Want to see some serious puppy dog eyes? Try spending more time near your pooch.
Sure, new toys and food are nice, but research from the University of Portsmouth shows that like most humans, what dogs really crave is attention.
In fact, scientists at the university's Dog Cognition Centre recently found that dogs are more likely to show facial expressions if humans are paying attention to them.
SEE ALSO:This poop pad will clean up your dog's mess for youIn the study — which was published in Scientific Reports —dog cognition expert Dr. Juliane Kaminski and a team tested how dogs' facial expressions changed in response to four different factors: a human facing them or turned away from them either with food or without.
After performing the experiment on 24 dogs of different breeds between the ages of one and 12, researchers studied the recorded expressions using DogFACS — a coding system that helps measure the muscle movement and structure of a dog's facial anatomy.
They determined that dogs were more expressive when a human was facing them as opposed to when their bodies were turned away, and found that while food, described as a "non-social but arousing stimulus," had no impact on their behavior.
By comparing how the animals reacted to both humans and food, the study ultimately confirmed that human attention impacts dog expressions, and that dogs don't simply use facial expressions to show they're excited — they also use them to communicate.
According to the research, eyebrow raising — which helps dogs achieve those lovable "puppy dog eyes" — was a common expression recorded on the animals when humans showed them attention.
"This study moves forward what we understand about dog cognition," Dr. Kaminski said in a news release, though she noted the behavior could be a result of the dogs being domesticated.
"We now know dogs make more facial expressions when the human is paying attention."
TopicsAnimals
(责任编辑：熱點)
Richard Branson 'thought he was going to die' in bike accident
KKR vs. DC 2024 livestream: Watch IPL for free
Best Amazon Memorial Day Sale deal: Score the Garmin inReach Mini 2 for under $300
Get $60 off eero mesh routers at Amazon
Olympic security asks female Iranian fan to drop protest signThis weird squid looks like it has googly eyes, guys
Internet, meet your new spirit animal.
。Scientists aboard the research vessel the E/V Nautilus, off t
...[详细]NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 11
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword
...[详细]A parent's guide to Skibidi Toilet: What is it and why is it so popular?
If you have a child under the age of 14, you may have heard the word "Skibidi" pop up in conversatio
...[详细]Wordle today: The answer and hints for May 2
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hint
...[详细]U.S. government issues warning on McDonald's recalled wearable devices
Last week's McDonald's debacle, which saw the fast food giant forced to recall its first wearable tr
...[详细]NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 21
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword
...[详细]Apple iPad Pro 2024: Thinner and lighter than ever
Apple's iPad Pro was last updated nearly two years ago; it was high time for an update, and Apple de
...[详细]How to use 'Share My Date' on Tinder
Tinder has introduced a slew of safety features in recent years, working to improve the wellbeing an
...[详细]Photos show the Blue Cut fire blazing a path of destruction in California
A fast moving wildfire continued raging near San Bernadino, California, forcing the evacuation of at
...[详细]NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 21
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword
...[详细]One of the most controversial power struggles in media comes to a close
Wordle today: The answer and hints for May 2