Stop staring at me!

Dog love to watch things – they silently scan for critters in the fields, they watch people go by on the pavements and they watch other dogs when they’re in the park. Allowing our dogs to watch and process their environment is a great thing but what about the animal at the other end of that look? How often do people take that into account when their dog is ‘just watching other dogs’?

Very rarely in my experience.

Whilst our dog is at the end of their lead watching another dog, how much of our own dog’s body language can we even see? How do we know what our dog, who in our mind is calmly watching, is truly saying to the dog at the other end of that stare?

Dogs communicate a great deal with their eyes and direct eye contact is not a polite way to greet another dog. A direct stare is used between dogs as a warning or as a direct threat to the other dog, with intent of further action should the dog on the receiving end not heed the warning by moving away.

Dogs with poor or underdeveloped social skills, particularly adolescents, have a tendency to unintentionally scare or upset other dogs by staring for longer than is polite. This is made much worse if the dog being stared at is on a lead and feels unable to escape. The reverse is also true – a dog who is looking briefly and then turning away politely may be misread by a poorly socialised or already fearful dog, causing both dogs unnecessary upset.

Next time your dog stops to watch another dog, think about the dog on the other end. Do they look uncomfortable or are they visibly upset or reacting? If so, break your dog’s gaze! Do not stand there smiling at your happy pooch whilst they are causing distress to the other dog. Break that stare by scattering some treats on the ground or recalling your dog so they turn away.

A polite look should last little more than 3 or 4 seconds, if your dog is watching for longer than that, they may well not be conveying the message you think they are.

Many people realise that allowing your dog to run up to dogs they don’t know is rude and that for some dogs it can cause great distress but too few realise the harm a stare can also do.