Dog smiles — what they mean

Matt: When my dog smiles, is he really smiling? He is practically human. He looks like he’s smiling, but I don’t know.... Do you? — Bob G., El Cajon

That sort of grimace, when Bowser’s face muscles contract and pull his mouth back into what we’d call a smile, does show excitement and the pleasure of being recognized as part of the gang. By the way, while you think of your dog as “practically human,” your dog considers you a dog. That’s a compliment.