In a study published in Royal Society Open Science, Chiara Canori and colleagues explored whether dogs mirror facial expressions—specifically blinking—when observing other dogs. While facial expressions have long been recognized as a form of emotional communication in animals, this research sheds light on how such subtle cues function in dog-to-dog interactions.
The researchers observed 54 domestic dogs who were shown videos featuring three types of canine facial expressions: a blink, a nose lick, and a still attentive face serving as a control. The team measured both the dogs’ behavioral reactions and physiological responses, including heart rate variability (HRV), to assess whether blinking carries communicative meaning.
The results were striking—dogs blinked significantly more when watching the blink video than when exposed to the nose lick or still-face videos. This behavior suggests a form of facial mimicry, in which dogs reflect the blinking of conspecifics, possibly to signal friendliness or emotional synchrony. Similar mimicry has been documented in human and primate communication, indicating that dogs may share comparable nonverbal mechanisms for social bonding.
Interestingly, while behavioral responses varied, physiological data revealed that dogs’ HRV increased during all video sessions, regardless of which facial expression was shown. This suggests that the stimuli were engaging but not stressful, indicating that dogs interpreted the blinking behavior as neutral or affiliative rather than threatening.
The findings support the idea that eye blinking plays an active role in canine communication, contributing to mutual understanding and emotional regulation during social interactions. By mimicking blinks, dogs may convey calmness or empathy, aligning with patterns seen in human–dog interactions where soft eye contact and slow blinks signal trust.
Canori et al. propose that further research should investigate blink synchronization—whether dogs align their blink timing intentionally with others—and explore its function in social cohesion and emotional mirroring. The study adds to growing evidence that even the smallest behavioral details, like an eye blink, can reveal the complex emotional intelligence of domestic dogs.
Source: Canori, C., Travain, T., Pedretti, G., Fontani, R., & Valsecchi, P. (2025). If you blink at me, I’ll blink back. Domestic dogs’ feedback to conspecific visual cues. Royal Society Open Science, 12. Published February 1, 2025.
