Dogs similar to human beings while gazing at expressions, says study
Posted on: 22/Jan/2016 9:49:09 AM
A study published in the journal PLOS ONE says that dogs gazing behaviour is similar to that of human brings. According to the study, dogs view facial expressions, especially the eyes. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Helsinki in Finland. The study also found that the dogs facial expressions change depending on their viewing behaviour.
For the study, researchers looked unto 31 dogs from 13 different breeds. These dogs were already trained by the clicker to stay in front of a monitor without being commanded or restrained. Researchers than tracked the eye tracking techniques to conclude how they viewed expressions on human beings as well as other dogs.
The study showed that the dogs looked at the eye region first. The dogs were sensitive to threatening expressions. Here, they looked harder and longer at threatening faces of other dogs and avoided the gaze of threatening human beings.
Speaking about this, one of the researchers said, The tolerant behaviour strategy of dogs towards humans may partially explain the results. Domestication may have equipped dogs with a sensitivity to detect the threat signals of humans and respond them with pronounced appeasement signals.
