a sign of aggression. You may also notice that your dog has erect ears, a high held tail that keeps moving back and forth, and a rigid posture. There are various reasons as to why a dog can start showing signs of aggression. Some common reasons include fear, resource guarding, and territoriality among others. Generally, aggressive behavior means that your dog is being pushed beyond their limits. Sometimes your dog is simply unhappy with their living conditions. For example, they may have developed anxiety from not having a designated area to go to the bathroom regularly. If so, getting a real grass pad can help your dog feel more comfortable. DoggieLawn absorbs your dogs urine and urine odor so they can go potty without having to wait for you to take them outside every time. If your dog is happy and less anxious, the chances of them being aggressive will be reduced. Nevertheless, use care when you notice your dog showing their teeth. Understand that dogs need time to adjust as well. If the behavior doesnt subside or becomes more prevalent, it would be wise to seek your vets professional opinion.
In conclusion, its critical to provide a safe, loving, and comfortable home to prevent and/or remedy aggression. For example, you can get the best pet grass available to help your dog go to the bathroom regularly to prevent them from becoming stressed and therefore developing aggressive tendencies. Contact us today if you have a friend who has an aggressive dog that you think could use a break. Or better yet, use this link to send them a discount on their first lawn!
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Occasionally, your dog will show their teeth as a sign of submission. Submissive behavior is accompanied by lip licking, crying or whining, rolling, averting their gaze, putting their tail between their legs, ears lying on the head and relaxed body posture among others. In most cases, the submissive smile is usually an attempt to calm a situation down. You might notice your dog giving you a submissive grin when theyre uncomfortable about a given situation. Puppies also use this expression when they want something or when they feel theyre being treated aggressively by older dogs. These sorts of submissive generally do not progress to aggressive behavior.
Here at DoggieLawn, we have a dog friendly work environment and have occasionally noticed some of the dogs baring their teeth when playing with each other or getting their backs scratched. Seeing as to how both activities should bring pleasure, we became curious as to whether this behavior only indicated aggression and found out that it can be interpreted as an aggressive behavior or be a submissive smile.
Why does my dog show his teeth to me?
Our dogs’ body language is complex, and can mean different things depending on the situation. When you’re closely bonded with a dog, it almost feels like you can read each others’ minds. You know your companion’s tones, mannerisms, and expressions. You can often interpret what they’re trying to communicate with just one look.
But when it comes to people interacting with others’ dogs, you may not be able to interpret their signals quite as clearly. That’s why it’s so important to learn common cues, for the comfort and safety of everyone. Below are 8 dog body language signals that are often misinterpreted because they can have multiple meanings.