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ArchiveLesson #143Science

17 August 2026 · BBC

Dogs Respond to Human Smiles

A new study shows dogs react positively to smiling faces, indicating they can distinguish between human emotions.

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Standard version (B1-B2)

Standard: natural English

53 words · ~1 min read
A recent study reveals that dogs respond positively to human smiles. Researchers found that when dogs see happy faces, a part of their brain associated with becomes active. This suggests that dogs can recognize positive emotions, even from strangers. However, they do not differentiate between various negative emotions like anger or fear.

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Adapted from BBC and rewritten at three levels by Newslish. Newslish is not affiliated with the source. Read the original.

Key vocabulary

  • reward

    something given in recognition of service or achievement

    “The dog's brain lights up when it sees a reward.”

  • emotion

    a strong feeling such as happiness or anger

    “Dogs can recognize human emotions like happiness and sadness.”

  • distinguish

    to recognize or point out a difference

    “Dogs can distinguish between happy and negative emotions.”

  • research

    a careful study to find out facts or principles

    “The research showed how dogs respond to human faces.”

  • cognition

    the mental action of acquiring knowledge and understanding

    “The study of canine cognition reveals how dogs interpret human behavior.”

Quick quiz

01What part of the dog's brain lights up when it sees a smiling face?

02Can dogs distinguish between different negative emotions?

03How many dogs participated in the study?

04What is the main focus of the research conducted by Cuaya and Hernández-Pérez?

Answered 0 of 4

Discussion

How do you think dogs perceive human emotions compared to other animals?