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u/finger_licking_robot 4h ago
does mimicking a dog’s facial expression make you a copycat?
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u/HalfSoul30 4h ago
When my dog was younger and i would copy their movements like this, they would eventually snarl their teeth and do a playful bite towards me lol.
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u/DesireeThymes 3h ago
Lol, the dog gets it. Stop teasing me hooman!
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u/DoNotCommentAgain 3h ago
I feel like cats know when you're laughing at them as well.
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u/DummyDumDragon 3h ago
Except cats mean it when they give the "do you want me to shred your corneas?" look
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u/Ferelar 3h ago
100%. Yesterday my cat was absolutely incensed that we had the temerity to leave him for 8 hours for a Christmas dinner, and he sprinted up and down the stairs past us in a frenzy. Only he slipped and tumbled down a couple loudly.
We all chuckled because he popped right back up and started licking his paws imperiously, but when he heard us all laughing he looked around with an expression that screamed "Well thanks, assholes" and trotted off to sulk (for 3 minutes before remembering he was hungry).
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u/underated_ 2h ago
One of my cats is SO serious. If you accidentally walk in on her being silly she gets really embarrassed. I love catching little snippets of her silliness through a crack in the door, I try not to spoil her fun.
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u/Ok_Nectarine_4445 1h ago
Cats when they do something embarrassing or dumb or clumsy instantly go into I meant to do that mode. I intended to do exactly that.
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u/nifty-necromancer 2h ago
Mine definitely knows when I’m laughing at him, he starts lashing his tail.
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u/Heavy_Invite4945 2h ago
It's not about teasing, dogs don't recognize "teasing". Dogs recognize habitual behaviour as "normal" . If you act in a way that you don't normally act (panting, licking them like they lick you) they get confused/distressed. That's what happens in this video. The dog isnt thinking "oh that human is copying me". For them, panting is an instinctual action so when a human does it, they don't see it as a human panting or acting like a dog, they see it as a human acting in a abnormal way which confuses them.
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u/SplurgyA 1h ago
Completely incorrect. Dogs are surprisingly good at understanding human intent and adapting their behaviour accordingly, especially intelligent breeds like this Alsatians. Dogs also understand pranks on some level (like when they pretend they're going to give you their ball back, and then last minute run off with it).
In this particular example, the dog is confused by the human, but is not distressed. You're probably latching onto the fact the dog is showing "whale eyes" which are often a sign of distress, but they also appear in play. The dog probably doesn't understand "the human is copying me to wind me up". That does not mean dogs do not understand pranks in general, nor does it mean dogs don't understand being laughed at (although they won't necessarily feel it on the level of "I am humiliated").
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u/crumbummmmm 1h ago
> dogs don't recognize "teasing".
Some dogs will run for a fake throw of a ball every time. I knew a friends dog who wouldn't run until he saw the ball in the air, and would snarl at fake throws- he hated being teased with the ball. The amount of emotional intelligence some dogs have, has amazed me.
> If you act in a way that you don't normally act (panting, licking them like they lick you) they get confused/distressed.
I have worked with sled dogs, and when there were forks in the road and we let them choose, they would almost always choose the new path. But I also I worked in a daycare/vet clinic with small dogs who flip out at the change of color in a food brand, or the wrong blanket. I think basing everything on "Dogs recognize habitual behavior as "normal"", is for nervous dogs, or maybe something about how you introduce dogs to new experiences puts them on edge.
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u/jtalion 2h ago
How did you get the opportunity to inhabit the mind of a dog? I'd love to do it too someday
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u/Lowelll 2h ago
Why does it bother you with this comment but not all the others in here that also claim to know what the dog is thinking, just in a way that assumes they're basically humans on 4 legs?
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u/jtalion 2h ago
Fair question. It's equally silly to claim to know for sure that the dog knows they're being teased. I think there is a difference though. To me, your prior comment is presented as factual information about dog behavior, as opposed to just casual observation or speculation like most of the comments in this thread.
Personally, I'm unsure if dogs can make that sort of connection or not. I agree that "assuming they're basically humans on 4 legs" is wrong. But just as often I see people assuming that dogs are only capable of acting on instinct and have no capacity at all for emotion or thought.
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u/Abadabadon 2h ago
I do th same and really wonder if they are worried about us snarling at them or something lol.
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u/F-the-mods69420 2h ago edited 2h ago
Learning sapience one generation at a time
Dogs will one day dig up remains of the ancients
Preserved in their destruction
You gave us happiness and hope when we had none, so we give you the world.
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u/Dixon_Uranuss3 2h ago
You just know this person owns a pitbull......
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u/sweetneiko 4h ago
Certified good boy being mildly inconvinienced
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u/mershed_perderders 3h ago
I understand you have been inconvenienced and I am prepared to compensate you.
Shall we say 1 million greenies?
Very well 2 million!
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u/Ornery_Log_2700 2h ago
that good boy did not consent to the trolling but he’s handling it like a champ
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u/Secure_Pollution4306 2h ago
he’s still a 10/10 good boy just mildly inconvenienced and confused af
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u/SteFau 4h ago
« Are you quite done, hooman? » 🤣
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u/Separate-Simple-5101 4h ago edited 4h ago
You think you’re trolling… might actually be the dog.. 🤣🤣
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u/Pandafight16 3h ago
He shall take the appropriate revenge, do keep an eye on your shoes. I see you like those expensive heels a lot.
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u/Deitaphobia 4h ago
Did she take him to prom?
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u/elephantasmagoric 3h ago
Given the jacket with a paw print she's wearing, my guess is this is at a dog sport competition of some kind (and she's wearing merch for wherever she trained the dog).
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u/CommieCanuck 3h ago
Fun fact the background song is not the Muppets version but the original which is the theme song to a 1960s porno movie called Sweden Heaven and Hell.
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u/MaikeruNeko 3h ago
Not a porno as we'd understand it today though. Gente of film called Mondo, or shockumentary. There were certainly scenes about sexuality, but also darker stuff about drug use and the like.
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u/HeyLookATaco 3h ago
SAY WHAT NOW. I'm a huge Muppets fan and this is all entirely new information.
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u/StrLord_Who 2h ago
Thanks, I was wondering why it sounded different. That was not one of the possibilities I was considering.
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u/FutureLynx_ 4h ago
is he actually aware she is mimicking him?
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u/PoorJoy 4h ago
Probably is confused why she Shows teeth in that context. Probably thought she is mad or aggressive.
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u/MJOLNIRdragoon 3h ago
Dogs that big generally have figured out that human smiles don't equate to aggression.
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u/CheeseDonutCat 3h ago
Most house dogs don't.
My friend has had many dogs over the years and I could smile or show my teeth at any of them and they wouldn't be bothered.
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u/Critical-Support-394 53m ago
Absolutely no dog raised by humans think teeth = aggressive. Not one.
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u/shiftingbaseline_ 33m ago
Probably not. His ear moves first. Presumably he hears her breathing through her mouth and is curious about the unusual sound from her.
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u/kermityfrog2 2h ago
Is the dog also looking at her expression directly or through a camera or mirror? I thought dogs can’t pass the mirror test - they don’t realize that it’s themselves in the mirror.
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u/LawHistorical365 1h ago edited 1h ago
The dog is looking at the phone screen and clearly can tell it's themselves and the owner, which is why it looks at her directly, wondering why she was staring at him through the camera
But for the mirror test it depends, maybe initially they don't, or maybe some dogs are stupid and never realised but I've had multiple dogs and cats that definitely knew it was themselves in the mirror and it would only take a minute or two at the most to realise from the first time ever seeing a mirror.
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u/teb78 4h ago
Not sure, dogs are so dumb. My dogs have the same reaction, I think they are just curious.
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u/guidethyhandd 1h ago
They aren’t dumb, dogs have the iq of a 2-3 year old human toddler which is in fact incredibly smart for an animal
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u/atlasburger 1h ago
They are dumb in an adorable way. Babies are dumb too. It’s why I love golden retrievers. So dumb and happy all the time
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u/Amasterclass 4h ago
SOUND OFF!!!
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u/StrangeNot_AStranger 2h ago
Disagree, turn your sound ALL THE WAY UP! Been an absolute banger for 50 years
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u/Runes_N_Raccoons 3h ago
When my dog barks, I'll bark at the same time as her. Eventually, she'll forget why she was barking because she's annoyed at me!
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u/HelloPanda22 28m ago
My dog has slapped me with her paws for laughing at her clumsiness. They do know when they’re being trolled or made fun of in my experience!
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u/XalAtoh 4h ago
Do dogs really have this type of awareness? Or some dumb trick behind it...
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u/PseudoIntellectual- 2h ago
They're very socially-intelligent animals, though I doubt that he realizes that she's making fun of him specifically. Dogs just tend to get anxious if somebody around them suddenly begins acting in a way that they aren't used to.
He's likely just a bit confused/uncomfortable because she keeps making that weird expression.
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u/rockyfortino 3h ago
What a beautiful woman!
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u/SMUHypeMachine 1h ago
I do this sort of thing all the time with my dog and I love it. Her, not so much.
What really annoys her is when we’re snuggling in bed and I match my breathing to hers. It takes her a minute to realize it but once she does she lets out a huge huff and looks at me funny.
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u/Pretty_Frosting_2588 2h ago
My dog will do those gruff sighs when it gets up out of its bed and I'll mimic it and it will stop and look at me and do a faint bark. I'll do one back and it will do a loud one. Then I'll turn my head and swing back fast and give it The New Guy crazy eye. That will lead to it either running off or coming at me with play bites.
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u/One-Communication310 3h ago edited 3h ago
Theking2384 I am the top dog, can prove it. Already have tbh 10-11 months of it. Wild year so far huh fellows. Facebook anyways beautiful dog just got a golden retriever she’s beautiful got a couple war stripes lol. Please look if you wanna downvote idk hive mind gets out of control. All good fellows..
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u/Curiosive 3h ago
Bearing your teeth is a display of dominance by the leader of the pack. To show your teeth back is a challenge.
That dog was just hanging out and having fun, then this lady started going "alpha male" ... rude. 😁
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u/Horsescatsandagarden 2h ago
Is this a joke?
Animals quickly learn that smiling and laughing are a great thing. Cats, dogs, horses too.
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