Finally, the truth about just how manipulative your dog really is | Felicity Cloake

Our pets have specific expressions they reserve for humans, it ’s been revealed. But as a dog owner, I have to say that news comes as no surprise to meSitting at my desk, I stealthily peel open a packet of biscuits, hardly daring to breathe as I carefully reach inside. Even as my fingers close triumphantly around the coveted malted milk, the clip-clip of claws in the hall announces my failure. A small furry beast trots into my line of vision and arranges itself patiently by my feet. When eventually, biscuit disposed of, I dare to turn my head to meet its burning eyes, the dog cocks his head winsomely to one side, and, on cue, my heart melts. Once again, he ’s played me like a fiddle, and without even opening his mouth.Dealing with such blatant emotional manipulation on a daily basis, I was unsurprised by the news thatdogs use their facial expressions to interact with the human world. A study recently published in the journal Scientific Reports found that dogs move their faces far more when humans are looking at them than otherwise, suggesting that those expressions are attempts to communicate with us – though the scientists involved were keen to emphasise that they don’t know exactly what the dogs are trying to say.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Animal behaviour Dogs Animals Pets Life and style Biology Psychology Source Type: news