Why Is Your Dog Staring At You?

Have you ever been particularly engrossed in an activity – perhaps reading a book, or watching your favorite TV show – only for your dog to break your concentration as they stare intently at you?

It’s quite likely that the answer to that introductory question is “Yes”. Dogs are great communicators, which is ironic as they are obviously unable to explain or talk to us as a human would. Yet through a combination of body language, verbalizations (ex: barking) and eye contact, we are often able to discern what precisely our dog wants.

In this article, we’re going to explore some of the common reasons why your dog may be looking at you – and more importantly, uncover how you can identify why they are staring.

Your dog wants something

If your dog is hungry, or needs a top-up of water, or needs to go outside for a potty break, or is bored, or wants to play with a toy, or…you get it. When your dog wants something, their first step is usually to approach you, stop, and stare. This may be accompanied by a faint whine or whimper. Once your dog recognizes that you’ve seen their stare, they may follow this up with a helpful hint towards what they actually want (ex: walking towards the door if they need to go outside, or pawing at their water bowl if they’re thirsty).

Your dog is confused

Staring can often occur during training activities – particularly when you are teaching your dog a new behavior. This can be mistaken for stubbornness, but the reality is that your dog may simply not understand what you are trying to tell them to do. Calmly repeat the instruction, or break the instruction down into more granular parts to help them learn.

Your dog is awaiting instruction

A huge part of your dog’s life is their routine. They know when to expect mealtimes, when they are likely to go on a walk, and so on. If you keep their leash in a specific spot in your home, don’t be surprised that when you go to grab it, you return to find them staring at you as they wait patiently by the door. Your dog knows what is coming next – something they’ll likely enjoy – and they’re staring at you like they’re waiting for a green light at an intersection; they’re simply ready to go.

Your dog loves you

Sounds great, doesn’t it? However, this isn’t as simple as your dog simply expressing their immense amount of gratitude and adoration for you (much as we might like to think that, as their devoted owner). Instead, your dog may stare at you for reassurance or protection in stressful situations because they trust you. For example, a dog who suffers with separation anxiety may be fearful prior to the human members of the household leaving for school or work, and this may result in staring.

Your dog is in pain

Dogs are very good at hiding physical pain, both to other animals and to humans. Your dog may be able to hide a limp or other ailment, but if they’re struggling and feeling uncomfortable, they may nestle up beside you and stare. If this is unusual behavior for your dog, it may have arisen from a recent injury they suffered – make sure to take appropriate measures to ensure the injury can heal.

Your dog is suffering from cognitive dysfunction

Canine dementia is sadly something that affects many older dogs. If this behavior is new for your senior dog – and it may be coupled with staring into space, or other signs of dementia (such as accidents inside the home, or changes to sleep patterns) – it may sadly be the onset of this ailment. If you suspect this is the case, speak to your veterinarian for advice on how to proceed and manage this condition.

How to tell why your dog is staring at you

The prior list of reasons why your dog may be staring at you was not exhaustive – in truth, your dog may be staring at you for any number of reasons. In some instances, it really doesn’t matter too much that your dog is staring. However, occasionally, we may become concerned about their staring habit if it seems out-of-character, unusual, or prolonged. With this in mind, it is certainly worth understanding why your dog is staring at you, so you can decide if this is a minor issue (ex: staring at you because they’re bored and want an activity) or something more significant to address (ex: your dog is in severe pain).

The key to understanding why your dog is staring at you – and if you should be concerned – usually comes down to a combination of three factors.

The first factor is their ‘normal’ behavior. In other words, is it typical for them to stare like this? Does your dog always come to your side and look longingly at you when you get home from work in the evening because that’s the time they usually eat? If the behavior is in keeping with the way they normally act, then there’s no need for concern.

The second factor is their body language. What accompanies this stare? Are their eyes soft and is their body position relaxed, or are they stiff with their tail tucked and ears pinned back? If it’s the former, then the dog wants to interact with you; if it is the latter, then they may be fearful, anxious or otherwise uncomfortable.

The third and final factor is the context. Has anything happened that might cause your dog to be staring? For example, if you’ve just washed their food bowl and placed it on the counter, it is likely they are staring because they are expecting to be fed. However, this factor is particularly important when the context is completely different. For example, when out in public, consider the environment for your dog. Are there loud noises or an overwhelming number of people? Is there another dog present who is making your dog uncomfortable? Likewise, if you’ve taken your dog on a long hike or spent the morning throwing the ball for them, is it possible they could be suffering from an injury that occurred during the activity? Considering the context of the situation can help you to determine what the next step should be.

In conclusion

Most of the time, your dog is staring for inconsequential reasons – they’re hungry, they’re thirsty, or they’re bored, and they simply want to alert you to this fact so that you can provide them with food, water or enrichment.

However, there may be times when your dog is staring for other reasons that may not be readily apparent. Studying their body language – and noticing contextual changes – is a great way to gain a better understanding of your dog’s behavior, and can even help to spot if they are injured or uncomfortable.