Dogs have a unique way of communicating, and it turns out that blinking is more than just a way to keep their eyes clean. Recent research suggests that blinking could play an essential role in canine body language, helping them communicate with other dogs and humans.
Chiara Canori, an evolutionary biologist from the University of Parma in Italy, conducted a study that found dogs blink more frequently during social interactions, such as when interacting with other dogs or humans. This sparked her curiosity about whether blinking might be a form of communication, sending specific signals to those around them.
To investigate, Canori and her research team created a scientific movie night for 54 dogs, where the pooches watched videos of other dogs blinking, nose-licking, and being attentive while still. The clips featured three different canine “actors” – a terrier mix, a cocker spaniel mix, and a border collie mix – each performing various expressions.
Interestingly, the dogs watching the videos blinked more frequently when they saw another dog blinking compared to when they saw the nose-licking clips. While there was a similar pattern with the attentive still clips, the results weren’t statistically significant.
The research suggests that dogs might be mimicking the blinking behavior they observe, much like how humans unconsciously mimic each other’s blinks, especially during breaks in conversation. This phenomenon, known as “reciprocal blinking,” might help strengthen social bonds, reduce aggression, and even help dogs cope with frustration. In fact, blinking could be a form of appeasement behavior, signaling non-aggressive intentions toward other dogs or humans.
However, while the study shows that dogs blink as part of their communication, the exact meaning behind their blinking is still unclear. Just as human yawns can signal a range of emotions, from empathy to boredom, dog blinks may also convey a variety of feelings that we haven’t yet fully decoded. So, the next time your dog blinks at you, take note—it might be trying to tell you something important!
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