What Does It Mean When A Dog Stares at You without Blinking?

Every dog owner is familiar with the feeling of being watched. Dogs will spend a lot of time staring at their owners, even if the owners find the constant attention a bit disturbing.

Sometimes it's obvious why your dog is looking at you intently.

Your dog may stare at you when you're about to take a bite of something that smells delicious. On the other hand, they may stare at you and tell you that they don't feel well and need help. Other times, they stare at you for seemingly no reason. Even if you don't understand what your dog is looking at, your dog has good reason to look at you.

Dogs communicate by staring.

Many times, dogs will tell you something or ask you something through eye contact. Dogs will learn what you are doing by watching you. Dogs and humans have a special relationship. Dogs naturally tend to become attached to their owners, and they are interested in what their humans do. Observing people is how they gather information about their behavior.

Sometimes they look for signs that you might want to take them for a walk or feed them a meal. If you train your dog to respond to hand or vocal signals, they may wait for the signal to tell them what to do next. Other times, they just observe you to learn more about you.

They want something.

Your dog may want something from you. Sometimes, dogs will ask their owners for things through eye contact. Many dog owners are familiar with the intense look in their dog's eyes when he begs you for food. Other times, your dog may look at you to get your attention because they want to get out. Maybe they just want you to pick up a toy and play with them.

Sometimes this gaze is combined with a playful bow or a suggestive glance. When your dog stares at you and begs, if you give him what he wants, you will reinforce the behavior. They will continue to use staring as a way to get what they want. If you have a problem, you can talk to your veterinarian or dog trainer for advice on curbing this form of begging.

You can learn to understand your dog's gaze

If you pay attention to what happens when your dog stares at you, you can understand why they are staring at you. Paying attention to their body language will give you more clues as to why they are following you with their eyes. Take note of what you're doing at the moment and figure out what grabs their attention. Most of the time, if your dog stares at you, it's because they think you're important and they just want to be involved in everything you do.