Do you sometimes feel that someone is staring at you? Does that someone happen to be a quadruped? If you're wondering why your dog is staring at you, be sure to read on.
Dominance
It is often said that a dog stares at you because he wants to exercise dominance over you. This is a myth. According to research, it is clear that dogs are not in competition with us to compete for a rank in the hierarchy. But why do they stare at us?
Anticipation
When a dog stares at you persistently in a relaxed manner, it is often because they are waiting for something to come.
Is there a recurring moment each day when your dog is staring at you? Then look at the part of your routine that usually follows: is it almost time for the daily walk? Time for dinner? Or maybe your dog has set the time of day when you finish work.
So when your dog looks at you expectantly, you are definitely not doing anything wrong. Your dog is anticipating something that will come.
Affection
Does your dog occasionally have those puppy dog eyes when he stares at you? Yes! This means that your dog is crazy about you. A study has shown that a dog's level of oxytocin increases when it looks at a familiar person.
So yes, some dogs just stare at their favorite person because they have such a strong bond and this makes them feel good.
Worry
A dog with worry will often stare at you or another person with a furrowed brow and a slightly closed mouth. In addition, there is often more white around the eyes than usual.
When a dog has separation anxiety, he will look at you with worry when you put on your shoes and grab keys, for example. As the stress increases, he will begin panting and possibly whining.
Conflict
Does your dog maintain a frozen position with intense stares? Take note! This is a dog's most worrisome look. He is clearly getting ready for conflict. If you don't pay attention to this, the dog may anticipate the conflict with growling or biting itself. This stare can occur, for example, when a dog hangs over his food pot with the fear that someone will take away his food. Does this behavior persist? If so, contact a dog behaviorist.