What Your Dog’s Different Facial Expressions Mean
📝 Summary
A dog's face shows its mood: ears up with a closed mouth means calm, ears forward with a slightly open mouth means curious, ears back and mouth open means affection, while ears back and mouth slightly open signals nervousness. Ears forward with a C-shaped open mouth is a pre-attack warning, and flattened ears with bared teeth mean fear and a readiness to bite.
1 Reading Your Dog’s Facial Expressions
1. Ears up, mouth closed. This is a calm, relaxed expression, like a human smile, and the most common one. It is a good time for training, play or a walk.
2. Ears forward, mouth slightly open. The dog is attracted by something and feels curious.
For example, the dog spots another animal on the road or on TV, or you are holding a treat or toy — fully captivated, it shows this expression.
3. Ears pinned back, mouth open. This means the dog has met someone it likes and is trying to show kindness; some dogs may watch you and wink — a sign they like you.
If your dog gives you this look, you can stroke its head or back; appropriate contact builds trust and affection.
4. Ears pulled back, mouth slightly open. This expression means the dog is nervous and senses a threat in the environment, so it is on guard. If you look closely, its eyes are slightly furrowed and it blinks less often.
For a dog you are close with, you can hold it and comfort it to provide security and ease the tension. But for a dog just brought home, do not approach abruptly; stay quiet, prepare plenty of food and water, let it adapt on its own, then gradually try to interact — avoid piling on pressure.
5. Ears forward, mouth open in a C shape from the side. This is the signal that the dog is about to attack; you will usually also see the back hair raised, front legs lowered and back arched.
When the dog makes this face it is already very angry — do not go closer, to avoid crossing its bottom line.
6. Ears flattened back, teeth fully bared. This is the fearful expression; the dog has entered a high-level defensive state and may growl to warn the other party, attacking if approached further.
At this point, keep an appropriate distance and stop doing anything that provokes it, to avoid being bitten.
These are the meanings behind a dog’s different expressions; we hope you now understand your dog more fully. For more, you can also read our guide on what a dog’s tail positions mean.
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