Facial Communication
Can canines turn on their puppy eyes when humans look at them? Research suggests, YES! Dogs’ eyes, tongue, and ears accent their facial movement when people look at them.
Studies show dogs produce more expressions with attention from a human, including eyebrows and head tilts. Contrary to movements when ignored to presented with a treat. As a rule, dogs accept treats but not with the same twinkle in their eye as with a conversation.
This suggests that puppy facial expressions are not unconscious movements. Intentional communication to humans, not just other dogs, is an exciting concept.
The ongoing studies of people and dogs show the evolution of their relationship. In general, the facial expression is considered emotionally driven. Indeed, if faces do change, then a canine can alter it based on the situation.
Related Experiences
Many studies identify that dogs understand the words and tone of human speech. Training puppies is done with a short session and consistent words to teach a behavior. Yelling or expletives don’t get the desired results. Obviously, dogs learn acceptable behaviors from their humans.
In one study, researchers video-recorded 24 dogs over a series of test cases. The person faced the dog, turned around, presented a treat, or did not. They examined the film frame by frame, noting the changes in the facial muscles.
Subsequently, they concluded that the pooches produced more facial changes when the person faced them. This included raising their eyebrows and showing their tongues. The results reveal that the dogs returned far more facial expressions when people looked at them.
Wrapped Around the Puppy’s Paw?
The presence of a snack had no impact on the dog’s expression. This intimates the facial movements change based on interactions; treats, conversations, or other dogs appear different.
Are these facial changes in your dog used to wrap owners around their paws? Although it is like a learned behavior like we see with children.
For example, the tests tried proving dogs intentionally manipulated their expressions to get more treats. The results did not confirm this theory. Studies showed doggy expressions were not merely the result of internal emotions. It strongly indicated a possible mechanism of communication. The researchers saw dogs make their eyes appear more prominent – a trait humans find cute.
Overall
People believe their dog’s behaviors are in response to how they are treated. The 30,000 years of domestication of dogs suggest facial expressions are part of communication. Non-verbal communications are effective with emotionally connected parties.
In this case, there is no conclusive evidence that the movements are deliberate. Dogs are sensitive to human attention. Facial expressions are only one way. The wagging tails, wiggling buts, and other attention-grabbers often seem premeditated as they get the desired results.
However, researchers stressed the study does not shed light on what the dogs might be trying to communicate. In addition, it cannot confirm if the movements are intentional. Long time dog owners might disagree.
Research will continue into taught and learned versus natural behaviors.