Most animal behaviorists say that dogs don’t smile, at least not to convey happiness like humans do. But I believe wholeheartedly in dog smiles. My pups, Spot and Dolly (pictured below), smile during play, while being scratched behind the ears, and in anticipation of a particularly stinky treat.
Other dog owners agree with me, as evidenced by the abundance of smiling dog photos labeled as such on the Internet. With that in mind, here are 10 of the best dog smiles I’ve found online:
1. “Smiling Dog”
Professional photographer Benjamin Liew aptly titled this work, “Smiling Dog.” This pup’s soulful eyes and sweet smile have been spotted on more than a few Pinterest boards.
2. Piper
I wrote about Piper the one-eyed painting bulldog’s artwork last year, and photos of her smiling face sell alongside it and cover her Facebook wall. Whether wearing a fancy scarf or tutu, Piper shines for fellow artist and professional photographer Jessica Stone, who rescued Piper in 2011.
3. Frenchie Pup
This photo of a smiling French Bulldog puppy has been reblogged a ton of times on Tumblr. It’s not hard to see why. That face!
4. “Smile!”
Professional photographer Amy Archer said on her photoblog that this dog, Gibson, smiled for her camera at their first meeting. Such pretty teeth.
5. Corgnelius
Corgnelius made Buzzfeed’s “The 30 Best Dogs Of 2012” list, and with good reason. This pup has a smile on his face, no matter the costume or article of clothing put on him by humans.
6. Moose
Moose the Shar Pei hit Reddit in March of last year and has since racked up more than 800,000 views. Such a happy, contented pup.
7. Trudy aka Good Dog Greg
According to Know Your Meme, this photo got its start as an adoption pic on Petfinder in 2008. Years later, it was submitted to Reddit with the caption “Paws Wet. Stays on Doormat” and became the wildly popular Good Dog Greg meme.
8. Laughing Pug
Either this Pug just heard the funniest joke ever or someone found his tickle spot.
9. Ella
AddieKaa said on Flickr that her dog, Ella, shows all her teeth and sneezes like a maniac when she gets excited. Too cute.
10. Bugsy
This was Bugsy’s adoption photo at the San Luis Obispo County Animal Services Shelter in October, and it’s no wonder he has since found a furever home.
Let’s hear from you in the comments, readers. Do smiling pups get a smile out of you? Also, please post photos of your own smiling pups! And if you need advice on how to keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy, we recently ran “Caring for Your Dog’s Mouth: Tongue, Teeth, and All.” Check it out.
This post was sponsored by DENTASTIX® Daily Oral Care.
