Why is My Doggie Staring at Me?

Ever wonder why your doggy likes to stare at you? The answer might surprise you! He may be trying to tell you something. Find out what it is and end the mystery!

You’re going about your evening when you sense it. The unmistakable feeling you’re being watched. Why is your dog staring at you? Is he plotting world domination? There are many good reasons why your dog is staring at you.

#1 He is showing affection

Just as you gaze lovingly into your partner’s eyes, dogs look into our eyes to indicate they like us. You’ll see your dog has a soft expression, maybe with slightly squinty eyes.

#2 He’s looking for clues

While you may sometimes feel your dog rules the roost, you are actually the one in charge. So your dog is quite invested in figuring out what you’re up to as it directly affects his life.

#3 He needs something

Dogs can’t talk to us to tell us what they want, but many dogs have wonderfully expressive eyes and use them to try and communicate with us. So your dog could be staring at you because he needs you to help him with something or he wants you to do something.

#4 You’re eating something

Just because your dog has never had a potato chip in his life doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be game to help you eat that bag of chips right now. Some pet parents worry that their dog is trying to dominate them if their dog stares at them while they are eating, but this could not be farther from the truth.

If you ever fed your dog while you were eating you taught him to stare at you; he now expects you to do it again.

#5 He is exhibiting aggression

This is not as common, but it does happen. If a dog gives you a hard stare, eyes unblinking, and has a stiff posture, this is aggression. If you ever encounter this, do not stare directly back into the dog’s eyes. Move slowly away from the dog. If it is your dog, then please seek professional help from a modern, positive dog trainer.