Has your dog ever blinked at you? It turns out their blinks may mean more than you think. A new study has revealed that dogs use blinking to communicate, similar to how humans and even cats use their eyes to convey emotions. Let’s find out more about it.
The Research Behind the Blinks
A research conducted by Chiara Canori, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Parma, aimed at establishing how dogs react to blinking in social contexts. 54 pet dogs were observed to determine whether the blinking was reflex or had some other intention.
How The Experiment Worked
The dogs watched videos of other dogs with different facial expressions including blinking, noselicking and a neutral face. The heart rates of the dogs were also monitored between clips to allow them to ‘reset’ their attention.
The Surprising Findings
The result was surprising; dogs blinked more when watching other dogs blink than when watching other expressions. Remarkably, their heart rates were steady, which meant that this reaction was not due to stress or excitement.
Mimicry in Social Animals
This behavior indicates that dogs may be copying each other’s blinks, as people do unconsciously blink while talking. This kind of mirroring also enhances social bonding. This is a new finding in the field of canine communication.
Blinking and Emotion
Currently, the reason dogs blink is still a mystery; however, previous research has linked it to appeasement and non-aggression. Some experts have even pointed out that as with humans, dogs may blink more when angry or perplexed.
The Cat Connection
Cat owners are familiar with ‘kitty kisses,’ slow blinks that are a sign of trust and affection. Could dogs have their own version as well? Scientists are looking into whether dogs employ slow blinking to convey happiness.
What This Means for Dog Owners
If dogs employ blinking in social relations, then they may be responding to human blinking as well. Try blinking slowly at them to see if your dog blinks back at you. This could slowly build the bond between you and your dog in a non-verbal manner.
Testing The Blink Theory at Home
If you want to try this with your dog, remain seated with a calm posture, make eye to eye contact, and blink slowly. If your dog blinks back according to the key prompt, then they might be participating in social mirroring, just like in the study!
The Importance of Context
Not all blinks are equal. Like humans, dogs also blink more when tired or upset, however, they may blink differently based on their feelings. This could potentially help tell the story of what your dog is feeling, based on the rest of their body language.
The Future of Canine Communication Research
Current research is also ongoing to establish whether blinking is different depending on each breed, age, or temperament. Further research may shed more light on the use of this subtle yet effective form of communication.
Why This Matters
Understanding the different ways dogs communicate is important to build a bond with them. Knowing how to read their different communication signals like blinking could revolutionise the world of dog training and human-dog relationships.
What Your Dog is Trying to Say
Although there is more work to be done, one thing is certain: dogs are always trying to tell us something, we just don’t always know what. The next time your furry friend blinks at you, you might actually be contributing to an unspoken conversation!
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