Brinsks, A Dog That Smiles Since He Was Rescued
The pitbulls generate different feelings among people. Different episodes that have appeared in the media have generated real animosity towards this breed. But meeting Brinsks, the smiling dog, may change the image.
The story of Brinsks, the smiling dog
This stray pit bull was roaming Brooklyn when he collided with a human and his dog. The human was Jon and his Demo dog, and the 3 connected instantly. Jon decided to stay with Brinks while he tried to find his owner.
Months passed and the owner of Brinsks did not appear. So Jon decided that he should stay with his new friend. At that time , the dog was only 11 months old. But as you can see, he’s still smiling 12 years later.
Everyone who knows Brinsks, the smiling dog, claims that anyone who thinks pit bulls are scary would have to meet Brinks. What is really surprising is that Brinks smiles frequently, as if he were a human being, in situations that give him pleasure.
Jon says Brinks “Smile if you give him treats, when you greet him in the morning and when he’s sleeping.” His smile can be seen any time the animal is happy, if he is driving, if he lies in the sun or is in front of the fire.
Is it normal to find a dog that smiles?
Dogs have been shown to have the ability to make special sounds and curve their mouths when they are happy, gestures that scientists identify with human laughter.
Experts say that the laugh that some owners have the sensation of perceiving in their furry friends, while playing or interacting with them, is actually the smile of a happy animal.
Almost human gestures and emotions
We are not so different. There are many emotions that we have always believed are unique to humans, but that are replicated in animals. There are many sensations, such as love, communication and understanding towards other people’s feelings.
This smile gesture in the dog is very similar to that produced by the face of a happy person. The angle of the mouth becomes more pronounced and stretches almost from ear to ear. The laughter of dogs is easy to visualize when they play, when they are in a company that they like, etc.
Does the dog’s laugh have a sound?
Finding out if the smiling dog also makes noise has drawn the attention of numerous researchers. Among them is the expert in canine behavior Patricia Simonet, from the University of Sierra Nevada, in the USA.
This ethologist went to the parks where meetings of these animals took place “armed” with powerful microphones. The purpose of the experiment was to record the laughter of the dogs while they played and had fun with other conspecifics.
These studies have yielded important conclusions. The panting of dogs when they play does not always sound the same. In the middle of the fun, a different and more choppy sound is produced.
This sound is contagious for other dogs, it transmits joy and a desire for fun. In this way, canine laughter would be generated. It’s a ragged gasp, a kind of hhuh, hhuh.
Contagious laughter
These recordings of dog laughter were used in another experiment. They were heard by a group of 15 puppies. The researchers’ surprise was great to see their reaction. The little ones exploded with joy just hearing the canned sounds of the laughter of other dogs.
This positive impact of laughs from other dogs is being used in shelters and adoption centers. In these cases, the happy sounds of other dogs improve the mood and reduce the stress of dogs that have suffered abandonment and are waiting for a home.
The meaning of the gesture
This smiling expression does not necessarily indicate happiness. When the animal’s mouth has opened just a bit, with a slight appearance of a smile, it may actually be anxious or nervous about something. Signs of distress that accompany a stiff smile can include a heavy panting with the tongue, moaning, and chattering of the teeth.
It is up to future studies to determine the cases in which this type of canine gestures signify happiness or some other type of sensation.
Source of the photos: www.actitudfem.com
