• The Picard Maneuver@lemmy.worldOP
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      6 months ago

      Dogs are also guilty of adapting their natural behaviors to communicate with humans too, and it’s really interesting. Things like eye-contact or being extra expressive with their “eyebrows”

      • Addition1291@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        My understanding is that wolves don’t have “eyebrows” at all. The fact that many dogs have them is either an evolved or selected trait specifically to communicate with humans.

        • TheHarpyEagle@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          I think one theory is that they were sort of accidentally selected for because they made dogs appear more friendly or attentive, making them seem like a better fit for companionship.

      • Auli@lemmy.ca
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        6 months ago

        Or how dogs react to the same side of the face as humans do. Think it’s the right side but can’t remember now.

    • OldWoodFrame@lemm.ee
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      6 months ago

      I heard once that dogs can’t really hide their emotions because they are telegraphed by pheromones from anal glands, so the only thing they can do is adjust how widely the pheromones are spread, by wagging their tail to spread positive feelings and tucking their tail between their legs to hide negative emotions.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      True, although one of my dogs often wags her tail just before she decides that it’s time to attack the other dog for no reason.