When I look at a dog’s mouth, I’m not just looking to see if he stiffens his jaw or shows me his teeth; I’m looking to see if the corners go forward or backward. Forward correlates with status-seeking dogs who are not the dogs you want in a family with three kids under five. Commissures pulled back in a defensive grin, even if the dog is growling and snarling at me, means the dog is on defense and is afraid either of losing her food or of what is about to happen. Either dog can bite, but it’s important to know as much as you can about a dog’s internal state before you give a prognosis and
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