Should I Look My Dog in The Eyes?

Dogs rely on a lot of non-verbal communication with each other and with each other for a number of reasons. Eye contact is an important form of dogs communicating authority and hierarchy within the group. Although dogs rarely openly gaze into each other's eyes, as most want to avoid confrontation at all costs, as direct contact can mean rudeness and a challenge to authority.

Dominant dogs will stare at lower-status dogs to assert their authority and status in the group, while submissive dogs will look away and show their necks to avoid conflict and appear submissive.

However, dogs may look into their human owners' eyes or stare at us to evaluate the signals we send out. They may also be seeking attention or hoping to receive something nice. Some other reasons why dogs look at us are:

1. Our ability to provide food

2. Clues about our emotional state

3. Evaluate our intentions

4. Information about what’s going on in their world

It is believed that dogs' unique ability to look into our eyes and watch us was the first step in domestication, and since dogs have been domesticated for at least 10,000 years (some scientists believe longer, up to 100,000 years), dogs' ability has been Choose and pass it on from generation to generation.

Dogs and humans are thought to bond through eye contact. But now, scientists have found actual evidence that the bond between humans and dogs has the same biochemical basis as the mother-child bond, and is reinforced by the same thing: loving glances.

In fact, research conducted in Budapest using eye-tracking technology shows that dogs are sensitive to their owners' appearance, much like children are to their parents' attitudes. They recommend that owners increase eye contact with their puppies in order to build a better relationship, and that maintaining eye contact with dogs is now an important part of training.

However, looking into a dog's eyes is not the same as staring, and most dogs can tell the difference. Staring can be a threat to dogs and some other species. When someone stares at a dog and maintains eye contact when he or she has no right to do so, it can create hostility or fear in an already nervous dog.

If you encounter an unfamiliar dog, try to avoid looking him/her in the eyes and instead look at the ears or feet. Because dogs have a good understanding of body language, dogs will look at you to understand your intentions, even though you may not realize it.

Dogs make great companions and crave to be loved. Because dogs know that our thoughts affect our behavior toward them, they look at us because they want to know how we feel.