Puppies are born ready to communicate with people, research suggests

'People have been interested in dogs' abilities to do these kinds of things for a long time'

New studies show that a puppy's social skills develop soon after birth. Picture: istock

Dogs may have earned the title of man's best friend through their interactions with humans, but now researchers say these social skills could be present shortly after birth rather than being learned.

And some pets appear to start off with an advantage based on their genetics.