A recent study by researchers from the Durham University in the UK have revealed insights how domestication and selective breeding may have “accidentally diminished’ the dogs ability to communicate through facial expressions.
Using an extended Dog Facial Action Coding System, the researchers analyzed video recordings of domesticated dogs and captive wolves during social interactions and when presented with external stimuli. The study yielded only 65 percent accuracy rate in predicting the dogs’ behavior “due to selective breeding,” versus 71 percent accuracy in captive wolves.
According to the study, the confusion between positive and negative emotional states can pose potential risks in dog-human interactions (i.e. dog bites or attacks).
For more information, read the full paper or visit the Durham University website.