Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) have developed a close relationship with humans throughudthe process of domestication. In human-dog interactions, eye contact is a key element ofudrelationship initiation and maintenance. Previous studies have suggested that canine abilityudto produce human-directed communicative signals is influenced by domestication history,udfrom wolves to dogs, as well as by recent breed selection for particular working purposes.udTo test the genetic basis for such abilities in purebred dogs, we examined gazing behaviorudtowards humans using two types of behavioral experiments: the `visual contact task' andudthe `unsolvable task'. A total of 125 dogs participated in the study. Based on the geneticudrelatedness among breeds subjects were classified into five breed groups: Ancient, Herding,udHunting, Retriever-Mastiff and Working). We found that it took longer time for Ancientudbreeds to make an eye-contact with humans, and that they gazed at humans for shorterudperiods of time than any other breed group in the unsolvable situation. Our findings suggestudthat spontaneous gaze behavior towards humans is associated with genetic similarity toudwolves rather than with recent selective pressure to create particular working breeds.
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