New Study: Dogs Eyes Have Changed

According to a new study published last month in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), dogs’ eyes have changed in the last 33,000 years thanks to the domestications of our canine friends.  Not only do we see a change in their behavior as humans create a strong emotional bond with dogs, but the facial muscles have changed to communicate with us as well.  The study shows that dogs produce the eyebrow movement significantly more often and with higher intensity than wolves do. This movement mimics humans’ expression produce when we are sad creating the “puppy dog eyes.”

Although the study has only a small sample size, we can all agree that we have seen the expressive eyes of our furry friends. We’re pretty sure they want to create a closer connection through this type of facial expression. Have you been a victim of puppy dog eyes? When do you see this expression in your dog?

Facial musculature in the wolf (C. lupus) (animal’s left) and dog (C. familiaris) (right) with differences in anatomy highlighted in red. Image courtesy of Tim D. Smith (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK).

 

3 thoughts on “New Study: Dogs Eyes Have Changed

  • Yolanda Garcia Lorea
    July 16, 2019 at 11:07 am

    I do believe that the more we share our lives with our dogs and the closer contact somehow they have become more like us. They can express their feelings in many ways.

  • Trish Walker
    July 16, 2019 at 9:17 pm

    This is not a product of evolution, but of selective breeding.
    The dogs that had more expressive faces were most likely chosen over ones that didn’t.
    Their traits were passed down, along with size, shape, and temperament. Pure biology.

    Dogs are Man’s Best Friend because they’re Man’s Best Invention.
    And, if we look at many of the things Man has done to this world, I’d say it’s true <3

  • Nicole
    July 17, 2019 at 12:16 am

    I definitely see facial expressions similar to humans in my dog’s eyes all the time. I see eyebrows raised when my pup is curious , happy, and bored/tired. It is more animated because my pup is black and has light brow eyebrows!

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