Why is my dog staring at me?
Do you sometimes feel like someone is staring at you? Is that someone a four-legged friend? If you're wondering why your dog is staring at you, then read on.
Dominance
It is often said that a dog stares at you because he wants to exert dominance over you. This is a myth. Research clearly shows that dogs are not in competition with us to fight for rank in the hierarchy. So why do they stare at us?
Anticipation
When a dog stares at you persistently in a relaxed manner, it's often because they are waiting for something to happen.
Is there a recurring moment every 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 perhaps your dog has determined the time of day when you are done with 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 sometimes give you those puppy dog eyes when he stares at you? Yes! This means your dog is crazy about you. Research has shown that a dog's oxytocin level rises when it looks at a familiar person.
So yes, some dogs just look at their favorite person because they have such a strong bond and it makes them feel good.
Worry
A worried dog will often stare at you or another person with a furrowed brow and a slightly closed mouth. In addition, more white around the eyes is often visible than usual.
When a dog has separation anxiety, he will look at you with concern when you, for example, put on your shoes and pick up keys. As stress increases, he will start panting and possibly whining.
Conflict
Does your dog hold a frozen position with an intense stare? Watch out! This is the most concerning look from a dog. He is clearly preparing for a conflict. If you don't pay attention, the dog may anticipate the conflict with growling or even biting. This stare can occur, for example, when a dog is hovering over its food bowl with the fear that someone will take its food. Does this behavior persist? Then contact a dog behaviorist.
