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Key highlights
Dogs with simpler facial markings are perceived as more expressive than those with complex patterns. This is because “visual noise” from complex markings can make it harder for humans to recognize subtle facial movements. The study highlights how a dog’s appearance can impact our ability to understand their emotions and behaviours
Key insights from the study:
What the study aimed to discover
1. Facial markings and expressiveness:
Is there a relationship between facial markings (plain versus complex) and a dog’s expressiveness?
2. Owner perception:
How accurately can humans judge their dog’s expressiveness, and does facial complexity influence this ability?
3. Training and expressiveness:
Is there a relationship between training and a dog’s facial expressiveness?
4. Age and expressiveness:
Does age affect how expressive a dog is?
How facial colours affect dogs’ communication:
Plainer faces were more expressive:
Dogs with simpler facial markings, like fewer patches or spots, were slightly more expressive than dogs with more complex faces.
Training slightly boosts expressiveness:
Dogs with more advanced training showed a small increase in expressiveness than those with little to no training.
Owners of plain-faced dogs are better at reading their dog’s expressiveness:
Dogs with simpler facial markings, like fewer patches or spots, were slightly more expressive than dogs with more complex faces.
Age matters:
Adult dogs were generally more expressive than senior dogs, who tended to show fewer facial movements.
Social context affects facial expressions:
Dogs adjusted their facial expressions based on the situation. For example, when spoken to with familiar words, they used a broader range of facial movements across their whole face.
Short article version
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“Science in seconds”:
Do dogs with simple faces communicate better? What science says about dogs’ facial expressions
Science in seconds – Sexton et al. 2023
Ever noticed how some dogs seem to “speak” with their faces, while others leave you guessing? It turns out that part of the answer might lie in their facial features. The way a dog’s face looks—specifically, whether it is plain or has more complex facial markings, colour patterns, or spots—can play a role in how easy we understand what they are “saying”.
A recent study by Sexton and colleagues (2023) explored whether dogs with plain faces (those with fewer or no markings) are more expressive and easier for humans to read than their more complex-faced counterparts. So, if you’ve ever wondered whether your dog’s eyebrow spots or patches make a difference, this study might have the answer!
How was the study done?
To figure this out, the researchers analysed over 100 pet dogs, observing how they responded to different situations with their human companions. The dog owners filmed their dogs in four situations, from resting to making eye contact and hearing either completely unfamiliar phrases or well-known words like “walk” or “treat” from their owners.
The researchers first rated the complexity of each dog’s face based on how many markings or colour variations they had. They then assessed how expressive each dog was in the four tested situations using a specialised method called DogFACS (Dog Facial Action Coding System) to measure the dogs’ facial movements. And they also asked the dog owners how expressive they believed their dogs are.
What did they find out?
- Plain-faced dogs were more expressive:Dogs with fewer facial markings showed slightly more facial movements, making them seem more expressive.
- Owners’ accuracy:Owners of plain-faced dogs were better at accurately judging how expressive their dogs were. In contrast, owners of dogs with more complex facial colours tended to overestimate how expressive their dogs were.
The researchers also found that training can make a difference: Dogs with more training or experience (like service dogs) were also slightly more expressive. Perhaps their experience interacting closely with humans sharpened their communication skills. Apart from training, also age mattered. Adult dogs (ages 2-6) were more expressive than senior dogs, suggesting that age might impact a dog’s ability to communicate using facial expressions.
What does this mean for you?
If your dog has a plain face, you might find it easier to understand their facial expressions. However, if your dog has complex markings, don’t worry—they’re just as expressive. In this case, you should intentionally try to observe subtle facial movements. And remember that communication with dogs isn’t just about facial expressions—it’s also about reading their body language, like tail wagging, posture, and ear movements. With a little extra attention, you can tune into those subtler cues and build a stronger connection.
For trainers and professionals, these findings also offer some practical insights. Dogs with simpler facial markings may appear more communicative, which could make some dogs easier to work with. Understanding this might help in adjusting training strategies or expectations based on the individual dog.
Final thoughts
Whether your dog has a plain face like a Labrador or a colourful one like a Dalmatian, understanding their facial expressions is a powerful way to deepen your bond. By paying attention to subtle cues—both facial and otherwise—you can build a stronger connection with your canine companion. After all, understanding your dog better is just another way to show them you care!
Source:
Sexton, C. L., Buckley, C., Lieberfarb, J., Subiaul, F., Hecht, E. E., & Bradley, B. J. (2023). What is written on a dog’s face? Evaluating the impact of facial phenotypes on communication between humans and canines. Animals, 13(14), 2385. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/14/2385.
Long article version
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“Science explained”:
Do dogs with simple faces communicate better? What science says about dogs’ facial expressions
Science explained – Sexton et al. 2023
Did you know that the way your dog’s face looks—its colours and markings—could influence how easily you understand their expressions? You may have noticed that some dogs seem to naturally “speak” through their faces, while others are harder to read. Perhaps your dog has a subtle way of expressing her- or himself, while your friend’s dog always seems to be “talking” with their facial expressions.
Understanding your dog’s facial expressions not only strengthens your bond but also improves training and care. By becoming more attuned to their non-verbal cues, you can better respond to their needs and emotions.
A recent study by Sexton et al. (2023) explored how a dog’s facial colour patterns—like spots and eyebrow patches for example—affect how expressive dogs are and how accurately their owners perceive their expressivity.
This article breaks down the findings of that study and explains how your dog’s appearance could impact your ability to read their expression. We’ll also look into what you can do to improve your communication with your dog.
Why it matters to understand your dog’s facial expressions
Have you ever felt like your dog is trying to tell you something with a glance, a raised eyebrow, or a head tilt? Non-verbal cues like these are central to how dogs communicate with us and our connection with dogs relies heavily on how well we understand their expressions. Over thousands of years, dogs have evolved alongside humans, developing unique behavioural and physical traits that help them communicate with us. Their ability to use facial expressions plays a key role in this bond.
But here’s the twist: As we know, not all dogs look the same. Indeed, one fascinating thing about dogs is the remarkable variability in their appearance—the presence and types of facial markings, like patches, spots, or eyebrows, can differ greatly from one dog to another. Some have plainer faces, while others have more diverse colour markings. But so far, it is unclear whether these markings affect their facial expressions and make it harder or easier for us to understand them.
That’s what this study by Sexton et al. (2023) aimed to find out. They wanted to answer the central question: Do facial markings influence how expressive dogs are and how we perceive their facial expressiveness?
How they investigated the facial expression patterns of dogs
This study involved 103 family dogs of various breeds, ages, and training levels—from individuals with no formal training to highly skilled working dogs trained for tasks like therapy or service work.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, where owners couldn’t go to their research lab as usual, this study used a so called “community science” approach: Instead of visiting a research lab, dog owners played an active role in data collection by recording videos of their dogs at home in their natural environments.
Owners were given specific instructions to film their dogs in four distinct situations:
- Resting (no interaction): The dog was filmed while resting with no making eye contact with the owner or verbal interaction.
- Eye contact only: The dog was filmed while making eye contact with the owner, but no words were spoken.
- Eye contact with unfamiliar words: The owner spoke an unfamiliar phrase (e.g., “Ancient Egyptians built pyramids…”) in a neutral tone while maintaining eye contact with the dog.
- Eye contact with familiar words: The owner used familiar phrases, such as the dog’s name or favourite words, in an excited tone while keeping eye contact.
First, the researchers created a scale to generate a so-called Physical Score to evaluate the complexity of each dog’s facial markings. Dogs with plain faces (few or no markings) were assigned lower scores, while those with more complex facial features (like spots, patches, or distinctive “eyebrows”) received higher scores according to the matrix.
Second, they objectively measured the dogs’ facial expressions across the four tested situations. Thereby, a greater number of facial movements indicated greater expressiveness. To analyse this, the researchers used DogFACS (Dog Facial Action Coding System, www.animalfacs.com), a tool that allows to objectively record detailed facial movements.
Finally, the researchers asked the dog owners to rate how generally expressive they thought their dog was on a scale from 1 to 10. These subjective ratings were then compared with the objective DogFACS measurements to evaluate how accurate owners were in judging their dog’s expressiveness.
Key findings: What the researchers learned about canine facial communication
Dogs with plainer faces were slightly more expressive
Dogs with simpler facial features – fewer markings, spots, or patterns – showed slightly more facial movements, so they had higher expressivity scores. Although this relationship between a dog’s facial markings and expressiveness was statistically significant, it was weak, which prompts additional investigation.
However, also context affected expression. Dogs didn’t show facial movements equally in all tested situations. They were more expressive when owners used familiar words compared to when spoken to using neutral or unfamiliar words. This suggests that dogs adjust their facial expressions to the type of interaction they’re having with their owner.
Owners were better at judging plain-faced dogs’ expressions
Owners of plain-faced dogs tended to be more accurate in judging their pet’s expressiveness. About 48.5% of all owners’ ratings closely matched the objective DogFACS measurements. Yet, those owners with dogs that had less complex facial patterns were overall better at judging how expressive their dogs actually were.
So plain-faced dogs not only seem more expressive to humans but also potentially objectively produce more facial movements. This makes them probably easier for humans to “read”. With fewer facial markings, it is probably simpler to notice subtle movements, such as a slight eyebrow raise or head tilt. However, the researchers also noted that facial markings don’t reduce a dog’s actual ability to make facial expressions—dogs with more complex markings can still make the same facial movements as plain-faced dogs. However, these markings might make it harder for humans to notice subtle expressions, meaning that while a spotted or masked dog might be just as expressive, you may need to pay closer attention to notice their facial signals.
Evolutionary insights
These findings reflect broader evolutionary patterns seen in some other species, such as certain social primates, where plain faces are associated with enhanced communication.
For dogs, this research also ties into a bigger question: How have domestication and selective breeding influenced the way dogs communicate with us? In dogs, facial features have been shaped primarily through selective breeding rather than natural evolution. Unlike their wild relatives, wolves, dogs have been bred for specific roles—such as herding, hunting, and companionship. Could the physical features that make some breeds more suitable for certain tasks also influence their expressiveness? The study provided insights into these questions which could help strengthen the human-dog bond. It suggests how human-driven selection has influenced not only the appearance of dogs but also their capacity for communication. The results highlight an instance of convergent evolution, where similar traits develop independently in different species to meet comparable communication needs.
Other factors that shape expressiveness
But the researchers didn’t stop there. They also explored how age and training influence a dog’s facial expressions. By better understanding these elements, dog owners, professionals, and veterinarians can improve their interpretation of canine communication. This knowledge is crucial for enhancing everyday interactions, improving training outcomes, and ensuring the overall well-being of our dogs.
They found that training had a small effect on expressiveness. Trained dogs, especially those with advanced skills, were slightly more expressive in their faces than untrained dogs, though the difference was relatively small. Nonetheless, this suggests that training may play a role in encouraging dogs to use facial expressions, possibly because trained dogs are more accustomed to interacting with humans.
Apart from training, also age influenced the dogs’ facial expressiveness. Adult dogs were generally more expressive than senior dogs. This could be due to age-related factors, reduced physical mobility or changes in communication styles as they age.
What this means for your communication with your dog
What can dog professionals and owners learn from this study? Here are some practical takeaways:
- If your dog has a plain face, you might find her or him easier to understand: Dogs with simpler facial markings tend to be easier to “read.” However, if your dog has more complex facial features, don’t worry—they’re likely just as expressive. You might need to pay closer attention to more subtle facial and body language cues to fully understand what they’re communicating.
- Use familiar words to engage your dog’s expressions: Dogs were more expressive when they heard familiar words. If you want to see more expressive reactions, use words and phrases they know and enjoy—like their name or a favourite verbal cues.
- Training can improve communication: Trained dogs were found to be slightly more expressive. If you want to enhance your dog’s expressiveness and communication, consistent training may help improve how they communicate and respond to you.
- Senior dogs may communicate more subtly: Older dogs may still be communicating, even though it’s not that obvious. Be mindful of subtler signals and take their age into account when interpreting their behaviour.
This study highlights that dogs communicate with us in remarkable ways. Even something as simple as facial markings can affect how well we understand their expressions. Whether your dog has a plain face or a more complex pattern, their facial expressions are a key part of how they connect with you. By paying close attention to these cues—and maybe incorporating training—you can strengthen your bond and better understand what your dog is trying to tell you.
So, the next time your dog looks up at you with those big, expressive eyes, remember: there’s a lot more going on behind that look than you might realize!
Source:
Sexton, C. L., Buckley, C., Lieberfarb, J., Subiaul, F., Hecht, E. E., & Bradley, B. J. (2023). What is written on a dog’s face? Evaluating the impact of facial phenotypes on communication between humans and canines. Animals, 13(14), 2385. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/14/2385.
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