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Article: That Hangdog Look Might Not Be What You Think; People May Be Projecting Human Emotion on Their Pooches, Study Finds
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- July 2, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Many dog owners have had this experience: Arriving home, they
discover their pooch looking sheepish, with its head down, ears
pulled back, tail tucked between the legs, maybe slinking behind the
sofa. Puzzled, they soon discover the reason: a favorite pair of
shoes chewed to pieces, or perhaps the kitchen garbage can upended.
But is their canine companion really acting guilty? Or is this an
example of people projecting a human emotion onto their four-legged
friend?
A new study concludes that it is more likely the latter -- that
the behavior people interpret as dog guilt really is more likely
just a reaction to subtle cues from their owners.
"I'm not denying that people have had that ...