when ever i catch his eye he looks away, sometimes i am able to stare at him for a couple of seconds but then always looks away 1st, i was just wondering if this is a general dog thing, or just mine?
2006-08-17 23:29:28 · 38 answers · asked by Vix 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Direct eye contact is a sign of dominance. You are behaving like the dominant pack leader - very good - and he accepts your position and is being polite and looking away. He does that because he wants to make it clear to you that he is not challenging you for the top position.
Don't overdo it with the direct eye contact, smile sometimes when you do it and invite him to play a game.
And NEVER do it with another dog - its the easiest way to provoke an attack. With some dogs you won't even see it coming.
2006-08-17 23:46:08 · answer #1 · answered by sarah c 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Dogs do not, and hopefully will no stare you down,, To a dog eye to eye contact is a form of aggression. You will find just before a dog fight they will first stare at each other and the go into a fight. The animal is telling you ,by not stareing back. That you are top dog, thats were you want to be. Now you can start training you dog.
2006-08-18 00:13:45 · answer #2 · answered by Mariberry 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since everyone has already answered that it's a threat and challenge I won't say it again. You might look into getting a video called "Calming Signals: What Your Dog Tells You" by Turid Rugaas. It will explain all the signals your dog is sending you and I can attest to it's validity from a lifetime spent with dogs. It also explains proper human etiqute when approaching a strange dog. I've used it many times when I'm approaching a dog that's off leash and appears nervous. It works wonderfully.
2006-08-18 01:55:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In most pack animals (dogs) looking directly into your eyes is a challenge to your dominance. When you dog misbehaves look the dog in the eye and don't look away until the dog does. This tells the dog who is in charge. On the other hand, don't look any other dog straight in the eyes because the dog might think you are challenging it and then things might get ugly.
2006-08-18 00:30:10 · answer #4 · answered by gawain37 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dogs are descended from wolves. Wolves and wild dogs hunt & live in social groups called packs.
The king or leader of the pack is called the Alpha, and is usually male but not always so.
Any other dog that makes eye contact with the Alpha is challenging him/her to a fight for dominance.
Your dogs consider you to be pack leaders and are showing respect by not challenging you to a fight for "top dog".
2006-08-17 23:37:44 · answer #5 · answered by highplains82329 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its an animal thing, especially dogs. He is avoiding challenging you. Looking a dog directly in the eye is a threat, so nice dog as he is, he looks away and then back, to signal he's friendly and not up to confrontation. It's basically doggy etiquette.
2006-08-17 23:37:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Eye to eye contact with dogs is percieved by the dog as an act of aggression. Stop stressing your dog and look at its nose instead.
2006-08-17 23:41:37 · answer #7 · answered by calamity 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow! he knows where he is in the pecking order! Dogs are pack animals with a defined heirarchy. The leader of the dog pack is you! He wont stare you out because he doesnt want to challenge your leadership. He wuvs you... LOL
2006-08-18 01:01:28 · answer #8 · answered by keefer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the reason for this is, you get some dogs that will stare you out which when they do they are trying to tell you they are boss, dogs that look away no that you are the boss, thats why some dogs will bite if you try staring them out.
2006-08-17 23:42:43 · answer #9 · answered by claire G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he is being nice and polite - not staring into peolpes eyes are the polite thing to do if you are a dog.
read Turid Rugaas' book: calming signals - it has great information on dog language, and you will see how to tell what your dog is signalling, and how to signal back.
Oh BTW stop staring at him. You are making him uncomfortable
2006-08-18 00:00:37 · answer #10 · answered by snowwings 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋