Author: Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP

How Can You Tell If Your Dog Is Happy If They Aren’t Smiling? Not all dogs will smile, even when they’re happy. So how do you know if your dog is happy? Look at your dog’s body language. A happy dog will have a relaxed body posture and often, a wagging tail. Their face will look soft and calm, and if they’re playing or running, you’ll often see a wide, panting smile. Most dogs aren’t particularly subtle when they’re happy, and they will reflect your happiness, as well. Featured Image: iStock.com/SariJuurinen,WRITTEN BYSandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP Veterinarian Sandra Mitchell is a 1995 graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. Since graduation, she has worked in many fields…,If you have a dog, you’ve probably seen that endearing look—the relaxed face, soft eyes, and wide grin. It’s hard to believe that your dog isn’t smiling at you, but do dogs smile like we do? If so, why? Can Dogs Really Smile? Most behaviorists don’t really consider a dog “smiling” to be a true grin in the way we think about a human smile. Many canine expressions can be seen as a “smile,” including wide-mouth panting, relaxing with their tongues out, and submissive grins. Even aggressive baring of the teeth can be mistaken by some as a friendly greeting. However, most of the time when dogs smile, they are indeed happy, so it’s easy to relate that expression to human smiles. Most scientists think the canine smile stems from a combination of evolution and the fact that dogs are masters of analyzing human behavior. They know exactly how to make us happy. Since most humans react when they see a dog smile—either by smiling back, making approving noises, or providing treats—the dog is rewarded for this behavior and does it more often. Genetically, this behavior may come from neoteny, which means when animals become domesticated, they retain some behaviors from puppyhood in adulthood. This includes emotional greetings, jumping, tail-wagging, licking, and yes—the adorable canine smile.

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It’s a pretty strange sight—your dog is peacefully sleeping on the bed, but their eyes are partly open, unfocused, and looking out into space. As creepy as this may seem, it is common and usually normal. Why Do Dogs Sleep With Their Eyes Open? We really don’t know why dogs sleep with their eyes partially open, but there are quite a few theories. Your dog is not fully asleep. The most likely scenario is that your dog may only be partly asleep. In the early stages of sleep, dogs relax deeply but doze lightly. In this state, they may be relaxed enough to appear asleep but have not yet fully lost consciousness, so their eyes haven’t fully closed. These dogs usually return to full awareness very quickly if stimulated. Often, just quietly saying their name is enough to return them to wide-eyed consciousness. It’s instinctual for dogs to stay alert while sleeping. Another theory about why dogs will do this is related to evolution. Animals in the wild need to maintain some degree of situational awareness. In fact, birds can put half of their brain to sleep, leaving the other half active. They can even fly while asleep! Animals that are able to “keep an eye out” on their surroundings may have a definite advantage. It is possible that our pampered house pets have retained some of this protective instinct. They may be much more deeply asleep, but still have some part of their brain alert and functioning. Some may also show a “raised third eyelid” (also known as a nictitating membrane) while they are asleep. This membrane is a partly clear, protective layer that covers the eye. It usually comes up from the corner of the eye nearest the nose, and often has a pinkish or yellowish hue. Your dog may be in REM sleep. Many dogs sleep with their eyes partly open during REM sleep, or the stage of sleep in which dreams occur. In this stage, you may see twitching, barking, and even eye movements. Many people confuse this stage of sleep with a seizure, because the dog is unconscious but still showing movement, and sometimes vocalization. However, dogs that are experiencing a seizure often have much more violent movements, are impossible to arouse, and will often have eyes fully open and “staring into space” as opposed to the half-open, relaxed look of dogs that are sleeping. Your dog may have an eye condition. There may also be a medical reason behind why your dog seems to be sleeping with their eyes open. Some dogs develop conditions of the eyes or eyelids that make it difficult or impossible to close their eyes normally. These dogs will always sleep with their eyes open, not just sometimes. These types of disorders are most common in dogs with short, smushed-in faces and big eyes, like Pugs or Boston Terriers. In breeds with huge, bulging eyes, their lids may be so small that they can’t normally close their eyes. Dogs with narcolepsy may also sleep with their eyes open. If your dog falls asleep at inappropriate times, such as while eating, playing, or even going to the bathroom, they may have narcolepsy. In most cases, this condition isn’t subtle and will prompt a speedy visit to your veterinarian. If you think your dog has a medical condition that makes it impossible to sleep with their eyes closed, or if you think your dog may be having seizures,  schedule a checkup with your veterinarian. It can also be helpful to get a video of what your dog is actually doing at home to take with you to your appointment. A picture or video is often worth a thousand words in these situations!

Have you ever been relaxing with a good book or show, only to be startled by your sleeping dog suddenly barking, howling, twitching, and/or “running” in their sleep? If so, you’re not alone—these are common canine behaviors. Why Is My Dog Barking in Their Sleep? The most common reason dogs bark in their sleep is simple: they’re dreaming! Dogs go through very similar stages of sleep as people. When they first settle down to sleep, they will be relaxed and aware for about 10 minutes before entering a light sleep. During this period, their body temperature lowers, their heart rate drops, and their eyes may even be only partially closed. Eventually, they enter a period called non-REM sleep, which is when the body repairs cells and builds muscles and bone. As they sleep, just like people, dogs shift between non-REM sleep and REM “rapid eye movement” sleep. Dreaming usually occurs during REM. This period is also associated with sleepwalking and motion, including dogs “running” and barking in their sleep. Your dog may be dreaming about catching a ball in the park, playing with the dog next door, or even taunting the cat. While some dogs are active sleepers, there are differences between individuals and even breeds. Small dog breeds alternate between non-REM and REM sleep more frequently than larger breeds, so they tend to have more dreams and may bark more. According to Stanley Coren, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of British Columbia and the author of Do Dogs Dream? Nearly Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know, large breed dogs follow human cycles, going into REM sleep roughly every 90 minutes, whereas small breeds might go into REM as often as every 10 minutes. For the most part, dogs barking and moving in their sleep is completely normal. However, if this is a new behavior, or it seems to be happening more, mention it to your vet to rule out any underlying issues.

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Your dog climbs up for their nightly snuggle, and you suddenly notice that their breath is bad enough to knock you out! You know gum disease can be a common issue for dogs, but you don’t know what to look for or what’s normal when it comes to dog gums. Here are all the details of what to check, from the way your dog’s gums should feel to what color they should be. Signs of Healthy Gums in Dogs Healthy dog gums look a lot like healthy people gums. For the most part, a healthy dog has gums that are bubble-gum pink, or even salmon pink. Some other dog breeds have naturally dark-colored or spotted gums, and this can be normal for your pet. However, if their gum color changes over time, that may be concerning. Normal gums are moist and slippery. There should be no odor when you get near your dog’s mouth, and you shouldn’t see any swelling, lumps, or bumps. Healthy, pink gums on a dog (Photo Credit: Sandra Mitchell, DVM)

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