I have a Basenji who is a year and 6 months old. I know that when a dog lifts his lip it is a sign of aggression, well at least I thought. My dog is always lifting his lips at family members, myself and my other dog. He is very spoiled and loved. He is also very loving, he loves the cat and going to the dog park... so my question is, why does he lift his lips? When I give him kisses or I move him over on the bed while he is sleeping he lifts them? I always thought it was a sign of aggression but sometimes he is wagging his tail. Please help, any ideas? Thanks.
2007-01-31 17:04:35 · 10 answers · asked by imissrascal 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
A fast horizonal wag is a happy tail, a slow vertical wag is an aggressive tail. Also you have to see the eyes, an aggressive dog will stare intensely in your face and have very small pupils. The Basenji is a unique breed, I have heard of "smiling" Basenjis before. It may be just a quirk of the breed.
Also giving him kisses is a dominant gesture in dog language-bending down and placing your face close to his can be interpreted as a threat from the dog's point of view. Moving him while he is sleeping is another dominant gesture from you. You might be accidentally making him feel uncomfortable or threatened.
2007-01-31 17:11:00 · answer #1 · answered by lizzy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he doesn't show any other physical signs of agression when he is doing it, he may have learned through reinforcement that baring the teeth (lifting his lips) has gotten him attention. If you laugh and tell him how cute he is when he does it.. he is going to learn that every time he does it he will get that attention. Other signs of agression include ears perked forward and tail lifted straight up, growling etc. If the dog lifts his "lips" and still shows his other teeth (has his mouth open) it is usually a sign of submission. But it just sounds like it is a learned behaviour from reinforcement.
2007-01-31 17:12:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your dog sounds adorable. Just like people have different personalities and behaviors, so do dogs. Sounds like he uses his lip to express many emotions, joy (he may be trying to smile like you do), irritation (being moved while he's sleeping), etc. He's just an expressive dog. You're lucky.
2007-01-31 17:10:04 · answer #3 · answered by itry007 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is smiling, I have a pitbull mix that does the same thing. There is a story behind a dog that smiles. I think the indians(notsure) would only let dogs that smiled sit by the fire with them........
2007-01-31 21:41:42 · answer #4 · answered by Nay Nay 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's smiling and don't let anyone tell you he can't smile I've seen plenty of dogs do it! My dog does it!
2007-02-01 05:14:25 · answer #5 · answered by geodragonlady1159 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your dog is probably smiling. Smiling is genetic in dogs.
2007-02-01 00:32:28 · answer #6 · answered by bear 2 zealand © 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like just a quirk to me.. a funny one. If he isn't showing any other signs of aggression I wouldn't worry about it. You should video tape it and send it to funniest videos! :-p
2007-01-31 17:07:10 · answer #7 · answered by shugarmagnolia420 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think he's smiling! My dog (now deceased) used to do that when he was told to 'smile' hehe
2007-01-31 17:10:50 · answer #8 · answered by %$#! :) :) :) !#$% 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your dog is weird. I wouldn't let him be around children if you cannot trust him.
2007-01-31 17:07:37 · answer #9 · answered by Dfirefox 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A smile?
2007-01-31 17:06:29 · answer #10 · answered by tabulator32 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋