If you’re a dog person, those puppy dog eyes will melt your heart every time. Turns out, a dog’s ability to raise their eyebrows is an evolutionary trait meant to communicate with us humans.
Most breeds are constantly trying to get their owner’s attention, and expressive eyebrows definitely help out. In a recent study, it was shown that dogs use the muscles above their eyes more when interaction with humans, compared to when they were ignored or eating food.
Grey wolves, the dog's ancestors, don’t possess those eyebrow raising muscles. Dogs that are closer to the wolf line are lacking the muscles as well.
So, puppy dog eyes are an unintended consequence of domestication, but a welcomed one.
For more info, read The Atlantic's article.
