Greyhounds have a crazy way of grinning, which has caused many an alarmed call to the local adoption group by startled, new owners.
The “greyhound grin” is a a smile that greyhounds employ to show joy, friendliness, and playfulness. Those unfamiliar with the greyhound may feel apprehensive, intimidated, or even threatened when they see the greyhound’s smile. Like all dogs, greyhounds are also capable of snarling. One who is unfamiliar with a greyhound’s expression is advised to step back, and observe the rest of the dog’s demeanor and body language, before reacting.
If your greyhound has shown you his teeth, this article will help you interpret why he may have done so. I will also guide you to further authoritative resources to give you a clear picture of your greyhound’s feelings.
Table of Contents
- Greyhound Grinning Vs. Greyhound Growling
- Greyhounds Have a Variety of Smiles for Different Expressions
- An Exception to the Above Rule
- Glossery of Greyhound Grins
- A Growlie; Then, a Smile, Followed by an Air-Snap
- A Toothy Smile with the Head Down and Soft Eyes
- Greyhound Smiling While Asleep
- Greyhound on Side, Closed-lip Smile
- Greyhound Tight-Lipped, Wide Smile
- Resources for Further Exploration
Greyhound Grinning Vs. Greyhound Growling
People getting to know greyhounds for the first time are often surprised at how expressive they are. An article from the National Greyhound Association describes it well:
”They smile, laugh, grumble, growl, yodel, and whimper in an attempt to communicate. These are not aggressive acts. The showing of teeth is generally considered a smile, which is a common trait of the Greyhound.”
NGA (National Greyhound Association)
This is, essentially, a happy article about the adorable smiles that greyhounds display. Chances are, though, that you are reading it, because your greyhound has shown his teeth to you, and you are alarmed and seeking answers. I would love to tell you that you have, 100%, no reason to worry, that no greyhound has ever bitten anybody, but that would be untrue – After all, you’ve adopted a dog, not a saint. I can, however, tell you that your greyhound is extremely unlikely to bite you randomly, without reason, and without signalling you, somehow.
First, let’s establish whether your hound is grinning or growling. Information taken out of context, like this quote from the the Barton Heights Veterinary Hospital, have frightened many new greyhound owners:
.”Postures and body language that may be cautionary are:
- Stiff or frozen posture
- Eyes wide with lots of white showing
- Tense mouth, curled lips
- Wrinkled nose
- Growling”
“May be” is a good qualifier, in the case of greyhounds. My greyhound, Lily, does the “whale eye” (whites showing) when she wants some of my toast. Even my husband was frightened, early on, by Lily’s wrinkled nose. We found out later that she was having a flehmen response – Pulling up her lip to take in his scent. Must’ve been that new aftershave!
The ASPCA wisely counsels,
”Teeth don’t always mean aggression—it is important to consider the whole body and the context to understand what a dog is saying.”
ASPCA
To help you follow this good advice, I have created the chart, below, to compare the smiling greyhound mouth with the snarling one. Which side of the chart best matches your greyhound’s expression? (edit – greyhounds also snap their tails while playing).
If, after using the chart, you feel that your greyhound was upset with you, go to my article on greyhound growling, which I will link again at the end of this article. In that section, you will also find a link which will take you directly to this subject on the Greytalk Forum.
Greyhounds Have a Variety of Smiles for Different Expressions
Again, putting the precaution up front: a greyhound who is both showing you his teeth and growling may be warning you. The growl may be so low, you may wonder if that’s what you really heard. That growl says that you are making him uncomfortable, and need to back off. His other growl style is a short snarl/bark, often accompanied by a snap. Greyhounds tend to reserve this expression for sudden pain or fear of an imminent attack. My “growling” article goes into greater detail. Now, on to the happy stuff…
An Exception to the Above Rule
For a dog known for it’s quietness, the greyhound can be surprisingly noisy! Because people think of them as the barkless breed, their deep-chested vocalizations often frighten those who are not familiar with them.
Even my neighbor, a woman with long greyhound experience, was taken aback when her new hound, a large male, went into a toothy blast of growling at my dog, Lily. I admit, I had never seen anything quite like it, either; so why was I not worried? Finn made these sounds while in a play-stance, and then ducked behind his owner like a coy puppy. Apparently, this was his way of flirting! Lily’s lack of concern reassured us that Finn was just being goofy and macho.
Glossery of Greyhound Grins
A Growlie; Then, a Smile, Followed by an Air-Snap
You: “huh?”
I know, it sounds like I’m contradicting myself!
If you are rubbing your greyhound’s ears, or scratching him above his tail, he may enjoy it so much, that he emits a low, moaning grunt or growl (I call these “growlies,” because they are happy). Now, if you suddenly stop the affection, your greyhound is likely to turn a smiling face to you, as if to ask why you’ve stopped. With this kind of grin, the teeth are slightly parted, and he will almost look as though he’s about to say something. Hold still for one more moment, and that is when he may snap in your general direction. That’s the greyhound way of cracking the whip, playfully letting you know that he’d like the joy to continue.
A Toothy Smile with the Head Down and Soft Eyes
This is more of a submissive smile. Your greyhound wants to please, but maybe feels a little unsure of the situation. If he gives you this smile (sometimes with teeth together) and shows you his belly, he’s looking for a belly-rub.
Greyhound Smiling While Asleep
Some of the craziest greyhound smiles you see in photos are when they are asleep on their backs. This is more of function of gravity, pulling the flews down in a way that exposes the teeth….
…and, yes, in answer to your question, Lily is, indeed, asleep in this photo. Did I mention that greyhounds can open their eyes and still be asleep?
In the case of a greyhound growling and baring his teeth in his sleep, the best advice is the old adage, “Let sleeping dogs lie.” He is having a dream, and it would not be safe to startle him.
Greyhound on Side, Closed-lip Smile
A very content greyhound may display a cute, little smile, if he has found a very comfortable spot or is resting after a good dinner.
Greyhound Tight-Lipped, Wide Smile
There used to be a prize awarded for Biggest Greyhound Grin at our adoption group’s annual picnic. The winning cheesy smile was usually produced by a greyhound who loved getting scratched in a certain spot, between the corner of his mouth and his ear.
It’s terribly cute when a greyhound does this. The drawn-back lip, however, does not always indicate pleasure – It’s also how a greyhound expresses pain or other physical discomfort.
Greyhounds, as much as they can be big babies, can often be very stoic about pain. Lily, for example, screamed when a vet-tech tried to clip her nails; yet, was completely silent recently, when her claw got caught in our carpet and ripped out from the root. Small signs, like the lip pulling back, may be the only sign he gives you that something is uncomfortable for him. When you see this particular type of grin, be sure you’re reading it right!
