Why does my dog stare at me

Why does my dog stare at me?

If your dog stares at you all the time, sometimes for what seems like hours, often without blinking, you might wonder if they are looking at you with love and affection, or whether they are just trying to get your attention to communicate that they want something. Some owners might find it cute, while others find it a little creepy, but the looks your dog gives you definitely have meaning.

Why does my dog stare at me?

There may be a number of different reasons why your dog stares at you, but it’s usually because they want to know something or are trying to tell you something. Understanding what that special ‘something’ could be is the key to knowing why your dog is staring at you, but it’s most likely for one of the following reasons:

They want to know what you’re doing or what you’re going to do next They’re confused about what you’re up to or what you want from them They want something from you, such as food, affection, to go for a walk or to go to the toilet They love you!

Your dog is reading you like a book

Dogs are very good at understanding us. Your dog watches your body language and looks at your facial expressions to help them recognise what you’re thinking and feeling. They rely on you for everything i.e.

food, water, cuddles, exercise and even when and where to go to the toilet etc. Understanding your behaviour helps them work out what’s going on and what’s going to happen next. Dogs are excellent at remembering our daily habits, but will often stare at us to try to piece together our actions, so if you go to the front door, are you going to collect the post, leave the house or take them for a walk?

As well as watching you carefully, they most likely use their other senses to gain extra information. They listen to the tone of your voice and they may even use their incredible sense of smell and taste to work out how you’re feeling by licking your face and hands.