¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý

Skip to main content
You have permission to edit this article.
Edit

Scientists take a peek behind those sad puppy dog eyes

  • 0
18513011_G

NEW YORK (AP) � Scientists say they’ve figured out why dogs can make those sad puppy dog eyes at you. It turns out, it’s because of us.

ÌýÌý

Thousands of years of living with people encouraged dogs to develop a muscle that lets them raise their eyebrows so they look more babylike. And people may have unwittingly preferred pups that could make that expression.

ÌýÌý

Researchers suggested this in a study released Monday by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

ÌýÌý

They showed that this muscle is virtually absent in wolves, the ancestors of dogs.

ÌýÌý

The researchers believe dogs used this eye muscle to communicate with humans, possibly goading people to feed or care for them � or at least take them out to play.

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

6/17/2019 2:07:09 PM (GMT -5:00)