7 min read
9 Things Your Dog’s Side-Eye Could Be Telling You
Does your dog give you the side-eye, leaving you wondering "what exactly are they thinking right now?" If so, don't worry. There are thousands of pup parents that deal with what I like to call the "discerning dog look." What you may not know, is that there's a few reasons it happens, and some may surprise you.
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Do you ever get the feeling like your dog is judging you when they are looking at you? Specifically, if they are giving you that side-eye look, like you are doing something they think is a bit crazy?
It turns out that science has actually shown that your dog does indeed judge what you do. In one study, dogs watched people trying to open containers. Female dogs tended to judge a bit more than their male counterparts. So, your dog may be paying closer attention than you think!
As an owner of six dogs, I can tell you, we personally own a queen of judgment (Torvi, pictured above), and she’s always eager to give me the side-eye anytime I do anything she deems a little bit questionable.
With that said, being judged isn’t the only reason a dog may give you the “discerning dog” treatment after you’ve done something.
A casual sideways look isn’t necessarily the same thing as a dog giving you “whale eye,” where the whites of their eyes become more visible, indicating stress. Here are the most common reasons your dog may be giving you the side-eye.
Your Dog Is Judging You
As mentioned earlier, it’s quite possible that your dog is actually judging you. Our dog, Torvi, is the queen of judgment. If she is giving you the side-eye, there is a guaranteed chance she is looking at you and judging everything you’re doing.
It could be if you’ve got food in your hand and she’s not sure if she can make a run at it to grab it from your hand. Or, if you sit down on the couch and she looks at you like you’re crowding her space, she will give you the side-eye immediately.
She may give you the side-eye simply for calling her name because she didn’t like the way you said it. Every time, you know she’s passing judgment, and you don’t know exactly what’s going through her head.
As mentioned before, it has been shown scientifically that dogs do judge their owners. And female dogs do it more than males. So, if your dog is a female and you get the side-eye, this is likely the most logical reason.
They’re Keeping an Eye on You
If you feel like your dog is watching you while you walk around the room, you’re probably right. If they tend to keep an eye on you without turning their head, this is likely them giving you the side-eye while you move around the room.
Your dog is likely curious, keeping an eye on you to see if you’ll come close. They might do it while they’re on the couch, lying in bed, or even just while they’re watching you work.
And yeah, in a way, they might be judging you just a little bit. It also could be their way of staring you down to get you to do what they want you to do.
They Want to See What Happens Next
Your dog might give you the side-eye because they think something interesting is about to happen. They might watch you pick up your shoes or get ready to grab their leash because they think that you’re going to take them for a walk.
Or maybe you’re going to grab their favorite treat. But a lot of times, they’re just watching what you do because they’re thinking that it’s gonna be something they’re going to enjoy.
In fact, you may be giving them additional clues that warrant the side-eye without even realizing it. If you go grab your shoes and then you grab the leash, your dog pretty much knows they’re going on a walk at that point.
So they’re not always judging you, and it’s not always an awkward thing when your dog gives you the side-eye. It could just be that they’re anticipating that you’re going to go do something fun together, and they’re waiting to see what that thing is. But at the same time, if you don’t go do it, they also don’t want to get up off the couch.
They Want You to Notice Them
If your dog wants you to notice them, they might give you that sideways look because they’re waiting for you to talk to them or to encourage them. I know for me, I have one dog that tends to give me a sideways look.
They sit there, look at me, and their tail starts wagging excessively. That’s because they know if they look at me like that, there’s pretty much a guaranteed chance I’m coming over to pet them on their stomach or pet them on their head.
And if I don’t do it, they’ll give me a nudge or a paw if I’m close enough, or they’ll try to move closer. They’ve basically learned that giving me the side-eye gets my attention.
And so, just like other behaviors like pawing, I’ve basically trained my dog that if they give me a certain look, they’re gonna get my attention.
They’re Uncomfortable
If you’ve seen your dog turn their head away a little bit, looking at you sideways while keeping their eyes on your hand, it could be that they’re just a little bit uncomfortable in that situation. It might mean that you’re going to pet them when they actually want the interaction to stop.
So a side-eye can actually mean that a dog is uncomfortable in a certain situation. They are indicating that they don’t want you to give them attention. Or perhaps, they feel like you’re crowding their space.
So yes, it is possible a dog can enjoy sitting next to you, but they may just not want to be touched. Some dogs prefer not to be touched, while some dogs can’t get enough cuddling.
If they turn away, close their mouth, or start to become stiff after giving you a sideways glance, this gives you more information about their body language. At that point, it’s probably best to just leave your pup alone.
They Feel Overwhelmed or Unsettled
Similar to feeling a bit uncomfortable in a situation, your dog might just be very overwhelmed. It’s not uncommon for a dog that has a lot of new things happening in their surroundings to feel a little bit overwhelmed. And that could be a common reason they give you a sideways glance.
A good example would be if you have a bunch of people come over that your dog is not used to. Or maybe your dog is around kids for the first time, and they’re not used to seeing kids. Your dog may take this moment to give you the side-eye.
You can usually tell if they’re feeling overwhelmed or unsettled by their physical posture. Other signs of this include their ears being pinned back, their tail is down, or their posture is shrunken. Or, if they look like they’re recoiling or trying to move away after giving you the side-eye.
This will typically mean that they’re feeling a bit unsettled and overwhelmed. The best thing you can do is help your dog get some space.
They’re Worried You’ll Take Something
Every time I go and try to take away Torvi’s favorite toy, she will give me the side-eye. It’s not that I don’t want her to have it. It’s just that we keep the same toy and we give it to her over and over again when it’s destroyed.
It sometimes gets so damaged that I know that if she keeps it, she’s eventually going to swallow it. That will just end up with both of us at the vet.
So, if you’re going to reach for your dog’s favorite toy, their food bowl, or something they view as high value, it’s not uncommon for them to give you a sideways glance. They’re probably just letting you know that they really don’t want you to do that.
Even if your dog usually lets you take it, you should always make sure that you’re paying close attention to their body language. That’s especially important if they freeze up, lower their head, or become stiff. All of these are common signs of resource guarding. If that happens, stop reaching in and just give them space.
So look for tension around a valued item and make sure you’re paying attention to that. It’s a common reason a sideways glance can happen.
They Want to Rest Undisturbed
It’s not uncommon for your dog to want to be left alone when they’re resting. So if you walk into a room while they’re resting and they would prefer to continue resting, they might wake up briefly and glance over at you with a sideways look. That may be their way of telling you to respect their space and let them continue to rest.
This might be especially noticeable when you approach their bed and there’s no other movement in the room. You catch their eye, and they give you a sideways glance before falling back asleep or resting.
They might also turn a little bit farther away or resettle themselves, shifting away from you and letting you know that they want to rest without being bothered.
It May Actually Be Discomfort
In some cases, it might actually be that your dog is experiencing discomfort. Something could be happening inside their body that makes them feel uncomfortable. They could be in pain. It could be something as simple as a scratch somewhere you’re reaching over to pet.
It could be that they have something in their eye, or they’ve got allergies and they’re squinting because their eyes are bothering them.
But where I would want to consult a veterinarian is if there’s some type of physical eye discomfort, or if there’s some type of body discomfort when you’re going to touch them. You might notice them looking at you with a sideways glance, and they’re not acting like their normal selves.
If their behavior has changed, it might be time to visit a veterinarian and have that change checked out.
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