If you’re a dog parent, chances are you’ve had that eerie feeling of someone (or some pup) staring at you. Dogs stare at people for many different reasons, but it usually comes down to communication. They’re trying to tell you something, or they want something from you (treat time!), and they watch you very closely until you pay attention to them.
To decipher why your dog’s eyes are focused on you requires observing what else is happening around them. This is important, as an unbroken, hard stare can be a sign of aggression. Looking at your dog’s body language can help determine why they’re staring at you.
A Dog’s Body Language Gives You Clues
You can use your dog’s body language, ear position and facial expressions to help work out how they’re feeling and what your dog’s stare means. If your dog’s staring at you with big wide eyes, has an open mouth but isn’t showing any teeth (like they’re smiling), their stance is loose and relaxed, and their tail is down and floppy, that’s a friendly dog who probably wants something from you.
At the other end of the spectrum, if a dog stares at you with an unbroken, challenging stare, they may feel threatened or defensive. Check the rest of their body language, and if you see flat ears, squinted eyes, bared teeth and raised hackles, and they’re standing at full height growling or snarling, it’s time to look away and slowly walk backwards. Dogs showing signs of aggression need to be given space. In the canine world, maintaining eye contact means you’re challenging them. This is why you should never stare at a dog you don’t know.
What Does it Mean When Your Dog Stares at You?
Once you’ve worked out how your dog is feeling, you can use other cues to help determine why they’re staring at you. Dropping a toy at your feet and then staring at you until you pick it up is a good sign that your dog is trying to get you to stop what you’re doing and play. Staring at you while sitting by their leash could be them saying, “Hey! Let’s go for a walk!”
Feed Me!
Other reasons dogs stare to communicate include potty time and snack time. If your dog is standing by the door staring at you, they’re probably trying to make eye contact with you to let you know they need to go outside. And if your dog is staring at you (and salivating) while you’re eating, it’s pretty clear that they would like a snack, too.
The problem with begging is that they’ll keep doing it if they are rewarded for it. Many dog owners feel uncomfortable with their dog staring at them while they’re eating and give in to begging, but this just encourages the behavior. The best (but hardest) thing to do is to ignore those pleading eyes.
Back Off!
If your dog is showing signs of aggression or defensiveness, it might be because they’re resource guarding. They may be warning you not to come any closer to their food or their favorite toy. Resource guarding typically doesn’t resolve itself, so if your dog is resource guarding or showing other signs of aggressive behavior, ask your veterinarian for advice.
I Wuv You!
Perhaps the best answer to “Why does my dog stare at me?” is because they simply adore you and are showing affection! Often those cute puppy-dog eyes are staring because dogs love their owners and that’s their way of expressing love. Gazing back at them reciprocates your dog’s love, strengthens your bond and tells them you love them, too. So sweet.
Do Dogs Like Eye Contact?
The answer to this question depends on the situation. If your dog is happy and relaxed and staring at you with a loving gaze, then yes, they will probably like it if you stare back at them. On the other hand, if their body language indicates they’re fearful, defensive or aggressive, and they’re giving you a hard stare, making eye contact should be avoided.
Why Does My Dog Avoid Eye Contact?
If a dog is feeling shy, anxious or scared, they may avoid making eye contact with people or other dogs. They may have their tail tucked between their legs, ears down, pupils dilated and their bodies lowered with their hind ends up and head closer to the floor. They may also submit completely by rolling over to show their belly.
This can be a common behavior in rescue dogs who have recently been adopted and aren’t sure of their new surroundings. They may have also been abused by their previous owner and will take a while to trust people again. Give them time to adjust to their new family.
Why Does My Dog Stare at the Wall?
Have you ever caught your dog staring at the wall or some other random object? Did it cross your mind that they have supernatural powers and your dog can see ghosts? No? Well, another (more plausible) reason is that their super-sensitive hearing can hear something in the wall, like a mouse scurrying around. Or their super-sniffer nose can smell something interesting, and they are concentrating on working out what it is and where it’s coming from.
If you have an older dog, blankly staring at walls or other objects can be a sign of cognitive function decline. This is a condition similar to Alzheimer’s disease in people. Signs to watch for include pacing, snapping at “flies” in the air, sudden nighttime hyperactivity, not understanding basic commands and potty accidents. If you notice these signs of cognitive dysfunction, you should contact your vet for a check-up.
Dogs spend a lot of time staring at their humans. Sometimes the reasons are obvious. Other times, not so much. You can use their body language and behavior to try to work out what they’re trying to say, but sometimes it really is just a loving stare because they adore you so much. Awww.
