What the shape of your mouth tells me!

Human mouths are much more flexible than dog mouths, and they say a lot more, both verbally and non-verbally. Here are some points to look for when preparing for communication with a human. Sometimes it's a mouth-eye combo! Is the mouth:

• thin lipped and pressed together tight?
• pressed together and with a jutting chin?
• smiling? can you see teeth in the smile or is it small with just lips?
• turned down at the corners?
• turned up at one corner?
• in repose?
• gnawing at the lips, or teeth snaggling the lips?
• open for talking? (intelligent eyes, far away eyes, purposeful eyes, disinterested eyes)
• open for singing? (happy, purposeful or relaxed eyes)
• open for shouting? (wide, mean or cranky or slitty eyes)
• howling? (look for wet eyes with this one)
• trembling?
• sneering? (can you see teeth?)
• grimacing? (eyes might be squinty here if pain is bad)
• pale or blueish?
• painted a pretty colour?
• healthy or sore like sunburn or run-down immune system?

Does the mouth settle or become softer or smiley when you approach?

Learning: You can tell a lot of important stuff about what a person is thinking and feeling, just by looking at how they hold their mouth.