Joanna Wilson
Because dogs are unable to speak verbally, they rely on facial expressions, stance, and body language to communicate with us. The more you learn to read your dog’s body language and understand what they’re saying, the better you’ll be able to respond to their needs. Dogs can share their feelings by showing their teeth or putting their lips back so that their teeth are displayed.
There are a variety of reasons why your dog could show its teeth. Understanding your dog’s body language in various settings is an important part of being a good dog owner. The following are some of the more benign reasons why your dog could expose its teeth:
This is a submission: When your dog grins at you, it may flash its teeth to signify that it recognizes you as the leader. It’s a respectful gesture, not an angry one. By observing your dog’s posture, you can usually identify the difference. There’s nothing to be concerned about if it’s relaxed.
Friendliness is shown: As a means of extending friendship, dogs often expose their teeth at other dogs or humans. They want to make it clear that they don’t want to fight.
Playing around: Your dog’s mouth may be open and its teeth bared while it plays with you or other dogs. Light sneezes, a low stance with a lifted rear, pricked ears, or a wagging tail are all signals that your dog is in play mode.
Showing friendliness: the energy they release is very different from when they do so as a sign of aggression. The following are examples of situations in which your dog may be prompted to display its teeth as a warning:
Not liking the restriction of a leash: When a dog is on a leash, he or she may react aggressively. They usually approach other dogs from the side when introducing them. A leash can make this more difficult by forcing them to greet you head-on. To get away from the threat, they may exhibit their teeth and react in other actions such as growling, lunging, and jumping. Being on a leash also prevents your dog from gaining distance from another dog, which can result in more belligerent body language.
Social aggression toward other dogs in the home: When there are various dogs in the house, the leadership order can change frequently. Context can also have a role. In some situations, such as who gets to the water bowl first, your dog may show deference to other dogs, while in others, such as who gets to play with a dog toy, your dog may show teeth.
Responding to pain: When dogs are in pain, they may bare their teeth to defend themselves from the damage. They might do this to you and then bite you to protect themselves from fresh threats. If you feel your dog has an injury, approach it with caution. Any training item that can harm your dog, such as an electric collar, shock collar, or choke chain, should be avoided. To avoid the pain that these devices produce, your dog may become more aggressive.
Guarding something important to them: Territorial dogs are a breed of dog. If they feel someone is threatening their puppies, moms may exhibit their teeth to others. Your dog may feel compelled to guard the house and lash out at anyone who enters the property, including the mailman, deliverymen, and even passing strangers. Some dogs are predisposed to react aggressively to even the slightest threat.
Trained to behave that way: Many dogs end up in shelters as a result of prior owners’ harsh behavior. They may have taught their dog to growl and display his teeth at outsiders, to be hostile toward strangers, to guard the house from invaders, and to distrust anyone who isn’t the owner.
Fearful of a threat: When a dog’s safety is threatened, he or she may exhibit his or her fangs to deter the threat. If the threat actually disappears, such as when the mailman returns to his truck, the dog will feel its actions were responsible for the threat’s disappearance. Dogs may interpret a gesture as threatening or equate someone’s presence with danger, prompting them to act violently.
How to Respond to a Dog Showing Its Teeth
Your reaction to a dog baring its teeth should be determined by the situation. If your dog has problems walking on a leash, keep it away from other dogs. Distract your dog by capturing their attention and then rewarding them when another dog emerges in the distance. This teaches them that other canines in their space are not necessarily unpleasant or dangerous.
Look into what you can do to change your dog’s environment if he or she is constantly showing teeth or acting aggressively in the house. Remove anything that they might consider to be a threat. It’s important to remember that dogs who attack other family members aren’t necessarily attempting to establish dominance. They may be terrified of something, and their worry may force them to behave negatively.
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