Humans can read dog’s facial expressions
Dogs’ feelings are written all over their faces
Even people with minimal experience with canines can identify their emotions, according to a new study.
In an experiment, volunteers were able to correctly identify when police-dog Mal, a 5-year-old Belgian Shepherd, was happy, sad, angry or scared, based only on looking at photos of his face. They had a harder time determining when he was surprised or disgusted.
Researchers believe the ability to read a dog’s face comes naturally.
“There is no doubt that humans have the ability to recognize emotional states in other humans,” said Dr. Tina Bloom, who led the research. “We have shown that humans are also able to accurately — if not perfectly — identify at least one dog’s facial expressions.”
The study was published in the journal "Behavioural Processes".
— Read it at the U.K.’s Telegraph
More from Vetstreet:
Safe & dangerous toys for kittens
5 best dogs for your golden years
Miniature donkey’s life saved by animal lovers
10 Irish animals you’ll love
7 must-haves for the modern dog
Bing: Smartest dog breeds in the world
Photo: Vetstreet
pics, advice, info and stories for pet lovers
-
13 celebrities who speak for animals
With all the glitz and glamour that comes out of Tinseltown (not to mention the endless tabloid fodder), it's not always obvious that many celebrities are animal lovers, too.
-
20 hottest dog breeds
From designer crosses to giant breeds, we scoured Vetstreet's data of millions of dog breeds to determine the trendiest breeds of the past decade.
-
Puppy survives alone in car for a month
Tow lot employee finds abandoned pup.
-
10 reasons pets make better partners than people
Animals, says Dr. Patty Khuly, are the best listeners in the world and don’t care that you’ve just been dumped or laid off.
-
How to break 7 common bad dog habits
"No! Bad dog!" How many times have you scolded your misbehaving canine with those words? Probably too many. But before you fly off the handle, one of the most important things to understand about correcting bad behavior is that punishment doesn't work.
-
Should your pets ride loose in the car?
Your dog loves sticking his head out the window, but imagine the tragic results of disregarding his (or your) safety.
-
How this vet talks to kids about pet death
Death is a natural part of life, but it's never easy to understand. Here are some tips when the time comes to talk to your kids about pets passing.
-
Dog vs. cat: which pet is better?
Are you a 'dog person' or 'cat person'?
-
8 most wrinkled dog breeds
Whether they're on small pups like the Pug or huge ones like the Mastiff, adorable wrinkles are the envy of many a dog lover — which is exactly why we set out in search of the canine world's most wrinkled breeds.
-
Top 11 questions you should ask yourself before you adopt a pet
Adopting an animal is a major commitment. Yet all too often people put more effort into researching what kind of car to get than the type of pet that would best fit their lifestyle.
-
20 animals that are going extinct
From certain species of butterflies, zebras to horses and cockatoos, you might be surprised that some of our favorite creatures are dying out.
-
Multifunction feline design: Furniture for both you and your cat
Creating a cat-friendly home means incorporating elements that accommodate your cat’s natural instincts to climb, scratch and rest. Why not look for furniture that gives kitty what she needs and offers function for you too?
