Got a disobedient dog? Snout you can do about it...
DOGS are known for their mischievous habit of haring off rather than paying attention to their owners.
But this isn’t purely down to lack of discipline, a study has found. Breeds such as greyhounds are more likely to be distracted by things they spot in their peripheral vision, researchers say.
That’s because dogs with longer snouts were found to be worse at making eye contact, while those with flatter faces such as pugs are more attentive.
The study found flat-faced breeds are far more likely to make ‘puppy dog eyes’ at their owner. Eye contact releases the ‘cuddle hormone’ oxytocin and helps dogs and people bond.
A researcher tested how long it took 1 0 dogs to make eye contact by quietly waiting until each animal did so. It was then rewarded with a sausage.
After 15 seconds, about 80 per cent of those with the longest noses made eye contact.
This rose to about 90 per cent of those with the shortest noses.
Researchers believe nerve cells in the retinas of dogs with long snouts are distributed more evenly. The retinas of flat-faced dogs meanwhile may be better adapted to staring straight ahead, according to the study published in Scientific Reports.
Lead author Zsofia Bognar, from Eotvos Lorand University in Hungary, said of flat-faced dogs: ‘It is also possible that their owners gaze at them more often as their facial features resemble a small child, a powerful cue for humans.
‘Because of this, dogs with shorter noses may be more experienced in making eye contact.’