A recent study carried out by Durham University looked to better understand the facial morphology of domestic dogs in comparison to wolves.
Effects of domestication
They may be descendants of wolves, but domestication has altered the way in which dogs express emotion, the study revealed.
Researchers were able to identify nine different affective states, including joy, surprise, interest, happiness, friendliness, fear, curiosity, anger and anxiety.
Based on the facial movements of wolves, these could be predicted with an accuracy of 71%, but when tested in domestic dogs, the accuracy dropped down to 65%.
Fine details make a difference
Friendliness and fear were particularly difficult to detect, and it seems that fine details do make a key difference.
Selective breeding has resulted in physical changes, such as floppy ears, shorter muzzles and wrinkles, all of which make it harder to discern what the dog is trying to communicate.
Confusion as to what our canine companions are trying to tell us can be detrimental to the dog-human relationship, explain the authors. Their study even raises the possibility that domestic dogs use vocalisation where facial expressions are not properly understood.
