Can Dogs look up?

It seems that the question of whether dogs can look up? is bringing hundreds of people to dots and spaces. Google lists me as an authority, but I'm afraid I don't have much to go on. There might be a clue here, but someone pointed out that this might be due to not letting go of the rock. In the meantime, detailed research is being held at bugs, if you want to find a site that has tons of "SOTD" and "Spaced" information, then look no further than Spaced Out. Anyway, a quick straw poll shows that we're mostly divided on the subject of dogs looking up, please feel free to contribute to the debate.

*After all this time talking about this subject, the first photo has finally arrived...and its not conclusive. Is the dog merely looking forward towards the person with the dodgy camera phone?

Matt explains more: After seeing Shaun of the Dead again, I made an AIM screen name "dogsCANNOTlookup", after several dog owners argued with me about a dog's ability to look up, I agreed. Then I wondered: had my dog ever looked up?

I did a www.ask.com search and came across your beautiful debate on the subject. After reading through the many amused comments, I decided to check my old pictures of the Anti-Christ Pomeranians my mom owns, I came across this single photo. I'm not convinced dogs can look straight up though. I will try to get my dogs to look up and send a more convincing picture in time.

- thanks Matt...

Comments

[Daisy]

Well, I think that dogs can look up, and that they will probably take over one day and every one is going to be sorry about neglecting them (if people actualy did neglect them!) So treat your dogs with respect!! And about the dogs walking side ways, if anyone has a problem with that, they will answer to the head dog - you have been warned!!!!

P.s Remember to respect the dog!

[Erika]

After watching "Shaun of the Dead" (which is a hilarious movie if you havent seen it) i almost immediately went to my friend who owns 3 dogs and knows a ton about them and i asked her "Can dogs look up?" she replied with a yes but I'm still not sure so if anyone has a picture of a dog looking up while standing please post it on this site for everyone to see and whoever said that they'll go to the moon if dogs take over i'll go with you

[Scotsman]

Hi, I totally forgot about that part of the film in Shaun of the dead until it was on Sky again just recently. I was watching it at a friend's house with a bunch of people and as soon as shaun said it it immediately got me thinking and i turned to my friends and said, "actually, can dogs look up?"
To which one of my friends replied: "Ha! dont be stupid." and another added
"of course they can"
but i still believe that no dogs cannot look up, i was like "no seriously can they? -I have never seen a dog look up. Have you?"
This triggered off an immense argument for us all and resulted in us missing a lot of the film- luckily we had all seen it before.
We hadn't had such an argument since we watched Matrix 3 and argued whether it would be better to live a lie in the matrix or to know the truth and be in the real world. Both of which are really annoying topics as I cannot understand the other point of view on either!
(i believe it is better to be in the real world obviously)
But to conclude I really dont think dogs can look up without sitting down. if they could surely we would all remember seeing it...
Any comments guys?

[Ace]

My dog can indeed look up and I have sent the pictures to this site, hopefully they will be posted.

[dots]

Away travelling at the moment, but soon as I get a chance I'll post up your photos Ace, thanks once again for your input into this important subject.

[sam morrison]

My dog can also look up, and does on a regula basis. I have also asked all my friends and their dogs can too look up.

[kaz]

i think they can coz my mums small dog does look up but her boxer does not maby size has something to do with it ?

[Chris Bates]

DOGS CANNOT LOOK UP. I am a vet and its clinically imposible due to the spinal cord. END OF STORY!

[bob]

i need proof that dogs cant look up so i can shut my freind up nd i cant think y a dog would want to look up anyway

[Angel]

I have a 3 year old purebread pitbul. The first thing she does when she gets up from a nap is streatches her head straight back so that she is looking right at the ceiling. sometimes in the summer she likes to catch flies. If she misses them and they land on the ceiling, she will sit directly under them looking straight up and wait until they fly away and chase them again.

[Michele]

My dogs can look up, I had to scrounge around for a pic of them and I came across this one of my Shih-tzu looking up while lying down on her belly. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/yellowhappydog/pups/Kitty08-07-05.jpg

[james b]

after seeing shuan of the dead i wanted too see if dogs can look up and i asked all my friends if the can and they all said yes but it is inpossible for them too look up after talking to Dr. Hismansmegal hoo said that dogs cant look up

[joe momma]

"Due to the construction of a dogs neck and spine, it is physically impossible for them to look upwards. In order for a dog to look up at something high they must assume the sitting position"

Doesn't this seem to contradict itself?

[david lee]

i have 2 dogs, with both i held their noses at a level position and held a treat above their head, with their eyes they both stared at the treat with their eyes pointed up, so with their eyes they can look up, though im hot shure if there necks can let them look up with their whole head.
SHAUN OF THE DEAD RULES

[Oliver_P.]

Dogs can, and will never look up unless they are dun dun dun..
Robot Dogs!!!!
but seriously, they cant look up, and anyone who disagrees is a fool of the highest calibre.

[JAMES GLEAVE]

I DON'T REALLY CARE

[dots]

alright...no need to shout.

Sean of the Dead was on last night...we all had a good laugh, first time I spotted some of the "celebrity" zombies.

[duhhhh]

If dogs can bring their bodies vertical, they can look up. I believe they do it when the catch frizbees.

[Sammy D]

I'm writing a persuasive essay on this subject for school. I'm supporting the opinion that dogs can't look up just because it sounds crazier, but to be honest I have no idea.

There's no point using science to prove whether or not dogs can look up, it is a philosophical question and can never be definitively answered.

[sam]

dogs can't look up they only tilt their heads up and their eyes move with them

[dots]

interesting comment from the egg, I think there's a contradiction, if the heads tilt up and the eyes more with them, then they may indeed be looking up.

[christina]

i have just watched shaun of the dead and it says on that that dogs can't look up. i text 63336 who can answer any question in the world and they said 'dogs cannot look upwards from a standing position by moving their eyes. if they want to see anything above them they need to move their head or body' how funnys that! but the comment said about the celeb zombies who r they? little britons small man is init though x

[Jamie]

my dog (a border collie) is more than capable of looking up. he'll happily move his head up or move his eyes up to see upwards. utter rubbish that dogs can not look up. however, some truth is available. dogs can not look up the yellow pages for the number of my local takeaway.

[mvh]

This page has numerous pictures of dogs looking up while both sitting and standing:

http://www.spaced-out.org.uk/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t11197.html

[Catinbush1]

I have a dog and it absolutly CAN look up, even while standing. She can do so both while arcing her neck upwords and with only her eyes. Interesting topic though I must say.