Important Innovations

D A ILY INNOVATION BRIEF   By Journalists Edward  Kane & Marya nne Kane  NEW SCIENCE: DOGS NO LONGER CAN EXPRESS THEIR EMOTIONS                                                                                 Source:  Win Kane A team from the UK's Durham University says selective breeding has made it difficult for dogs to convey feelings through facial expressions.  Here's what we know: Durham University used a "Dog Facial Action Coding System" to analyze both captive wolves and domestic dogs They analyzed both spontaneous social interactions and reaction to external stimuli (like toys) Their results: They identified 9 emotional states, including anger, joy, curiosity and surprise Wolves' facial expressions were more in tune with their emotional feelings than domestic dogs Selective breeding facial structures (i.e. shorter muzzles, floppy ears, etc.) limit a dog's ability to show the same range of emotions as their wolf ancestors Lesson learned:  Next time