Do dogs care if you look them in the eye?
Cara Breitenberg
2025-06-24 07:23:50
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Dogs apparently never got the memo that staring is impolite. This intense eye contact from your dog could mean many things and what you do when your dog stares could affect your relationship. It could be a sign of affection, a way to seek attention or communicate a need, or a way to find out what’s happening. Some dogs may stare you down when they want another treat, and many dogs already know that bringing out their puppy eyes grabs your attention and leads to getting what they want. Nilson says 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. Prolonged eye contact can make some dogs uncomfortable, and dogs with fearful dispositions or a history of abuse may purposefully avoid eye contact.
Judson Ondricka
2025-06-14 11:50:31
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Dogs will sometimes avoid eye contact, too, if they are submissive, not used to being around someone, nervous, or afraid. Looking into a dog’s eyes is not the same as staring and most dogs can tell the difference. Staring can be a threat to dogs and some other species. When someone stares at a dog, maintaining eye contact when he or she has no right to do so, it can make a nervous dog hostile or scared. Dogs are great companions and want to be loved. Since dogs know that what we think will influence our behavior toward them, they are looking at us because they want to know how we feel. Animal behaviorist Alexandra Horowitz pointed out the difference between the gazes of dogs and those of other species in her book Inside of a Dog. She believes that dogs look at us for our ability to give food, clues about our emotional state, information about what is happening in their world. A study from Japan reveals that when dogs stare into our eyes, the activity causes us to release oxytocin into our bloodstream.
Maci Wiza
2025-06-03 11:45:50
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Dogs never sustain eye contact with one another except in rare circumstances such as these. In dog language, when a dog stares directly into another dog's eyes, it is a sign of aggression, an attempt to intimidate. It is a learned behavior that is unnatural to dogs. Our dogs learn that that is how WE communicate. As a dog obedience competitor, I train my dogs from puppyhood to look at me in the eyes with sustained attention, but it does have to be taught and/or learned. Animals communicate more by body language than they do vocally. Part of body language is expressed in the eyes, a hard glare or a soft stare, but more than that, tenderness can be expressed in the eyes as well. It is instinctive for animals to search our eyes, to better read the rest of our body language.
Andreanne Green
2025-06-03 08:39:39
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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. Turning their head away from whatever is bothering or worrying them is a telltale sign of doggy stress. Sometimes they will also close or partially close their eyes. ‘Whale’ or ‘half-moon’ eyes can mean your dog is anxious or uncomfortable.
Cheyenne Cronin
2025-06-03 07:22:22
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They say the eyes are the window to the soul. In human interactions, making eye contact often is associated with trustworthiness and sincerity. However, scientists are still trying to figure out all the ways that dogs use eye contact to communicate with us. When it comes to interacting with humans, dogs are very perceptive to the various cues we give off. For example, they can tell when we’re paying attention to them and when we’re not. This is often evident through eye contact — dogs tend to follow human communicative gestures more when we make eye contact with them. Parents often tell their children not to stare because it is considered impolite behavior.
Laila Frami
2025-06-03 07:09:04
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Prolonged eye contact can have different meanings for dogs, depending on their individual temperaments. But a dog, especially one who struggles with reactivity or is wary of people, might be alarmed by a stranger staring at them. Staring Can Make a Dog Feel Challenged For a dog, a stranger staring at them might be seen as a challenge, threat, or something to make them uneasy. They may even fear you could be trying to take a resource, such as a toy or chew, away from them. That’s why it’s best to act calm around new dogs. Also try to avoid extended periods of eye contact, especially for dogs who already be struggling with human reactivity or overarousal. If you notice a strange dog staring at you, particularly if they have a stiff posture and are unblinking, try to avoid making eye contact. Instead, back away to give that dog some space, since they are showing clear signs of discomfort.
Read also
- Why is eye contact important with dogs?
- Do dogs show love through eye contact?
- What does it mean when a dog avoids eye contact?
- Why is eye contact important when communicating with others?
- Should you make eye contact with an aggressive dog?
- What dog breeds like eye contact?
- Can dogs actually say "I love you"?
- Why does my dog look away when I talk to him?
- Should you make eye contact with a nervous dog?