Why does my dog look away when I talk to him?
Humberto Batz
2025-07-05 05:09:28
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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. To a dog, however, maintaining eye contact is perceived as a challenge or a threat. Prolonged periods of eye contact can make a dog feel really worried. 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. 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.
Mathilde Olson
2025-06-27 10:17:30
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Dogs may avoid direct eye contact as a sign of submission or discomfort. When dogs feel threatened, they may avoid making eye contact with the perceived threat to prevent an escalation of the situation. Dogs are naturally curious animals and may look away if they notice something interesting or new in the environment. Dogs may look away if they are feeling anxious or stressed. This behavior can be a sign that they are uncomfortable in a situation or that they are experiencing fear or anxiety. Dogs are independent animals and may look away if they want to be left alone. This behavior can be a sign that they need some alone time or that they are not interested in interacting at that moment. A dog’s body gets stiff when they are uncomfortable or anxious. Dogs may lick their lips or yawn to show that they are feeling uncomfortable or stressed.
Victoria Konopelski
2025-06-19 15:37:03
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Dogs will sometimes avoid eye contact, too, if they are submissive, not used to being around someone, nervous, or afraid. 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. Some dog trainers, like Cesar Millan, think that dogs are staring just because they are looking for direction from their owners. 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.
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