Scientists have confirmed that the dogs use facial expressions to communicate with the person

We tend to think that facial expressions dogs express their emotions, it even affects our attitude toward them. It is proved that dogs who lifted his eyebrows and look great sad eyes, often taken out of sheltersPaedomorphic Facial Expressions Give Dogs a Selective Advantage. .

Many animals, including man, look sad when they are sad, no matter whether their anyone sees or not. But if the animal specifically accepts any expression when he was paying attention - it is a means of communication. And apparently, the dogs are able to do so.

According to a studyHuman attention affects facial expressions in domestic dogs. zoopsychologists, puppies often use facial expressions when the hosts look to them. In the experiment, the time it occurred, regardless of whether they were given at the same time the food (which for dogs is much more attractive than communication with a man).

Therefore, scientists concluded that facial expressions - is not just automatic response to excitation. Otherwise, the dog with the same frequency used to it, and in the preparation of food, and in visual contact with the person. Such a conclusion may seem obvious, but just because we have come to expect from human emotions pets.

For example, we believe that the dog or cat, naughty, feel guilty and realize what they are punished. But scientists have foundAnthropomorphism and anthropocentrism as influences in the quality of life of companion animals. That animals simply use facial expression to soften the anger of the home team. They do not feel guilty and do not understand what did not.

What explains this ability

Dogs have evolved in parallel with the man, and it seems quite natural that they were features that enable our two species to communicate. Thus, during the eye contact and the person and the dog produces the hormone oxytocinOxytocin-gaze positive loop and the coevolution of human-dog bonds. Causing a pleasant sensation. Moreover, if we look to meet with the dog, and then point it to some hidden object, the dog will find this subject. Interestingly, the wolves, the next of kin of dogs, on the contrary, avoids the human eye.

In the evolution of dogs develop the ability to use facial expressions not only for inadvertent transmission of emotions, but also for communication.

While it is not known whether there is the same power and wolves. But if they live in packs, it is possible that it is they have developed even better, or they simply communicate differently. In primates, such as facial expression appeared not to communicate with the person, and to communicate with each other. If the same ability to eat and wolves, we can assume that it has developed due to social need, in no way connected with the people.

Whatever it was, until we can confidently say is that dogs are more likely to use facial expressions when looking at them man. And that's what it means - it is quite another matter.