Wednesday, October 9, 2024

The Reason Dogs Have Puppy Dog Eyes

No matter what they do – all is forgiven when they show the puppy dog eyes…how did they learn the trick?

They are known as man’s best friend and have been around 30-40,000 years. Dogs became domesticated to help humans during the hunter/gatherer phase of development. And the bond has stuck ever since.  Europe, Canada and the US are the most bonded to their dogs. “Puppy dog eyes” started around 1910 in popular journalism and has stuck. It is a reference to the sweet, adoring way dog can look at you…especially if they have done something wrong or in need. And it seems, the reason dogs have puppy dog eyes is do to man. This seemingly simple movement of eyebrows is proof of canine evolution and is due to their constant companionship with their pet parents.

RELATED: The Best Refreshing Cocktails

A study published in the Journal of the National Academy of Sciences explains dogs’ faces are capable of complex expressions thanks to a pair of muscles located near their eyes. By pulling their inner eyebrows dogs are able to give us the famous and adorable stare, facilitating human care and improving their communication skills.

animals, puppy, canine

The study, conducted by the University of Portsmouth, was interested in how dogs controlled their brows and how this movement was used as a tool for communication. Researchers gathered some dogs and studied these two muscles, finding that they work in tandem to widen and open dog’s eyes. Results showed dogs move their eyebrows more often when humans paid attention to them and less often when they were ignored or given food. These findings suggest that the eyebrow movement is voluntary, and that dogs use it to express their needs.

Other results show that humans tend to respond positively to these arching eyebrows and that people and dogs receive a dose of oxytocin when engaging in eye-to-eye contact.

RELATED: This Is Why We Value Dogs More Than Cats

In order to learn if this trait was due to human influence, researchers gathered some data on wolves. These animals were unable to replicate eyebrow movements, proving that our decades of adopting dogs as pets have changed some of their behavior.

Dogs may not be able to hunt as ably as they used to, but they can try their hardest to mirror our facial expressions. When it comes to living with humans, cuteness is what matters most.

MUST READ

These Strong Cocktails Will Help You Forget Politics

Wherever you turn, the talk is the election, these strong cocktails will help you forget politics and relax.

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR

This Epic Love Story Is Being Set To Music

It was a drama which captured the world's attention - now this epic love story is being set to music.

Don't Miss Your Weekly Dose of The Fresh Toast.

Stay informed with exclusive news briefs delivered directly to your inbox every Friday.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.