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Coffee House => Coffee House Boards => CH / General => Topic started by: motorollin on May 23, 2007, 07:13:12 AM

Title: What is this dog doing?
Post by: motorollin on May 23, 2007, 07:13:12 AM
Here's an interesting experiment in anthopomorphism and interpretation of (animal) facial expressions. Have a look at the picture below:

(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm244/motorollin/aorg/dog.jpg)

Now, what do you think the dog is doing, or about to do?

A. Barking
B. Yawning
C. About to attack
D. Crying in pain
E. Other (please specify)

[EDIT]
Try not to second guess here. Just post what you think is happening based on the facial expression and movements of the dog. The motion blur is genuine - no photoshop was used here.
[/EDIT]

--
moto
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: adz on May 23, 2007, 07:46:42 AM
Its ears are back and its eyes are closed, so I'd say this dog is yawning.
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: motorollin on May 23, 2007, 08:13:10 AM
But dogs' eyes narrow when they're barking and their ears sometimes go back when they're agressed or frightened. However, you have seen through the rouse. She was yawning :-) I was hoping somebody would fall in to the trap of assuming that she was taking an agressive stance due to the breed. But my experiment failed :-)

--
moto
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: Karlos on May 23, 2007, 08:58:19 AM
E: Sneezing.

-edit-

D'Oh...
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: motorollin on May 23, 2007, 09:07:08 AM
Actually yes it does look a bit like she's sneezing :-)

--
moto
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: adz on May 23, 2007, 10:36:57 AM
Quote

motorollin wrote:
But dogs' eyes narrow when they're barking and their ears sometimes go back when they're agressed or frightened.


Yes, their eyes narrow, but they don't completely close, as can be seen in this photo. As for the ears, yes, thats true, but the eyes in this case tell a different story.

Quote

However, you have seen through the rouse. She was yawning :-)



Yippeee!!! :banana: What's my prize??? :-P I thought you would have let it go a bit longer to see some more responses.

Quote

I was hoping somebody would fall in to the trap of assuming that she was taking an agressive stance due to the breed. But my experiment failed :-)


How does that saying go, never judge a book by its cover ;-)
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: motorollin on May 23, 2007, 11:37:34 AM
Quote
adz wrote:
Quote
motorollin wrote:
But dogs' eyes narrow when they're barking and their ears sometimes go back when they're agressed or frightened.

Yes, their eyes narrow, but they don't completely close, as can be seen in this photo. As for the ears, yes, thats true, but the eyes in this case tell a different story.

The motion blur obfuscates the eyes a little, so they might not have been totally closed :-?

Quote
adz wrote:
Yippeee!!! :banana: What's my prize??? :-P I thought you would have let it go a bit longer to see some more responses.

I was going to, but it was obviously too easy! Therefore no prize :-P

Quote
adz wrote:
How does that saying go, never judge a book by its cover ;-)

Well I know that, but I was hoping to expose some doggie prejudice in Amigaland :lol:

--
moto
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: Speelgoedmannetje on May 23, 2007, 12:01:58 PM
Quote

motorollin wrote:
Well I know that, but I was hoping to expose some doggie prejudice in Amigaland :lol:
Doggie prejudice?
There are just no better dogs than Border Collies:
(http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images16/BorderCollieWynne7Years3.JPG)
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: motorollin on May 23, 2007, 12:10:38 PM
Collies in general make excellent pets. But Bull Terriers are IMO much more fun :-)

--
moto
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: Speelgoedmannetje on May 23, 2007, 12:16:55 PM
Why's that? Border Collies are extremely playful. Family of mine have a Border Collie, and they have time and space.
It's a very happy and sheerful animal. :-)
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: uncharted on May 23, 2007, 12:36:28 PM
I think there's a certain amount of animal instinct required to assess these kinds of situations.  

A couple of years back I was attacked by a dog in the park behind where I used to live.  We just knew that it was being agressive as it approached us, even though there wasn't any outward signs.  Some survival instinct picked up things that I'm still not aware of.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago and my wife and I were walking in the woods when some {bleep} failed to keep his dog (probably only about 9 months old) under control.  It charged at us and then jumped up, but I knew instinctively that it was only being excited and playful and that the worst I could expect was a bit of slober and some mud on my t-shirt.

Outwardly, the two dogs probably appeared to be behaving exactly the same.
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: PMC on May 23, 2007, 12:36:36 PM
I grew up with Boxers.  Playful and very intelligent, they're extremely loyal and fantastic with kids.  
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: odin on May 23, 2007, 01:14:44 PM
E. It's a three-jawed vampire dog out of Blade 3 trying to eat your face.

-edit-
Er...is it already too early to drag the cats into this? ;-).
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: motorollin on May 23, 2007, 01:19:43 PM
@speel
I have lived with Collies too for many many years. I love their gentle yet playful personality. But there's something about Bull Terrier's cheeky naughty nature that I really identify with :-)

@uncharted
Although you perceived the two animals as being the same in appearance, you probably subconsciously picked up on something in the animal's stance, body language, or maybe even a pheremone which tipped you off to its intent. I suspect this knowledge evolved as a survival instinct.

@PMC
I like Boxers too. Shame they look so silly :lol:

@odin
Shut it, cat-lover :-P

--
moto
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: X-ray on May 23, 2007, 09:26:27 PM
My uncle used to describe bull terriers as 'turbo-charged pigs'  :lol:
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: adz on May 23, 2007, 11:18:39 PM
Quote

motorollin wrote:

The motion blur obfuscates the eyes a little, so they might not have been totally closed :-?


I was relying on the presumption that there would have been a streak of white had the eyes been opened at all.

Quote

I was going to, but it was obviously too easy! Therefore no prize :-P


Bah, duped again :evil: :lol:
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: Speelgoedmannetje on May 24, 2007, 10:13:17 PM
Quote

motorollin wrote:
@speel
I have lived with Collies too for many many years. I love their gentle yet playful personality. But there's something about Bull Terrier's cheeky naughty nature that I really identify with :-)
Ah I see. :-)
Well, I identify with the indeed gentle and playful personality of Collies :-)
Title: Re: What is this dog doing?
Post by: JaXanim on May 27, 2007, 03:10:28 PM
Doh..I thought you said 'anthropomorphism'. No wonder I guessed wrong!

JaX