Gape

The dog's lips are retracted back both horizontally and vertically, with the mouth open or wide open. Generally used as a defensive threat display.
(Fox, 1971; Goodmann et al., 2002; Koler-Matznick et al., 2005)

The female German Shepherd mix is exhibiting a threat display by gaping at the tawny mixed breed male, who reacts by staring directly at her from a lateral stance.

VIDEO

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In this reaction between two females, the playful Border Collie puppy approaches the adult Jack Russel, who reacts with a weak threat display. The puppy then attempts to knock down the Jack Russel, who again responds with a weak threat display and then ignores her. The puppy then attempts a bite, and the Jack Russel moves away; when the puppy displays a playful bite to her neck, the Jack Russel first exhibits a defensive threat display with head down and turned toward the puppy, then moves away. When the puppy nips the Jack Russel on her flank, the adult reacts by gaping, threatening to bite, then moving away. When the puppy again nips the Jack Russel on the flank, the Jack Russel exhibits a frontal attack, with an inhibited bite to the head, then moves away. When the puppy follows her, the Jack Russel exhibits a gape with head lowered and turned toward the puppy, who rears up, prancing. The Jack Russel exhibits a lateral attack, to which the puppy responds with a play bite to the neck and an attempt to knock the adult down. The Jack Russel again exhibits a gape, then moves away, seeking support from her owner.

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