Why Does My Dog Stare and Look Into My Eyes?

What a great article! Answered so many of my questions. My 7 year old Great Dane/English Mastiff mix was a semi-rescue (very young) from a crazy environment. He was very timid in the beginning. Now years later, he regularly makes eye contact and maintains it. To the point it's sometimes uncomfortable because he just stares. But, he's in no way aggressive, never even misbehaves - he's the best, sweetest dog I've ever had or met. I've always believed his making eye contact was a great thing, showing he's very comfortable with us (considering the absence of ANY behavioral issues). This article just reinforced that belief. He's always been very hyper aware of our moods - if I'm feeling down he knows it and will come cuddle with me. Literally cuddle, he's a lap dog. Lol. So thank you for writing this!!!

Thanks for your post. I totally agree. Some dog breeds use eye contact more than others. Border Collies and Aussies eye contact to communicate with sheep and cattle as well as humans. All of my dogs have been rescues and all have been mixed breeds. My Border Collie mix and Aussie-mix were my smartest dogs and both were had keen eye contact skills. I hand signal train all of my dogs - and any neighbor dogs who seem to be constantly in our yard - so that I can issue a command without interrupting a conversation with a human. My dogs watch my face constantly - which can be unnerving at times - and without a word I can command them to get into heel position, sit, stay, lay down, roll over, come and sit facing me, return to heel position, heel, sit, stay while I walk around them and away, lay down, sit up, come, return to heel position and release - all without a word. It is a fav game for them.

On the subject of cats. My cat makes eye contact with me also. She is also hand trained to come, lay down (no sit), and jump to a designated spot...when she is in the mood ... interesting, when she does not wish to humor me - she turns her head (or entire body) so as to avoid eye contact. She is also very talkative, more than our other cats, and I always know when her food dish has only 10 pieces left or is totally empty - she is a drama queen feline. She is tiny for a cat, but looks our 100 pound Shepherd-mix in the eye - without a hiss or growl - and defiantly walks away, often directly under his legs. Communication is clear. Thanks for your post. Interesting indeed.

Dogs are wonderful, what can I say? They are such loyal companions.

I've noticed that some of my dogs have been better at establishing and maintaining eye contact than others. And my relationships with them have varied, too. Hmm... the eye contact might be a factor. Something to think about. Voted up, interesting and sharing!

Hello,

lovely subject. My youngest Dog is just 6 and everything seems to have come together all at once. He has been very hyper but recently he has quitened down and when we walk down the street he is watching me constantly which is great ,just what is required in the show ring,thanks for nice read,

jandee (the look used to get me off laptop has become a mouth around my wrist)

Nice hub.

I have to agree. 'The Walk' or 'Go For A Ride' is a serious game changer. It instantly makes you a hero for anywhere from 48 hours to days. It's such a big deal to dogs that humans have to use acronyms like "I think I might take Sophie for a W-A-L-K later if I have time." Glad you had a laugh.

-CS

Interesting topic. Eye contact with my dog has 3 categories. Feed me, I have to use the restroom and that piece of pizza looks amazing! Feed me is a basic sit and stare. Use the restroom is a much more serious look and stare with a distinctly closer positioning to where I am. That pizza belongs to me is a combination of feed me with batting eyelashes. Dogs are amazing! Great topic.

I recently read an article about using only eye contact and body language to give what otherwise would be considered verbal commands ("sit", "down", "come"). I have been playing around with it a little bit, and I can get Lily to sit just by making eye contact. It is amazing how well dogs read body language, and I think humans could use it more to their advantage to have a closer relationship with their pet.

Very well written. Useful, awesome, beautiful and so interesting! I have a dog and she is my little baby! I have had her since she was a pup. She is a little over one now. About 15 months old. I will hold eye contact and sooner or later she will break it to give me kisses. Dogs rule!

visuals were perfect!

cats too! tweet, tweet. :)

Great story. It is really interesting, so keep up the good work.

Well done and voted up.

I just recently moved back in with my parents with my boyfriend and his blue heeler, Bailey. It took them forever to get used to the fact that Bailey, unlike their little Westie, actually looks them in the eye. I'm pretty sure most of the time it's for attention but there are times I catch her staring and I swear she's just looking at me with nothing but love in those big brown eyes.

This was a very fascinating read. I never really thought too much about the fact that dogs really look people in the eye and how complicated that one seemingly simple act can be.

Well done and thank you. My fella was a staunch believer that a dog looking a human in the eye is a direct challenge. I told him perhaps with a dog you don't know that might be true. He came to undertand through my gentle teachings, that dogs are a lot more aware than he realised. This article substantiates many of my beliefs. Scientific evidence is not necessary when dealing with the hearts of all creatures, humans, dogs and more.

@DrMark1961...Interesting thoughts are covered in this Hub!

I've never doubted that my dog looked directly at my eyes for instruction or information. They've all done it.

What did you say, Mom? What are we doing next, huh? Can I get some food? Outside?...sure...pant, pant...Let's go!

Try staring at actor's Michael Douglas' own eyes (of Basic Instinct) for some amount of time? Just kidding... Very interesting hub, informational too...

My dog Chloe has beautiful brown watery eyes that pierce your heart. Dogs and humans are both very emotional creatures, making eye contact is a way to get a reading on current feelings and I believe its also a sign of respect. Being able to convey without words is why dog and man are best friends. Fantastic article.

I think dogs can read our thought by directly staring at us. Eye contact also shows a connection between you and your pet. Possibly this is the case.

I think the dog decides whether it's gazing or staring. I don't know. I think it depends on the breed a lot too. Herders can take a glance as a challenge, have had lots of experience with that. Interesting article, well written. I have always had a dog or dogs until the recent past. As for C.S. Lewis, you can argue with him in his books if you want. Or me if you want in a private email, just don't want to change the subject here, or sound like you aren't worth talking to.

Some of that sounds contradictory; staring versus holding a gaze. But C.S. Lewis put in one of his stories that animals are to us as we are to God. I think some of that comes out in this article.

Very interesting hub, DrMark. Is it possible, when dogs react negatively to prolonged eye contact, that they're interpreting other body language as well, such as tensed facial muscles, or a stance they perceive to be threatening?

I often engage my cat in a staring contest just to see who will blink first. Usually I do. Sometimes, just as my eyes are starting to feel like sandpaper, she'll slowly blink, turn away and jump off my lap. I tell here I've been trivialized and dismissed by better animals but it doesn't seem to faze her.

My Miniature Schnauzer, Baby, and I communicate with our eyes! I think she knows what I'm thinking, and I'm sure I know what she is trying to tell me by her eyes. Her eyes tell me when she is happy, hungry, wants to play, go for a walk, afraid, or depressed. Yes, she gets depressed when her favorite friend, a Shih Tzu goes home after a week long visit. I takes Baby a couple of days before she is her old self.

I enjoyed your Hub as always, and voted it UP, and will share.

Mary

Interesting that you wrote a hub on this. This was brought to my attention a couple days ago; how dogs look in our eyes, by one of my sons. I have a rat terrier that is very attentive. Looking forward to reading more of your articles. Useful, followed and shared.

Hmm that's a good point DrMark...perhaps that's why they are so strong with their eyes...either that or it's just because they are more sensitive with Cats being largely night hunters.

I certainly think there is more going on than just a desire for food.

And in my experience dogs are less comfortable with eye contact than cats are.

Although they will look at you and attempt various types of communication via the eyes, mostly dogs rely on body language.

Whereas a Cat will look right at your eyes and hold your gaze, and to me any way it feels like they are capable of a much greater range of communication via the eyes alone than dogs.

I'm much more comfortable with dogs, but I am intrigued by the sense you get from cats sometimes.

Now I know direct eye contact doesn't mean the dog is being aggressive. I read that over and over. Our dogs aren't aggressive at all, so I've always wondered about that. Shared.

Wolves in contrast do not look to people even if they were raised and trained from pups. The domestication in your Hub is a significant difference between wild wolves and domesticated dogs and is why dogs make better pets.

Interesting how we underappreciate such a powerful, yet common, simple thing.

That was very interesting! Great topic voted up!

I really enjoyed reading this Hub. It brings up a really interesting subject. Like something from Nova! My dogs are so spoiled they gaze into my eyes with no fears whatsoever! I vote this way awesome and am sharing.

Great great hub. I'm always fascinated by my dogs. they're eyes tell me so much. I truly feel like I can have a conversation with my dog. Up and shared.

These are very interesting observations. I have a miniature pincher and he adores me. His light brown eyes sparkle whenever I'm around him. I sense that he could feel my love. Voted up awesome!

If my dog isn't looking into my eyes to tell how I feel, how does she always know when and how to cheer me up, or make me laugh? I hold firm to my belief that dogs are smarter than humans. They obviously read us better than we can read ourselves. Many of them have quite a bit of expression in their own faces. Did I mention I just love puppies (and they're always puppies no matter how old they are!)

As always, love your hubs. Voted up and shared!!

but DrMark, his gaze IS similar...it is full of love, just the same as when my cats gaze into my eyes, i can feel the love in your dogs gaze just as i can feel it in my cats gazes. there in lies the similarity. when my cats gaze into my eyes, i suddenly feel like the most loved and richest blessed person on earth.

I am also a dog person and do love my dog. He does look into my eyes. Thanks for this article because honestly I never thought about it before.

wesley, if only you knew cats as i do, you would definitely have to rethink your opinion of them.

Voted up, interesting and shared.

This is an interesting article. I never would have thought about it in any depth had I not read it. I agree that dogs are very different from other animals. I also agree that they are very different from cats. In general I believe cats to be very aloof animals. They basically don't need us and in my opinion are the most snobbish of domesticated animals. Dogs on the other hand are probably the friendliest species on the planet.

What a great topic to write a hub about. I definitely know my dogs look at me in the eye. Reasons to look at me: I want to go outside, I want to be pet, I'm hungry, I want to cuddle. My dogs get my attention when they look right into my eyes. Great write up and I hit many buttons.

I think they are!

I often wondered about that but I really love it when my two Dachshunds look into my eyes. They seem to want to know what I am about to do and I feel like they are trying to read my thoughts to find out when I will take them for a walk. It is so funny.

Very cool hub. We have 6 cats and 3 are especially personable. They do gaze into my eyes and establish eye contact as often as my dogs do. One of my cats will lay there and gaze into my eyes with pure pleasure when I rub his stomach, very similar to a dog. Another cat of mine will look into my eyes when I ask for him to perform a trick rather than just stare at the food in my hand. He is especially intelligent compared to most however. Though dogs will make eye contact more frequently and even with strangers don't write off cats. They just happen to save it for those they are quite bonded with I think.

hello DrMark. nice hub and i agree with most of it. i want to enlighten you about cats though. (and no, i am not at all angry). i have been rescuing cats for 12 yrs now, and at the moment i have 16. all are very close to me. a few even closer still. my cats are always looking at me, and if i look back, THEY establish eye contact with me. they are communicating with me. on some level i can't put into words, i understand what they are saying. sometimes it is a request, for food, cool water, treats, play or snuggle time, other times it is to let me know they do not feel tip top, or something i am doing is making them uneasy, curious, or happy. there is a difference between a cat or dog looking at your face and one looking into your eyes, and it is a huge difference. when one looks into your eyes, you KNOW it, you FEEL it, like they are making their presence known. there is a definite connection. so your comment, while it didn't anger me, is not quite accurate either, and i just wanted you to know.

Our dogs have definitely looked into our eyes and watch our every move. They are smart creatures and also empathetic and can easily pick up on how we are feeling. We have 2 inside cats and they definitely look into our eyes as well. They do not seem to hold a gaze as long. I had never thought about it before reading this hub. Will be paying more attention now. Voted up and interesting.