We Finally Know Why Dogs Flash Us Those Big Puppy Eyes

Dogs have a way of tugging at our heartstrings by giving us puppy eyes. It’s really hard to refuse to give them what they want when they flash their big eyes at us. But, are they really trying to butter us up to get their way?

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth believe dogs are intentionally trying to communicate with us by flashing us those big, sad eyes. They believe the dogs raise their eyebrows when they are looked at. This makes their eyes look bigger. However, they don’t do this when they are handed food. This leads scientists to the conclusion that it is done intentionally so they can get what they want.

They also discovered that dogs don’t make nearly as many facial expressions when they are not being watched. These puppy eyes appear when they have an audience. Researchers believe this happens because they know flashing those eyes at us can get them what they want. The video below shows a dachshund puppy doing exactly that repeatedly when she gets in trouble.

Researchers labeled puppy dog eyes as AU101. In the study, Prof Juliana Kaminski wrote,  “Another possibility is that the AU101 lets the eyes of the dogs appear bigger and more infant-like. Regardless of the exact mechanism, it seems that humans are particularly responsive to this facial movement in dogs.”

This research was conducted on 24 dogs, including some Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds. The dogs were observed while both facing their face and their back. The study was conducted both with and without food to study the dogs’ reactions.

Dog owners probably won’t be surprised to learn that our dogs are playing us. They are smart animals who are very tuned into our emotions. Of course, they know how to use their cuteness to get what they want!

If you are a sucker for puppy dog eyes, click here to see a dog flash his big brown eyes to get the cat out of the shower.

Share this if you can’t resist puppy dog eyes!

Source: The Sun