Back to knowledge

Behaviour

Reading your dog's eyes

A soft gaze, a hard stare, the whites of the eyes showing: your dog's eyes tell you how they're feeling right now. Here's how to read them.

A look into your dog's eyes is often the first thing that tells you how they're doing. You don't need to be an expert – it's enough to know a few simple things and to always keep the whole dog in view.

Soft or hard gaze

When your dog is relaxed, their eyes look soft and their gaze is gentle. When they're tense, the gaze turns hard and fixed. If your dog stares at something with a firm, rigid gaze, that's a serious warning sign: something could happen any moment.

Register for free to read the whole article

Create your free DOGSY account and read the full article – plus the whole DOGSY app all about dogs.

Register for free

Already with us? Log in

More articles

Behaviour

Puppy licence: does it apply with people too?

The «puppy licence» is something people talk about between dogs – what the idea means for contact with people, and what it does not mean in law.

Behaviour

The first meeting: two people, two dogs

Two people, two dogs, one first meeting: with the right place and a little patience, you're off to a good start. And if in doubt, you simply stop.

Behaviour

Reading your dog's mouth

Loosely open or tightly shut? Your dog's mouth alone can tell you how they're feeling. Here's how to look properly.

Behaviour

Take warning signs seriously before things boil over

Before a dog snaps or bites, he almost always warns you, quietly at first, then more clearly. Here's how to spot the signs early enough.

Behaviour

Calming signals: your dog's quiet messages

Licking their nose, turning their head away, yawning: with quiet signals like these, your dog tells you something is getting too much. Here's how to spot them.

Behaviour

Reading your dog's ears

Pricked forward, turned to the side or pinned right back: your dog's ears show you how they're feeling. Here's how to read them.

This article is no substitute for veterinary advice. Source: DOGSY editorial team.