These days, when I look at my dog's face for a long time, I suddenly think this.

"Oh, are you smiling? No, you're sulking, right? Oh my, you're pouting again!"

This is really amazing. How can an animal that doesn't speak express emotions so richly?

With just two eyes, a black nose, and a somewhat ambiguous mouth, with these small features.

Honestly, I didn't know when I was younger. I thought dogs just wagged their tails when they were happy and growled when they were not... I didn't think their emotional expressions were particularly diverse.

But it's strange. The longer we live together, the more refined the emotional lines I read from their faces become.

What started as "cute~" now feels more detailed, like "he seems a bit disappointed right now," or "he just rolled his eyes, right?"

Especially when they pout!

That look... it seems to contain all the sadness in the world. Even without eyebrows, I don't know how they can have such a pitiful expression.

When their eyes get a little watery, it looks like a movie poster. It makes me want to give them one more treat without even realizing it, haha.

Once, my dog was staring at the sweet potato I was eating so intently that I ended up giving him half because he looked so pitiful. I don't even know why I did that...

And when they smile, of course, they aren't actually smiling, but the unique expression of a dog's mouth slightly curling up, with bright eyes.

The feeling of "Mom! I'm so happy right now!" bursts from that face.

When going for a walk, when getting in the car for an outing, especially every time I gather my things, that expression filled with anticipation. It's like they have a more optimistic expression about the future than I do.

When they're excited, it's different too. Their tongue is flapping, their eyes are wide, and their whole body moves like an expression, but strangely, just looking at their face, I can tell, "This dog is up right now."

In that moment when I think I need to calm them down, their expression changes again.

When they're biting and playing, it's literally a 'dog mess,' but the message "I'm really having fun right now!" is just written on their face.

On the other hand, when they're angry?

Whether small or large dogs, when they're angry, it's clear. Their ears go back, their eyes become more serious, and even the shape of their mouth tightens a bit.

The subtlety of expressions I couldn't feel before is now vividly visible.

Then suddenly, when they change and start licking, saying, "Just kidding, just kidding~" that blank expression makes me laugh again.

But is this just a story of 'I've been looking for a long time'?

I don't think so. Dogs these days really have richer faces.

Why? Because there are more breeds that have been finely adjusted to human tastes, called 'designer breeds.'

Eyes have gotten bigger, wrinkles have formed, and even the jawline, forehead, and ear shapes have evolved to express emotions better.

In other words, it's the result of 'human selection' rather than natural selection. It feels like emotions are finely tuned to be captured on their faces, like a camera lens aperture?

Moreover, these days, dogs grow up making eye contact with human families, so it seems they've also learned how to read human faces.

Making eye contact, turning their heads, resting their chins... Oh, sorry, is that just my dog?

These days, I suddenly think this. One day, could there be a time when dogs express emotions like emojis?

When they're angry, lightning in their eyes, when they're happy, sparkling stars, when they're sleepy, ZZZ... Of course, that's an exaggeration, but looking at the richness of these expressions, there are times when it feels more cartoonish than cartoons.

Anyway, the evolving expressions of dogs.

Just looking at my dog's face, it feels like they know my mood these days, and I feel like I can read their feelings too.

There are no words, but a clearer and deeper connection is exchanged than any conversation.

Is that why? Today, while working, I find myself looking at my dog's face again, thinking once more.

"Hey, you... are you really smiling?"

And they turn their head with a very natural expression, like they're chewing gum.

...They were really smiling.