 Show It’s not hard to imagine why a loyal dog might stare devotedly at his master. It’s the stuff of Old Yeller, White Fang and Lassie –– starers, all. But some dogs take staring to extremes, following their owners around with baleful eyes as if expecting links of sausage to fly from their human’s fingertips.
But dogs can — and do — stare at their owners for plenty of non-food issues, too. Indeed, anything a dog might want that a human can provide could be the source of the staring behavior, from a fun game of fetch to a ride in the car or a long run.
In any case, staring is typically considered to be a good thing. In fact, most trainers encourage dogs to stare at their owners while awaiting their cues. And if you’ve never done it, gazing deeply into a dog’s eyes can be a highly rewarding pastime.
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If you have a dog, you probably spend a lot of time trying to figure out dog behavior and looking up the answers to questions like “Why does my dog follow me?” (if you’re on your way to the kitchen it’s pretty obvious!), “Can my dog see color?” or “Why does my dog stare at me?” Like us, dogs are complex creatures, and it can be hard to know what your dog’s facial expressions really mean. When you’re asking them to sit or giving them a treat, eye contact means that their attention is on you and that they’re ready to (hopefully) listen. But sometimes your pup will look at you without being prompted, or give you the doggy side-eye when you’re not even doing anything interesting, just watching TV. Unless you’re doing one of these things that your dog actually hates, there are a few reasons why your dog might stare at you—even when you don’t call his name or do something to get his attention. Why does my dog stare at me?In general, dogs use eye contact to gain information and understand what their human wants them to do, says Philip Tedeschi, professor and researcher on the human-animal bond with Rover. “Dogs use eye contact as reassurance and understanding in very similar ways that humans do, to ascertain interpersonal connection and reaction. This helps us connect with them as well,” he says. In especially good news for pooch parents, science confirms that dogs use eye contact to express affection. How do you tell if a dog loves you? Well, if he stares at you, it’s a good sign! “Just like humans gaze into each other’s eyes to show love and affection, so does your dog,” says Tedeschi. “In fact, one study showed that the ‘cuddle’ hormone oxytocin increases in both humans and dogs when they exchange a loving gaze.” However, Tedeschi points out that if the eye contact between a dog and a human is too long or too intense it might lead to discomfort in the dog—similar to the way two humans staring at each other for a prolonged period of time would make them uncomfortable. So what do you do if your dog stares at you? Look back, but not for too long. Dogs get awkward, too! Do dogs use eye contact to try to communicate with humans?Eye contact is actually not a natural instinct for dogs, but over time they learn that eye contact can often lead to attention or food from their humans. So, if you see your dog looking to the side, or notice he’s staring at you in a classic, cute, looking-up puppy eyes kind of way, it probably means he wants something. “Dogs will often stare when you’re doing something that piques their curiosity—like grilling up something that smells tasty or opening the cupboard where the treats are—to see if they can get in on the fun too,” says Tedeschi. So, next time you catch your hound staring, try giving him a cuddle. If you’re curious, here’s why dogs sometimes tilt their heads when looking at you. If your dog sees another dog while you’re out for a walk, he might look at the other dog briefly to catch the dog’s attention, but when two dogs stare at each other it’s actually a sign of hostility. “You’ll more frequently see dogs turning away from each other in order to avoid eye contact as sustained staring can be a sign of aggression,” says Tedeschi. “Prolonged eye contact rarely occurs in friendly exchanges between two dogs.” When two dogs meet for the first time, always approach with caution and never just let your dog run up to an unknown dog. You don’t know how other canines will react. That’s just one of the mistakes dog owners should never make. Why does my dog stare at me when he goes to the bathroom?“When dogs are defecating, they feel like they are vulnerable, so he’s looking to you to protect him and for safety cues as he goes,” says Tedeschi. Most dogs also learn that if they go to the bathroom outside when and where they’re supposed to, they will be rewarded with a treat, so they stare at you to make sure you know that they are doing their business. Yes, it’s a bit awkward, but you can reassure your dog by saying something soothing instead. So now you know: your dog stares at you because he wants to express affection, make sure he’s safe, or check on his chances of getting food or snuggles. Think you’re a dog expert? Test yourself to see how much you know in our definitive guide to what dogs want. Source:
Originally Published: March 15, 2022 Reviewed by Kathleen Claussen, DVM on July 01, 2021
Every dog owner is familiar with a sense of being watched. Dogs spend a lot of time staring at their owners, even if the owners find the constant attention a bit disconcerting. Sometimes it’s obvious why your dog is looking intently at you. When you’re about to take a bite of some delicious smelling food, your dog is probably staring. On the other hand, they might be staring to tell you that they’re not feeling well and need help. Other times, they seem to be staring at you for no reason at all. Even if you don’t understand what your dog is looking at, your dog has a good reason to be watching you. Many times, dogs use eye contact to tell you something or to ask you for something. To understand. Dogs watch you to understand what you’re doing. Dogs and humans have a special relationship. Dogs are naturally inclined to become attached to their owners and they take an interest in what their humans do. Watching people is how they gather information about their actions. Sometimes they’re looking for a signal that you might be about to take them for a walk or feed them a meal. If you’ve trained your dog to respond to hand or voice signals, they might be waiting for a signal to tell them what to do next. Other times, they’re just observing you so that they can know more about you. They want something. Your dog might want something from you. Sometimes dogs use eye contact to ask their owners for something. Many dog owners are familiar with the intent stare a dog gives you to beg for food. Other times, your dog might look at you to get your attention because they want to go outside. Maybe they just hope you’ll pick up a toy and play with them. Sometimes this kind of staring is combined with playful bowing or a suggestive look toward where you keep your leash. If you give your dog what they want when they stare at you to beg, you reinforce the behavior. They’ll keep using staring as a way to get what they want. You can talk to your vet or a dog trainer to get tips for curbing this form of begging if it’s a problem for you. Something is wrong. In some cases, your dog might be staring at you in a pleading way. If they’re hurt or sick, they might be staring in the hope that you’ll notice their discomfort. If your dog is less active than usual and their stare seems glassy-eyed or unfocused, check for signs of injury or illness. Any time your dog seems to be hurt or sick, you should discuss the situation with your vet. Aggression. Hard eye contact is a sign of aggression in dogs. Dogs lock eyes with one another to establish dominance or to show aggression. If a dog gives a person a hard, steady stare without blinking, the dog might be warning the human to back off. Your dog might be more likely to do this to a stranger, especially if your dog thinks they need to protect you. If your dog is aggressively staring at you or a family member, that might point to a bigger behavioral problem. Aggressive or territorial dogs might be a danger to people. Talk to your vet or an animal behaviorist about how to correct the issue. Affection. Your dog might simply be looking at you with love. Dogs love their owners and they gaze at them with the doggy equivalent of heart eyes. You might notice that your dog’s eyes seem slightly squinted when they look at you sometimes. This expression, along with a relaxed posture, is a sign that they’re giving you a look of love. If you take a moment to stare back at your dog, it can be a bonding moment for both of you. Mutual staring between dogs and their owners releases oxytocin. This is a hormone that gives you a feeling of love and well-being. If you pay attention to what is going on when your dog locks eyes on you, you can get a sense of why they’re staring at you. Paying attention to their body language will give you additional clues about why they’re following you with their eyes. Take note of what you’re doing in the moment to figure out what draws their attention. Most of the time, if your dog is staring at you, it’s because they consider you important, and they just want to be part of whatever you do. |
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