the lip curl

pets4life · 11-07-2012, 04:58 PM

when a dog curls its lips to another dog while it has a ball in its mouth does this usually mean it has a strong urge to drop the ball in its mouth and bite the other dog for real? Like its gonna give a live bite? or seriously thinking about it? Those slight lip curls? Just curious.

I saw a shepherd doing this to a doberman the other day it did not end in a fight though, he owners didnt care or notice.

I always thought this usually meant a live bite was going to happen. But a full face smile can be anything?

hunterisgreat · 11-07-2012, 05:10 PM

No, it's one dog communicating to another. My male shows teethe all the time at my other dogs. Never bit any of them

pets4life · 11-07-2012, 06:01 PM

do your male and females do the slight lip curl thing also? neither have ever bitten a dog right?

My dog has bitten another dog (self defense) and i never see her lip curl or show teeth lol

mine doesn't smile either ever

DJEtzel · 11-07-2012, 07:03 PM

Lip curls can mean lots of things. My puppy does it to a dog that doesn't like him that he has bad history with. He never goes any further.

If a dog was going it while it had a ball in it's mouth to another dog, it likely meant that he WANTED that ball, and was resource guarding it. Get the other dog away PRONTO, or a fight COULD occur. It's never good behavior; some dogs will attack another dog over a toy, some just growl or lip curl, some don't care about the toys.

11-07-2012, 04:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
pets4life Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Kingston Ontario Posts: 1,336	the lip curl when a dog curls its lips to another dog while it has a ball in its mouth does this usually mean it has a strong urge to drop the ball in its mouth and bite the other dog for real? Like its gonna give a live bite? or seriously thinking about it? Those slight lip curls? Just curious. I saw a shepherd doing this to a doberman the other day it did not end in a fight though, he owners didnt care or notice. I always thought this usually meant a live bite was going to happen. But a full face smile can be anything?

11-07-2012, 05:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
hunterisgreat Knighted Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 2,383	No, it's one dog communicating to another. My male shows teethe all the time at my other dogs. Never bit any of them __________________ Hunter, USA trial helper, Charleston Working Dog Club Training Helper Beschützer des Jägers v. Sportwaffen, HOT, IPO1, AD, CGC Katya v. Hügelblick, HOT, IPO2, CGC SG Aska v. Ketscher Wald, 2 x SchH3, Kkl 1

11-07-2012, 06:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
pets4life Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Kingston Ontario Posts: 1,336	do your male and females do the slight lip curl thing also? neither have ever bitten a dog right? My dog has bitten another dog (self defense) and i never see her lip curl or show teeth lol mine doesn't smile either ever Last edited by pets4life; 11-07-2012 at 06:06 PM.

11-07-2012, 07:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
DJEtzel Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 3,652	Lip curls can mean lots of things. My puppy does it to a dog that doesn't like him that he has bad history with. He never goes any further. If a dog was going it while it had a ball in it's mouth to another dog, it likely meant that he WANTED that ball, and was resource guarding it. Get the other dog away PRONTO, or a fight COULD occur. It's never good behavior; some dogs will attack another dog over a toy, some just growl or lip curl, some don't care about the toys. __________________ Danielle, owner of... Fraggle Rock Collars & Three lovely boys; Fraggle Vom Richcreek CGC Sir; Rescued APBT Red Dog's Reconnaissance Man

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