This is because dogs use visual cues to understand their environment. If someone looks angry, then doggo angry. If person looks non threatening, doggo is happy. However, the mask completely removes the element of the dog being able to understand its environment. I've had my own dog be confused and overly excited by who i am, due to me wearing a mask.
This is because dogs use visual cues to understand their environment
So do humans. And in fact, this is something very young babies and children learn as part of their development. This is why a baby is supposed to see its mother's face and expressions. So who knows what effect this will have on babies and children whose parents are too stupid to take their masks off at home.
I remember reading about some research that showed that when you could not see a person's mouth it was more difficult to determine their emotional state, and people were perceived as more aggressive than they actually were. For example someone smiling would be seen a aggressive if you could only see the eyes.
This was pre COVID, so it's now buried in a shit pile of mask propaganda and I haven't been able to find it again.
This shit will definitely fuck up a lot of kids. My son is almost 3, and he looks confused at all the mask wearing. Luckily (no luck involved) I'm not in the city so there much less of it.
Out of everyone, my dog fared worsed. She's a highly neurotic border collie who loved going to farmers markets to get patted by people. Then they shut down the markets and when they returned everyone was wearing masks. She was so confused.
Exactly, I'm actually freaked out by masked people because I grew up abused and having to read facial expressions to know when to hide. I go into a store and people talk to me who are masked and I can't read them and it's like talking to a computer. I can't stand it.
Dogs are evolved to pay attention to human's facial expressions. No other animal does this. Covering your face confuses the hell out of them.
Dogs go by scent. You smell like fear, you are prey.
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