Researchers say it is more common for domestic dogs to have black eyes, but this is because it makes them more friendly.
Humans can decide the color of a dog’s eyes. This is what a new study conducted by Japanese scientists and published in a scientific journal suggests. Royal Society Open Sciencediscovered it Black, brown, or brown eyes are more common in domestic dogs than in their wild relatives, and humans perceive dogs with dark eyes to be friendlier. .
According to Molly Selva, an anatomist at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore who was not involved in the study, The results of this study are consistent with existing research on how humans have changed the appearance of dogs. In line with history.
“It makes sense that eye color is another place where humanity leaves its mark,” he said in a statement reported by online media science.
Humans would have ‘molded’ a dog with brown eyes
As highlighted in Science, Humans have shaped dogs since they were first domesticated, probably over 20,000 years ago. choose friendly, obedient and good animals to cooperate with humans.
“From big eyes to big heads, we may have changed their appearance too “The ‘neotenic’ characteristics that remind us of our own children turn dogs not only into companions, but also into baby stuffed animals,” they point out in Science.
To Shoji Konno, a behavioral scientist at Teikyo University of Science (Japan) and lead author of this study,Bright irises have some evolutionary advantage for wolves, but domestication removed this selective pressure, resulting in dark eyes appearing in some primitive dogs. ” he said in a statement collected by the Guardian.
The researchers argue that humans may have developed a preference for black eyes during the domestication of wolves into dogs, perhaps unconsciously. However, Konno points out that later developments in certain breeds may also have influenced a dog’s eye color. So, for example, the blue merle coat color found in breeds such as Shelties and Border Collies is associated with blue eyes.
importance of color
Konno and his team edited photos of 33 breeds of dogs, from Welsh Corgis to Irish Wolfhounds, to make their eyes lighter or darker. They showed a selection of these images to 142 Japanese volunteers, mostly students, and asked them to rate each dog based on traits such as friendliness, aggression, maturity, and intelligence.
The team discovered that If the photo showed a black eye, volunteers were much more likely to judge the dog as friendly and rated it higher on traits such as sociability and non-aggression. . Participants rated these dogs as less intelligent, less mature, and more like puppies.
The researchers emphasize that: The association between dark eyes and immaturity can have implications for humans when it comes to protecting and caring for these dogs However, the study found that eye color was not directly related to whether participants wanted to interact with or own a dog.
“In general, dark-eyed dogs may have developed this trait primarily as a means of sending non-threatening signals to humans with their gaze,” the research team wrote in a statement reported by the Guardian. ing.
Selva would like the research team to analyze whether this phenomenon applies to the approximately 350-plus official breeds in existence, and whether color influences the likelihood of faster adoption. ing.
Nevertheless, There are exceptions, such as the Siberian Husky. says Konno. The breed’s common clear blue eyes suggest it may be more closely related to wolves than other dog breeds, especially in terms of visual anatomy and communication, says study. emphasized in a statement reported by Science magazine.
“We love to talk about dog domestication, but it’s been difficult to do solid research,” said Jessica Hekman, a veterinarian and canine geneticist with the nonprofit Functional Dog Collaborative. ” he says.
For Hekman, Dogs may have acquired black eyes in recent centuries But identifying the exact moment requires continued investigation.
Lisa Gunter, a dog behavior researcher at Virginia Tech and State University, said the new study raises interesting questions about dog evolution. However, the idea that dogs with dark eyes look younger is questionable.
“Most dogs have brown eyes, so people are used to them and may just prefer what they’re used to,” Gunter said, adding: The fact that a dog’s pupils are dilated usually means that the dog is nervous Not that he’s any friendlier.
Source: Biobiochile
