How to read your dog's stare

If you’re a dog owner, you will know that dogs spend a great deal of time staring at you. Whether they’re looking intently at you while you eat, or their eyes follow you around the room as you go about daily life - dogs stare for many reasons (and none have anything to do with being creepy).

For the most part, they are staring at you as a form of communication or in anticipation of you communicating with them. Here are some ways you can learn to read what your pooches stare means:

They've been named 'man's best friend' for a reason - they have become masters at reading our body language. By observing our behaviour they are in tune with our mood and can read our body language as an indication of what is going to happen next. In short, they are waiting for our next move to understand whether it will impact them. For example, they know that if you reach for the leash then they are most likely about to go for a walk, or other key behaviours that indicate that they are about to be fed or treated to some playtime.

Dogs' stares can become intense when they want to get our attention because they physically need something. For example, if they need to be taken outside for a potty break they may follow you around intently and gaze at you more than usual, or if they want you to share what you're eating, they will intently stare at you as you bite every morsel.

They can also use their stare to get you to give them what they want - this is particularly common at the dinner table when they are begging for food. They have learned that if they stare long enough, they will eventually be rewarded with human food so will continue to do so. If your pooch is guilty of this behaviour, we would recommend training it out of them so that you can eat your meal in peace.

If a dog is relaxed and staring lovingly at you, this is a form of affection. Since they can’t verbally communicate, this is their way of letting you know that they love you. This is also backed up by science which has found the mutual staring between owners and their dogs releases oxytocin aka the love hormone (insert heart explosions here).

Staring plays an important role in bonding. Whether it allows them to better understand you and how you're feeling, or gives you a better understanding of what your pooch may need - staring is generally a positive thing that should not make you uncomfortable.