Another research study: Dogs recognize & prefer owner's faces

 Not surprising of course! But it is interesting. When I would take Dakota to the dog park, in order to find me, she would very obviously look at each person in the face (she was 13+ at the time). Also, when we are doing SAR training, sometimes Neiko will indicate on the wrong person if he can't see my face.

You would think that they would have our scents down, body silhouette, etc. but they really do rely on our faces. They also react to our facial expressions. Smiles bring wiggles and wags, frowns and stares get you worried looks and so on. There's not many animals out there that read our facial expressions so much besides apes.

 certainly no surprises - but yea I agree you would think scent would rule - or at least I would think that with Herr Big Nose LOL

I suppose the more interesting part was that the dogs over 7 had a harder time recognizing their owner's face - made me a bit sad.

I love to play with facial expressions with B - his reactions to the smallest change is hysterical.  There was a study I read ages ago that showed dogs read expressions better than apes, chimps, etc.  It is thought its due to the centuries of domestication.

kpwlee

I suppose the more interesting part was that the dogs over 7 had a harder time recognizing their owner's face - made me a bit sad.

Their sight is just SO not good anyway -- it's most definitely their weakest sense.  I know Billy's eyes are quite cloudy and given that his hearing is nearly totally gone I am really working with him on touch sign and responding to vibration. 

I'll never forget one time years ago -- Prissy had gotten out and I was still living at an apartment complex (she was SUCH a Houdini dog).  Typically she was good tho -- she'd stay in the complex which was bordered by chain link except for "The Road" which she was smart enough to steer clear of. 

One day she just didn't come back and I'd checked for her numerous times (she was one of those dogs that if she thot you were looking for her she'd STAY gone just for good measure and I was a complete moron about training back then).   I finally got worried and went out to go look for her.  I just happened to look over at my neighbor's doorway and there was Miss Priss SOUND ASLEEP laying on her doorway. 

Priss was both deaf and pretty blind from cataracts (she was about 20 at the time) and calling a deaf dog is pretty danged pointless.  I walked over and suddenly she lifted her head to sniff and saw my form I think.  She looked at me and I pointed broadly to OUR apartment.  She gave me this look, turned her head around and sniffed .... and got this completely puzzled look on her face.  Dang ... she WASN'T where *she* thot she was!!!  She turned to me and gave me this "I MEANT to do that!" look -- stood up with all the dignity a 20 year old pom/peke mix can possess and slowly but deliberately walked to OUR apartment and laid down in front.  I scooped her up and went in. 

She was such a character -- and Heavens I still miss her and she's been gone almost 20 years. 

Every dog I get I renew my vow to teach them scent training and touch signals younger and younger.  It's been interesting with Billy -- he has HATED sign.  His ears were bad when he came to us and we thot he was deaf then.  And he's been really obstinate about NOT wanting me to sign to him -- "I do NOT need that" -- but I've noticed since this summer when his hearing has gotten SO dim that he's now watching me intently for broad hand signs -- he now sees them as information and he likes it.