Continuous automated analysis of facial dynamics of brachycephalic and normocephalic dogs in different contexts

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60460709%3A41210%2F25%3A101889" target="_blank" >RIV/60460709:41210/25:101889 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04839-0" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04839-0</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04839-0" target="_blank" >10.1186/s12917-025-04839-0</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Continuous automated analysis of facial dynamics of brachycephalic and normocephalic dogs in different contexts

Original language description

This study develops a novel automated method for measuring continuous dynamics of dog facial behavior based on video-based tracking of 46 facial landmarks grounded in the Dog Facial Action Coding System. This method is applied for comparing the facial behavior of (n1=7) brachycephalic (Boston Terrier) and (n2=7) normocephalic (Jack Russel Terrier) dogs in four different contexts, eliciting various inner states: positive (play and called by name) and negative (separation and stranger). Having objectively quantified facial dynamics in brachycephalic and normocephalic dogs, we have found that brachycephalic dogs exhibited consistently lower facial dynamics across all four tested contexts and facial regions (eyes, mouth, and ears) compared to normocephalic dogs. They further demonstrated relatively higher dynamics in positive play and negative stranger conditions than in the other two conditions. In contrast, normocephalic dogs showed elevated dynamics exclusively in the positive play condition, with significantly reduced dynamics in the negative stranger condition. These findings highlight distinct patterns of facial expressivity between the two morphological groups, suggesting decreased facial expression in brachycephalic dogs and demonstrating our method's value in providing novel insights into canine communication.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

40202 - Pets

Project

—

Continuities

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

BMC Veterinary Research

ISSN

1746-6148

e-ISSN

1746-6148

Volume of the periodical

21

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

CZ - CZECH REPUBLIC

Number of pages

13

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

001493670700001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105005716445