Like humans, watching dogs can be entertaining for us. Trying to guess the breed or eventually asking if you're able to pet their dog makes the day a bit brighter. It's wise to exercise some caution in how you approach a dog, though, and why is it improper to gaze into a dog's eyes?
Depending on each dog's disposition, maintaining extended eye contact can indicate different things to them. The act of someone else staring at a dog, particularly one who has problems with sensitivity or is cautious of humans, could scare them. Here are the reasons that make eye contact with dogs dangerous:
1 - Dogs who are stared at may feel challenged.
A dog might interpret a stranger's looking at them as a challenge, a threat, or something that should make them feel nervous. They can even worry that you're attempting to rob them of a resource like a toy or something to chew on. It is therefore advisable to maintain your composure with new canines.
Additionally, try to avoid making prolonged eye contact, particularly with dogs that may already be having trouble with human reactivity and overarousal. These animals may react by attempting to cease the uncomfortable connection and urge you to leave if they feel overstimulated. Changes in posture, barking, lunging, snapping, and even biting could be signs of this.
Similar to how not all dogs are friendly or at ease in your presence just because they are staring at you with curiosity, try to refrain from making eye contact if an unfamiliar dog is staring at you, especially if they are unblinking and have a stiff stance. Instead, move aside to offer the dog some room, as they are obviously in discomfort.
2 - Do not distract dogs.
Avoid causing service dogs to become distracted when they work, as this could have unintended repercussions. It's crucial to avoid shouting at the dog or staring at the dog's handler because doing so could make the dog uneasy or interfere with their ability to perform their job. You wouldn't want a pet to become distracted and miss a command, perhaps endangering the health or safety of their handler.
3 - But my dog keeps staring at me.
You could notice that your very own dog frequently fixes its gaze on you. Dogs may stare at their owners for a variety of reasons, but frequently they do so to get to know us better and understand what we are up to in order to strengthen the link between us and our four-legged friends. Your dog might be keeping a tight eye on you for signs that something interesting, like lunch or a walk, is about to happen.
Dogs may convey their wants, like a desire for food, by making eye contact. A freshly rescued dog that feels timid, uneasy, or somewhat wary may avoid making eye contact with your face and withdraw when they see you turning around. In these situations, avoid staring into their gaze and give them some time to get used to you being there.
4 - Why It's Important to Practice Eye Contact
Ironically, you would like to train your dog to make eye contact and create pleasant associations with it. Teaching the dog to pay attention to you using the "watch me" cue can strengthen the link between humans and dogs. Your dog will learn that observing you is a very rewarding pastime if you employ positive reinforcement training methods and associate staring into their eyes with a treat or toy reward.
A watch cue may be used to capture your dog's attention fast in an agility field or to teach him to heel in Rally and Obedience. Especially if the dog gets lost or reactive with other dogs or people, this cue is also highly helpful in day-to-day living. Once your dog understands the command "watch me," you're able to cue them to look at you while you walk them away from a trigger. This can help dogs retain self-control in challenging circumstances.
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