wibeke wrote:If a wolf smiles, they're baring their teeth and you're setting yourself up to get attacked.
So yeah, go ahead and smile. Just have your wolf attack anyone who smiles at them, watch their reactions. =D
Speaking of which, I'm trying to make a realistic wolf RP, but everytime i got to edit it I find more things to add. I don't want a massive text wall, I just want to practice not having them "speak." I thought it would be quick, fun, practice.
Now I'm putting together a whole post on wolf behavior. =P
Actually, canids do smile - wild canids usually don't bare the teeth in a human-like smile the way some dogs will (although apparently some wolves will do it as a sign of submission when approaching a dominant wolf), but they do an open-mouthed smile with the mouth slightly more open than usual, the lips relaxed around the teeth and pulled back, creating a crinking at the corners of the mouth as a human does if they're smiling with an open mouth, and often a slight relaxed narrowing of the eyes and a slight raising or tossing of the head. Tongue may or may not be hanging out. It is distinct from the typical panting expression, and also from the fear-pant, which has tight lips and wide eyes combined with rapid panting. The smile is often paired with a dog laugh, which is a distinct emphatic panting sound that will induce other dogs to play just at the sound of it.
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Classic dog smileSo if someone just says a wolf is 'smiling', that is well within normal wolf facial expressions. If they say that the wolf is smiling by baring its teeth in a big toothy grin... no. X3 Same for laughing - a wolf can laugh, but they won't be giving a 'big hearty laugh' or anything like that; it just sounds like panting.
Anyway, just my two cents. If the RP creator specifically said not to use the term 'smiling', then it is kind of rude to keep doing it though. 'Pant-smiled' just doesn't have the same flow to it though.