Why Does My Dog Stare at Me? Here Are the Reasons Behind All That Eye Contact

If you have a dog, you probably spend a lot of time trying to figure out dog behavior and looking up the answers to questions like “Why does my dog follow me?” (if you’re on your way to the kitchen it’s pretty obvious!), “Can my dog see color?” or “Why does my dog stare at me?” Like us, dogs are complex creatures, and it can be hard to know what your dog’s facial expressions really mean.

When you’re asking them to sit or giving them a treat, eye contact means that their attention is on you and that they’re ready to (hopefully) listen. But sometimes your pup will look at you without being prompted, or give you the doggy side-eye when you’re not even doing anything interesting, just watching TV. Unless you’re doing one of these things that your dog actually hates, there are a few reasons why your dog might stare at you—even when you don’t call his name or do something to get his attention.

Why does my dog stare at me?

In general, dogs use eye contact to gain information and understand what their human wants them to do, says Philip Tedeschi, professor and researcher on the human-animal bond with Rover. “Dogs use eye contact as reassurance and understanding in very similar ways that humans do, to ascertain interpersonal connection and reaction. This helps us connect with them as well,” he says.

In especially good news for pooch parents, science confirms that dogs use eye contact to express affection. How do you tell if a dog loves you? Well, if he stares at you, it’s a good sign! “Just like humans gaze into each other’s eyes to show love and affection, so does your dog,” says Tedeschi. “In fact, one study showed that the ‘cuddle’ hormone oxytocin increases in both humans and dogs when they exchange a loving gaze.” Also, find out why your cat stares at you.

However, Tedeschi points out that if the eye contact between a dog and a human is too long or too intense it might lead to discomfort in the dog—similar to the way two humans staring at each other for a prolonged period of time would make them uncomfortable. So what do you do if your dog stares at you? Look back, but not for too long. Dogs get awkward, too!