(07-07-2012, 05:28 AM)laurasav Wrote: That was so funny! I kept laughing every time that dog smiled! Now I want to teach my kitty cats to smile - they could do a cheshire cat grin, I'm thinking!!! LOL Then I'll have to get it on camera and post to YouTube! :-)
I'm curious how the dog learned to smile on cue. You suggested it was from getting its teeth brushed, which makes sense. Do you brush your dog's teeth? I've never tried brushing my cats' teeth, but I can rub my finger along their teeth and gums and they usually don't mind that.
I don't brush my dog's teeth either. It didn't seem necessary back then because they hydrate themselves often and their diet was mainly composed or rice, vegetables and meat. They were also given bones to gnaw on occasionally. But now that I've switched them to dog food, I've been observing their teeth because I've read that their diet is the main reason why some dogs require brushing while others don't.
(07-07-2012, 07:37 AM)TreeClimber Wrote: Haopee, that was really cute. I wonder how they taught the dog to smile on command? It might have been during teeth brushing. Although, sometimes you can take something a dog does and turn it into a trick. The dog might have been doing this on its own, so the owner decided to teach it to do it on command. I did this with my dog. She was always jumping up and hitting people on their hands. So, I taught her "high five". Now she will do it on command.
Is smiling natural to dogs? I've seen my dog smile from time to time. It does appear that sometimes that smile comes when she is showing happiness.
I've taught Peanuts the "high five" and "paw" because I saw her doing it often. Now, she could do it in command.
This also how I taught Chooey the "Up" trick where she stands on her hind legs. I caught her and my mom "dancing". Chooey would stand on her hind legs and move as if she's dancing too.
