Dogs are naturally happy and smiley creatures, but they can sometimes look a little too serious. By teaching your dog to smile, you can help create a more positive impression of your pet.First, try to catch your dog smiling naturally. Once you have a good look, try to imitate his smile. It is important to ensure that you are not copying his expression exactly; instead, modify it so that it looks less ferocious.Once your dog has caught on to the idea, start attempting to elicit specific responses from him. Begin by placing his food or favourite toy just out of reach. Start to move toward it, then halt and look back at your pet. As soon as he looks back at you, give in and give him the treat or toy. This teaches him that it is okay to stop moving in the middle of an action and wait for you to give in to his demands.After this first interaction has been mastered, begin adding a bit more difficulty into the mix. Instead of being immediately rewarded for moving in the right direction, try requiring him to wait for longer periods before receiving something he desires. This will make him more comfortable with delaying gratification and encourage his brain to think ahead during subsequent attempts at obtaining the reward he wants.
How long does it take to teach a dog to smile?
A dog can be taught to smile in as little as four to eight weeks. There are a number of techniques that you can use to teach a dog to smile including shaping, repetition, and desensitization.Shaping involves pairing a cue with a reward such as food or play. The cue is paired with the behavior that you want the dog to learn such as a smile. You can also shape a bite into a smile or a tail wag into a smile.Repetition is an effective way to teach your dog to do something in repetition without fail such as smiling. You can teach your dog to repeat a phrase such as “smiling is fun” over and over again until they learn it.Desensitization is used to help your dog get used to the sight of something such as sharp objects. The object is placed first in an unconcerned state and later intermittently in an agitated state. When your dog shows no signs of anxiety, the object is slowly introduced in the same manner you would use when performing the behavior you are teaching.