Over the
last year, we've noticed that our oldest dog, Franklin the Dachshund likes to
sit on the floor and stare at us. Sometimes he wants to come up in the chair
with us. Other times we realize he wants food. Otherwise we don't know why he's
staring. In fact, sometimes if we're sitting and watching TV he'll sit himself
on the floor between us, and stare back and forth at both of us for as long as
a 30 minutes!! (That's all we can take before we either pick him up or put him
in his bed). ..
Here's an article that just came out from Modern Dog Magazine about that very
topic that offers a few more answers!
Why is My
Dog Staring At Me?
No doubt
about it, our dogs are keeping a close eye on us. Here are 5 reasons your dog
is staring at you
You’re going
about your evening when you sense it. The unmistakable feeling you’re being
watched. You slowly turn your head, searching for the source. And then you find
it—canine eyes, peering at you. Why is your dog staring at you? Is he plotting
world domination? Is he worried about you? Is he hungry? Do you have something
between your teeth?! Staring is a behaviour that puzzles and sometimes
worries many pet parents. There are many good reasons why your dog is staring
at you.
#1 He
is showing affection
Just as you
gaze lovingly into your partner’s eyes, dogs look into our eyes to indicate
they like us. You’ll see your dog has a soft expression, maybe with slightly
squinty eyes.
Please note
this gaze should be a voluntary behaviour. You should never hold a dog’s head
still and stare into his eyes hoping for a mutual loving gaze. This can be a
common mistake made by young children who often like to hold dogs still so they
can look at them more closely. Your dog could take this action as a threat and
may not react affectionately at all. But if your dog is staring at you all
gooey-eyed, this is usually just what it looks like—a sign that he loves you!
#2 He’s
looking for clues
While you
may sometimes feel your dog rules the roost, you are actually the one in
charge. You decide what he eats and when he eats. You decide when he goes
outside. You decide when to have playtime, when to take him for medical care,
and where he sleeps. You choose his human and canine friends, and when he gets
to interact with them. You’re calling the shots! So your dog is quite invested
in figuring out what you’re up to as it directly affects his life.
Dogs are
much better at reading our body language than we are at reading theirs. Their
sense of smell and hearing are more acute than ours, and it also benefits them
as a species to be super-observant. They can figure out when you’re about to
leave for work—you may get your coat, pick up your keys or pick up a purse or a
briefcase. They know when you pull out a suitcase you may be leaving them
behind. They can often tell when you’re not feeling well, when you’ve had a
cranky day or when you’re sad.
When your
dog stares at you he’s oftentimes monitoring your behaviour to find out what’s
going on and how it will impact him. Makes you a little self-conscious now,
doesn’t it?
#3 He
needs something
Maybe he
really needs to go outside to potty. Maybe he’s starving because you’re five
minutes late feeding him dinner. Maybe he just lost his ball under the couch
and you’re the only one who can save it. Dogs can’t talk to us to tell us what
they want, but many dogs have wonderfully expressive eyes and use them to try
and communicate with us. So your dog could be staring at you because he needs
you to help him with something or he wants you to do something.
#4 You’re
eating something
Just because
your dog has never had a potato chip in his life doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be
game to help you eat that bag of chips right now. Some pet parents worry that
their dog is trying to dominate them if their dog stares at them while they are
eating, but this could not be farther from the truth. You don’t have to eat
something before your dog eats to prove you’re a leader. The answer is much
simpler–your dog isn’t trying to elevate his position; your dog just wants you
to share! Those chips look and
smell
delicious.
If you ever
fed your dog while you were eating you taught him to stare at you; he now
expects you to do it again. So you may have created a habit you now find
annoying. Whether or not you taught the behaviour, if it bothers you, you can
train your dog to settle on his bed with a food-stuffed toy while you eat or
simply put him in another room.
#5 He
is exhibiting aggression
This is not
as common, but it does happen. If a dog gives you a hard stare, eyes unblinking,
and has a stiff posture, this is aggression. You may see it if you reach for
food or a toy that the dog is guarding, or if you approach a dog that doesn’t
want you to come closer. If you ever encounter this, do not stare directly back
into the dog’s eyes. Move slowly away from the dog. If it is your dog, then
please seek professional help from a modern, positive dog trainer.
When your
dog stares at you, there can be many things behind those eyes, but most often
it is love or the desire to communicate a desire or a need. After all, when you
return the gaze, you’re looking into the eyes of a sensitive (and frequently
hungry) friend.
