We all love our dogs like family. However, we can't deny that they do some of the strangest things. We usually think it is just dogs being silly. When you find out why your dog stares at you when they poop, you will be amazed!
The Reason Your Dog Stares At You While They Poop Is:
“If a dog should stare at its owner when relieving itself, he is most likely checking for approval to be sure that he is using the correct location,” Nick Jones, dog behaviorist and trainer with Alpha Dog Behaviour in London, told The Dodo.
“Perhaps if an owner had previously scolded their dog for pooping in the wrong area, this could cause anxiety in the dog as a result.”
Another possibility is more instinctual.
“The pooping position is a vulnerable position for dogs,” Friedman said. “The feeling of being vulnerable is left over from their wild ancestor, the wolf, who still has to fend for himself in the wild. I think dogs are making sure we have their backs while they’re in that vulnerable position for an extended period of time.”
While these all make a lot of sense, Dr. Sonja Olson, of BluePearl Veterinary Partners, says your dog might also be trying to communicate.
“By making eye contact, your dog could be asking permission for something,” Olson told The Dodo. “Or your dog could be asking for privacy. All this can vary according to breed, your relationship to the dog and other factors. Or maybe it’s you that’s initiating and holding the eye contact.”
Wow! It turns out that our dogs actually have logical reasons for staring at us while they poop. It could be because they are looking for approval that it is okay to go. It could be because they are wanting you to stand guard while they go or maybe it's because you started staring first without realizing it. The next time your dog does this, knowing the reason why will make it a lot less awkward for you and your dog.
To find out more about why your dog does this, you can visit The DoDo.
Featured Image via William Cortes/Flickr
