Why is My Dog Staring at Me?

Does your dog like to stare at you? Do you ever wonder why he does this, or what he’s trying to communicate to you when staring? Is there anything you need to worry about if your dog has a habit of staring?

Staring behavior is perfectly normal in dogs and is typically nothing to be concerned about. However, if you feel like your dog stares at you more often than not, you may still want to know what’s going on! In this article, we’ll explain some of the most common reasons why your dog may be staring at you, so you can better understand your pet.

Paying Attention

Many times, dogs stare at their owners simply because they are paying attention. Your dog might be waiting to see what you do next, wondering if you’re going to interact with him, give him a treat, or take him on a walk.

He might also just be interested in what you’re doing! Your dog spends a lot of time with you, so it makes sense that he would want to know what activities you might come up with. He could be staring at you just waiting to find out what’s in store.

Expressing Admiration

Sometimes your dog may just stare at you because he wants you to know he admires you. Although dogs do not experience the feeling of love the same way humans do, they have a lot of admiration for their human family members. Your dog trusts you and wants you to know that!

If your dog seems to stare at you a lot when he’s relaxing or cuddling with you, this is probably why. Feel free to stare back, as he will probably take this as a positive type of body language from you in this situation. However, he might get “shy” and look away—and that’s okay too!

Expressing Anger and Aggression

One of the only times you need to worry about your dog’s staring behavior is if he is being aggressive or angry toward you or someone else. Dogs may stare without blinking and hold their bodies perfectly still when they are aggressive. This body language should tell you to back away and break eye contact immediately.

Your dog may also growl, snarl, or bark if he is showing anger or aggression. Consider the whole body language of your dog, and not just his staring, to try to determine what’s causing him to act this way.

Begging for Something

If your dog has ever stared directly at you while you eat a meal, you’ve probably experienced a begging stare. Dogs tend to stare at their owners when they want something, hoping for a sign that the owner is going to give them whatever they are focused on.

If you often give your dog bites of your own food (which you shouldn’t do!) then this may reinforce staring as a begging behavior. However, your dog may also stare when he wants you to throw a toy for him, take him on a walk, or let him out to potty, too.

Bonding

Dogs stare into the eyes of their human family members because it is part of the bonding process. Both humans and dogs experience a release of a hormone called oxytocin when they look into each other’s eyes. This hormone creates a bond of love and affection between humans and dogs, which is part of why we grow so attached to our pets.

Dogs may not consciously realize they are looking at you for a bonding experience, but this is still the end result most of the time. If you and your dog are very close, there’s no shame in staring at each other now and then!

Waiting for a Command

If you spend a lot of time training your dog, he may stare at you when he’s waiting for a command. This behavior could occur at any time throughout the day, and it is often more commonly associated with confusion in your dog.

For example, if you go into a new situation with your trained dog, he is likely to start staring at you for a sign of what he should do. This is a good reaction; a well-trained dog should always look to his owner for cues.

Conclusion

As you can see, staring is nothing to worry about in almost every situation. Although it may make some humans uncomfortable, staring is a perfectly normal part of a dog’s life and communication, too.

If you have any further questions about your dog’s behavior, or if you have any reason to feel concerned about his staring habits, talk to your vet for more information. Your vet can guide you toward a more solid understanding of your pet’s specific needs and behaviors, and can help you recognize when something may be amiss as well.