Dogs stare to ask for something like food or attention, to bond with you, or to read your expression.
Common reasons
- Waiting for food, a walk or play.
- Bonding: eye contact raises oxytocin in dogs and owners (Japanese study, 2015).
- Reading your face and cues.
- Anxiety or confusion.
- Cognitive dysfunction in older dogs.
What to do
Check whether your dog needs the bathroom, food or water.
See a vet
If staring is sudden, with confusion or in an older dog.
Dog communication
Dogs have evolved to read human faces. A 2015 study in Science led by Miho Nagasawa found that mutual gazing between dogs and owners raises oxytocin in both species, a bonding loop similar to the one between mothers and infants. Wolves do not show this effect.
Typical reasons for staring
- Affection and bonding.
- Asking for something: food, a walk, a toy or to go outside.
- Waiting for a cue or command, especially in trained dogs.
- Trying to understand your emotions. Dogs can distinguish happy and angry human faces.
- Habit reinforced by your response.
Signs it is positive
A soft gaze, relaxed body, loose wagging tail and sometimes a head tilt. This kind of stare is usually friendly.
Signs of a problem
A hard, fixed stare with a stiff body, raised hackles, a closed mouth or growl can be a warning of aggression. Do not stare back. Look away calmly and back off.
Medical reasons
Dogs with cognitive dysfunction (canine dementia) may stare at walls or at the owner, seem confused or wander. An estimated 28% of dogs aged 11 to 12 and 68% of dogs aged 15 to 16 have signs, according to a 2010 study.
What to do
- Respond when your dog asks for something reasonable, like a walk.
- Teach a “look at me” cue and reward it.
- Offer enrichment: puzzle feeders, chew toys and exercise.
- Do not reinforce demands, for example by always giving food after staring.
See a vet if
Staring is new, compulsive or comes with disorientation, pacing, changes in sleep, house accidents, or pain.
Why dogs stare
Dogs stare for many reasons: to ask for food, a walk or play, to seek attention or to read your cues. A 2015 study in Science by Miho Nagasawa and colleagues found that mutual gaze between dogs and owners raised oxytocin in both, forming a bonding loop similar to that between parents and infants. A soft look with relaxed body is friendly. A hard, fixed stare with stiff posture, closed mouth and raised hackles can be a warning and should not be challenged.
Medical and behavioral concerns
Staring into space, wandering or seeming confused in an older dog can be signs of canine cognitive dysfunction, which affects about 14 percent of dogs over age 8 and over 60 percent of those over 15, according to veterinary estimates. Vision or hearing loss, anxiety and seizures can also cause staring. See a vet if staring is new, repetitive, paired with disorientation, night restlessness, head pressing or loss of house training. Reward calm behavior, meet exercise needs and give mental games to prevent attention seeking.
Based on data from the journal Science and the American Veterinary Medical Association
