Eye contact

Texas-Girl · 09-28-2008, 10:04 AM

In watching a few episodes of Victoria Stillwell's "It's Me or the Dog", I have seen her caution a few owners to avoid eye contact with their dog.

What is that about? What does eye contact mean to dogs?

musicmom116 · 09-28-2008, 10:28 AM

Hmm, in our puppy classes the instructor is teaching us the "Watch Me" command which is just that, he wants our dogs to be looking up at us waiting for the next command I guess.

Billycourty · 09-28-2008, 11:47 AM

When you look into a dogs eyes it can signal that you are issuing a challenge, whoever looks away first is the lower dog.

Some people say humans shouldn't give dogs eye contact, as we arent very good at it and even a blink can make the dog think it is above you.

But its good to teach your puppy to look into your eyes, and it can help you build a stronger working relationship with your dog.

I think its good to share eye contact with your puppy and all through its life.

But i dont think you should go around eyeballing dogs on the street as i think its a bit rude.

Jaymee

wvasko · 09-28-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas-Girl

In watching a few episodes of Victoria Stillwell's "It's Me or the Dog", I have seen her caution a few owners to avoid eye contact with their dog.

What is that about? What does eye contact mean to dogs?

Texas
It very much depends on the dog. Occasionally through the yrs every once in a when a new board dog will come in and as I am walking across yard to dog they are eyeballing me while on owner's lead(much stronger on lead) When near dog I will make eye contact then go down on 1 knee and will lower 1 shoulder and look away from dog while stretching hand palm up on ground. Sometimes it will diffuse the dog. I don't mind dog being macho while on owner's lead because once dog is in kennel run and owner is gone I have no problems with 99% of the dogs. Please this is not something for anybody to try, because a lot of it has to do with the reading of the dog as I approach.

TooneyDogs · 09-28-2008, 01:53 PM

Eye contact can be interpreted as a challenge but, it really depends on the whole body language that the person uses in conjuction with that eye contact.
The other end of the spectrum is where solid eye contact is taught for competition obedience where the dog looks at the handler and the handler only....nowhere else (unless directed to).

Texas-Girl · 09-28-2008, 04:23 PM

Thanks, everyone!