Every dog owner recognizes the telltale manners of their furry companion, from tail wags to perked-up ears, but another, more subtle behavior likely won’t be caught at first glance: blinking. A dog’s blinking may not seem like a noteworthy function, but a recent study has found that it could actually reflect a subconscious way that dogs socialize, opening scientists’ eyes to a new perspective on canine communication.
The research, published in Royal Society Open Science, shows how dogs mimic each other when blinking. Facial mimicry in canines is not a new revelation; scientists have previously studied how dogs’ emotion is conveyed when they copy yawns or match each other’s play faces. The new study proposes blinking — much less noticeable than yawning or playful faces — as yet another visual cue that helps dogs bond.
