Why is eye contact important with dogs?

Dogs have learned to mimic human communication methods, like eye contact, as part of their vocabulary. For people, eye contact can carry more nuanced meanings, such as letting the other person know we’re listening. They use tools like eye contact to cross the language barrier. Sometimes your dog may stare at you when they want to know what’s going on. A gentle gaze often signifies that a dog is happy and content to interact with you. Soft and direct eye contact, paired with a relaxed body posture, typically indicates that a dog is calm and feeling friendly. Establishing eye contact with your dog can even trigger the release of oxytocin, the love hormone, in people and dogs. This mutual gaze can strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners and make them feel good all around. Dogs tend to follow pointing more effectively if you establish eye contact before giving them the cue. Your dog may keep their eyes on you to stay engaged, participate, and anticipate what’s coming next, especially during dog training.

Eye contact, is, in my opinion, one of the least understood methods of communicating with our four legged friends. There is power to it. One should not take it lightly and one should not give a dog straight eye contact if they do not know what it is that they wish to communicate. Dogs have evolved with humans and they clock everything that we do. Most owner’s don’t realize that most of the time their dog is giving eye contact, they are “asking” for direction. The conversation in my mind goes something like this: Dog: “What do you want me to do right now?” Owner: “I love you some much” Dog: “ok, great. But what is your direction right now?” If you are giving your dog straight eye contact, then give them direction. The affection is there. The love, caring, commitment is all there. The dogs are not looking at you in awe of your persona, they are studying you. What they need from you, more than almost anything, is direction. Eye contact is the gateway to that. Your dog is asking you for direction, don’t miss the opportunity to provide them that. In dogs, I would venture to say that at least 99% of their communication is non verbal. By grasping the importance of communicating without words one can start to value when a dog is looking for direction or open to receiving guidance and straight eye contact plays a very important role in that.

To a dog, however, maintaining eye contact is perceived as a challenge or a threat. Our dogs will look directly at us if they trust us and feel at ease, but they will frequently turn their head or look away to show they are being non-confrontational. Prolonged periods of eye contact can make a dog feel really worried. When you looking at your dog, try to do so with as soft a gaze as possible to keep them calm and comfortable, and avoid holding direct eye contact.

As with people, eye contact is one of the foremost forms of body language used by our canine companions. However, locking eyes means something very different in the canine world and people need to be aware that their friendly gaze may be considered a challenge or threat before meeting the eyes of an unfamiliar dog. Humans view eye contact as a polite way to connect and show interest. Dogs, however, see the same action as a sign of dominance. Dogs rarely make prolonged eye contact with other dogs and a straight gaze is generally deemed threatening behavior. In most cases, one dog will break eye contact with another to avoid a potential fight. In the same way, a dog you’ve locked in a stare may show submissive behavior, such as looking away or rolling over onto his back. Some dogs, however, react aggressively to the perceived challenge, backing up and barking or even biting in response. Rather than unwittingly threaten a dog you’ve just met, then, greet him in a way that is comfortable for both parties. Approach the dog with your body slightly angled, so your shoulders aren’t squared towards him, and avert your eyes from a direct gaze. This non-threatening body language combined with a soft voice will let the dog know you are not a threat and should deflect any aggressive reactions from your new canine friend. There are, of course, some settings in which eye contact doesn’t disturb dogs. Dogs will locks eyes with each other to initiate playful games such as chasing, for example. However, you’ll most often catch canines politely avoiding any prolonged stares, with one dog turning his head away from the other in an appeasing gesture. In the same way, your dog may defer dominance to you by avoiding your stare, but you can teach him that eye contact with people is positive and can lead to rewards, such as attention or treats.