Do Dogs Have Eyebrows? The Science and Story Behind Your Dog’s Expressive Face

Revealing how domestication rewired canine muscles to forge deeper bonds with humans.

By Anjali Sayee

Created on Aug 29, 2025

Revealing how domestication rewired canine muscles to forge deeper bonds with humans.

Do Dogs Really Have Eyebrows?

When your dog gives you that wide-eyed, heart-melting look, you may find yourself wondering: do dogs have eyebrows like people do? At first glance, some dog breeds appear to sport distinctive eyebrow markings, while others display profound expressiveness above their eyes. But beneath these expressive features lies a captivating evolutionary and anatomical story about how dogs use their ‘eyebrows’ to communicate and bond with us.

The Anatomy of Dog ‘Eyebrows’

Unlike humans, dogs do not have true eyebrows made of thick, bushy hair. Instead, their ‘eyebrows’ refer to the muscles and features on the brow ridge above their eyes that allow them to create a remarkable range of facial expressions.

Dogs possess a specialized muscle called the levator anguli oculi medialis, located above their eyes, which is responsible for the familiar ‘puppy dog eyes’ expression and several other facial cues.
This muscle gives dogs the ability to raise their inner eyebrows, making their eyes appear larger, softer, and more appealing.
Unlike in dogs, this muscle is largely absent or very weak in their wild ancestors, such as wolvesâwho cannot produce such pronounced eyebrow movements.
Beneath the fur, all dogs have a brow ridge (the supraorbital torus), a bony projection above the eyes. The hair above this ridge varies by breed but is not biologically equivalent to the thick human eyebrow.

Notable Breeds with “Eyebrow” Markings

Some breeds seem to have eyebrows thanks to distinct fur patterns:

Rottweilers have pronounced tan dots above their eyes, highlighting their expressive brow movements.
German Shepherds and Dobermans often display contrasting fur coloration on their brow area.
Other breeds, like terriers, may have notable tufts or shadows above the eye that emphasize their facial expressions.
Brachycephalic breeds (e.g., Pugs and Boxers) have especially pronounced brow ridges due to skull shape, which can make their facial cues even more obvious.

How Dogs Use Their Eyebrows to Communicate

A dogâs brow is remarkably active. Through movements of the inner eyebrow muscle and the brow skin, dogs express key emotions:

Excitement or anticipation: Brows rise when a dog expects something pleasant, like treats or play.
Concern, sadness, or apology: A raised inner eyebrowâcreating big, round eyesâsignals a plea for connection or comfort.
Confusion or curiosity: Dogs may raise one or both brows, often paired with a head tilt.
Fear or uncertainty: The brow may furrow, showing tension or anxiety.

This palette of expressions is made possible by the unique muscular development in the dog’s brow area, a trait not found in wolves or most other animals.

The Evolutionary Tale: From Wolves to Dogs

Scientists have discovered that expressive eyebrows are a direct product of dog domestication. Early on, human ancestors began selecting for canines capable of social and emotional communication, intentionally or not.

Key points in this evolutionary journey include:

Dogs split from wolves 30,000â33,000 years ago. Over generations, dogs developed more pronounced inner eyebrow musclesâa change absent in wild wolves.
Dogs that could use their eyebrow muscles were more successful in eliciting nurturing responses from humans. That meant more care, food, and opportunities to breedâso the trait became common.
This muscular adaptation was so strong that now the ability to raise the inner brow intensely is consistently present in all modern dogs but nearly entirely lacking in wolves.

A landmark 2019 study compared the anatomy of wolves and dogs and directly linked the presence of the levator anguli oculi medialis to domestication. It confirmed that these eyebrow movements are a prime example of paedomorphism (retention of juvenile, or infant-like, traits in adults), which humans are naturally drawn to.

Why Wolves Donât Have Eyebrows

Wolves have similar facial muscle anatomy around the mouth and ears to dogs, but not around the eyes. Their brow muscles are only present as thin, irregular fibers, offering little capacity for expressive brow movements. Wolves communicate primarily with body language and vocalizations, while dogs evolved to rely heavily on facial cues directed at humans.

Why Dogs Developed Their Eyebrow Expressions

There are compelling reasons why eyebrow expressions became widespread among domestic dogs:

Communication with humans: Dogs with more expressive faces could better signal needs or emotions. Increased expressiveness fostered tighter, more trusting bonds with humansâessential for cooperation in hunting, guarding, and living together.
Triggering human caregiving: Dogsâ raised eyebrows mimic the sad or pleading eyes of human infants, triggering a nurturing, protective response in people. This is an evolutionary advantage for any animal reliant on another species for survival.
Selection bias: Human preference for ‘cute’ behaviors like ‘puppy eyes’ unconsciously promoted breeding of dogs who could make such faces. Modern adoptions show this continues, as shelter dogs with more pronounced eyebrow movements are more likely to be adopted quickly.

Facial Muscles: Dogs vs. Wolves

Muscle	Dogs	Wolves
Levator anguli oculi medialis	Robust, allows strong eyebrow movement	Very weak or absent, minimal brow action
Mouth muscles	Similar to wolves	Similar to dogs
Ear muscles	Similar to wolves	Similar to dogs
Overall facial expressiveness	Much greater; especially with the eyes	More limited, relies on other signals

Breed Differences in Eyebrow Appearance

The visibility and prominence of brow markings or movement varies widely by breed:

Marked breeds: Rottweilers, Dobermans, and some terriers have fur ‘eyebrows’ as separate points of color, drawing attention to brow movement.
Smooth or single-colored breeds: Labrador Retrievers or Greyhounds have less distinct markings, yet can still move their brow muscles for expression.
Brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds: Pugs, Boxers, and Bulldogs have exaggerated brow ridges, making facial expressions particularly pronounced even in the absence of distinct color patches.

Despite these variations, all domestic dogs possess the musculature required for expressive eyebrow movements.

How Dogsâ Eyebrows Affect Human-Dog Relationships

Eyebrow movements play a crucial role in the relationship between people and dogs, from historic co-existence to modern companionship:

Facilitating understanding: Dogs can convey complex intentions and emotions without words, simply by shifting their brows.
Strengthening emotional bonds: The ability for a dog to âlook sadâ or âapologeticâ intensifies empathy and affection from humans, strengthening mutual trust.
Thereâs evidence that dogs with pronounced expressive faces are more successful at finding homes, as people respond strongly to emotional cues in adoption settings.

Fun Fact: Are Dogs Doing It On Purpose?

Scientists are not yet sure whether dogs knowingly use their eyebrow muscles to manipulate us. However, the behavior persists because it proved advantageous over thousands of yearsâso whether conscious or instinctive, itâs here to stay!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do all dogs have eyebrows?

All dogs have brow muscles that allow for expressive movement, but not all have visible eyebrow hair or markings. The underlying anatomy is present in all domestic breeds.

Which dog breeds have distinct ‘eyebrows’?

Breeds like Rottweilers, Dobermans, and some terriers display contrasting fur markings over the brow, which look like eyebrows. However, the humane muscle is present even in breeds without these markings.

Why donât wolves show eyebrow expressions like dogs?

Wolves lack the well-developed inner eyebrow muscle found in dogs. Instead, their brow area is undeveloped, which means their facial signals are far less expressive.

Can my dog ‘fake’ emotions with their eyebrows?

Research is inconclusive on whether dogs deliberately use their eyebrows to manipulate humans, but the movement triggers a strong human response regardless of intention.

Are expressive eyebrows linked to how dogs behave?

Expressive brow muscles help dogs convey states like fear, excitement, guilt, or curiosity. These signals contribute to the strong communication bond between dogs and humans and may influence both training and bonding success.

Summary: Why Dog Eyebrows Matter

Dogs do not have true eyebrows like humans, but they possess specialized muscles above their eyes that allow them to make a range of expressive faces.
These muscles developed through domestication, enabling dogs to communicate more effectively with humansâespecially through expressions that trigger nurturing instincts.
Differing by breed, some dogs have eyebrow-like fur markings, but the key trait is the muscular ability; even breeds without markings can be expressive.
This eyebrow movement plays a major role in the strong emotional connection and communication between dogs and people.

Key Takeaways

All dogs have the muscles for expressive eyebrow movement, but only some have pronounced fur markings in that area.
The evolution of this trait is closely tied to the development of human-canine relationships, demonstrating how our preferences have influenced canine anatomy.
Whether you have a Doberman with bold, tan points or a Labrador with subtle brow ridges, your dogâs eyebrows are an essential part of the reason they can communicate so well with you.

References

Kaminski, J., et al. (2019). Evolution of facial muscle anatomy in dogs. PNAS.
Cornell Animal Hospital, Blog. Why Dogs Have Expressive Eyebrows.
Dogster, “Do Dogs Have Eyebrows? Vet-Verified Facts”
PetsCare, “Understanding Dog Eyebrows”
A Wilder View, Why Dogs Have Eyebrows and Wolves Donât

References

Author

Anjali Sayee

Anjali is an Associate Editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience specializing in hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She has authored over 300 articles and offers expert advice on hair styling techniques, effective skin care routines, and tips for maintaining healthy hair and skin.

Read full bio of Anjali Sayee