Have you ever met a “smiling” dog? At first glance this quirky trait can easily be mistaken for a vicious attack, but rather than peeling back their lips in fear or aggression, “smilers” do it when overcome with joy!
Photographer, Rachel Ebel loves smiling dogs so much that she spent three years, six months and 18 days training her Dalmatian, Griffin to grin on command!
My sweet, semi-delusional lap dog, three years and eighty pounds later. <3 Can’t imagine life without this giant baby, and all the joy (and occasional chaos) he brings.
Also, does this count as leg day?
Posted by Rachel Ebel on Thursday, December 22, 2016
“The ‘Dalmatian smile’ is an endearing, though at times terrifying, trait that’s unique to the breed,” Ebel told The Huffington Post. “It’s something they’re known for. And as a photographer and dog lover, I found myself wondering how difficult it’d be to teach him to share this unique quirk on command for the camera.”
Griffin has been grinning sporadically ever since he was a puppy, but it happened so quickly that Ebel found it difficult to reinforce the behavior and train him to do it on command.
“The other day, he happened to show it right as I was giving him a treat, so I took advantage and kept working on it with him,” she said. “Ten minutes later, he was a pro.”
Now whenever Ebel wants a peek at that goofy grin all she has to do is croon “Smiiiiiiiiiiile” in the “highest-pitched, most obnoxious voice possible.”
Like any proud mama, Ebel wanted to share Griffin’s new trick with the world, so she shared a photo of his toothiest smile to Reddit.
It took 3 years, 6 months and 18 days but this afternoon I finally taught my dog how to smile on command. I’m so proud. from pics
Redditer, NoChoiceForBilly, was reminded of a pop culture movie reference.
Others were unsure whether they should find Griffin’s smile endearing or terrifying – or a bit of both!
Ebel’s friends seem to agree that “adorifying” about sums it up! She told HuffPost:
“The reactions from my friends have ranged from admiration to terror, but I’m just proud of my strange, beautiful, camera-ham of a dog,” she said. “While it’s admittedly a little creepy looking, I actually happen to find it adorable. What’s that quote again about ‘having a face only a mother could love?’”
H/T to The Huffington Post
via Whisker Therapy