Understanding your dog’s body language is important if you want to build a strong bond with your furry friend. You probably know that dogs communicate with humans through many signals and body language, including the position of their tails and ears, facial expressions, and posture. For example, most people know that a wagging tail indicates happiness while a low tail can mean fear or submission. Also, upright ears usually indicate alertness while flattened ears can mean discomfort or aggression. But many people don’t know what exactly a dog side eye means.
If you’ve always wondered why your dog sometimes looks at you sideways, keep reading. At Puppy Hero, we are committed to helping you interpret your dog's body language so that you can better understand his or her needs and emotions and from a strong bond with your pooch.
In humans, the side eye is a type of nonverbal communication. It is essentially looking at someone with a subtle shift of the eyes or a sideways glance. The meaning of a side eye in humans can vary greatly depending on the context. It can indicate flirtation, slyness, suspicion, disapproval, or skepticism. For example, if someone tells you a story that seems obviously exaggerated, you might give them the side eye to indicate you don't believe them. Or you may briefly and playfully glance sideways at someone to convey your interest or attraction.
There is no specific name for a dog side eye, but it's a common signal that many dogs use to communicate various emotions.
Like in humans, the dog side eye is a subtle signal that dogs use to convey their feelings or intentions. For example, a dog may give the side eye to another animal or person if they are feeling anxious, uncomfortable, or fearful. It’s a way for a dog to say “back off.”
A dog side eye can also mean that your furry friend is guarding something, such as food, toys, or their favorite human.
Sometimes, a dog side eye is a gesture of appeasement. It looks like a side eye but actually your dog is turning their head away to tell another person or animal that they don’t pose a threat.
Some dogs use the side eye as a playful gesture or a sign of affection. Ultimately, you have the decode the dog side eye based on the situation and your dog’s relationship with the person or animal getting the side eye.
Generally speaking, as you grow closer to your dog, you will become better at understanding their body language and other nonverbal signals and can respond appropriately.
All dogs don’t give the side eye. Every dog has a unique personality and communicates differently with people and animals around them. With that said, the dog side eye is a common body language signal and many dogs use it at some point. Dogs use this subtle, nonverbal signal to express anxiety, unease, or some kind of discomfort before using more aggressive behaviors like growling or barking.
Some dogs give the side eye more frequently than others. It comes down to your dog’s temperament, the situation on hand, and their previous experiences. For example, a timid or anxious dog may give the dog side eye to ward off potential threats. On the other hand, a confident or outgoing dog may use the dog side eye as a playful gesture or to express interest. If your dog is giving the side eye very often and you’re unsure what it means, a professional dog trainer or behaviorist may offer some insight.
A dog whale eye, also known as a half-moon eye or a "sideways glance," is very similar to a dog side eye. It is when a dog exposes only the white portion of their eye, typically on one side. Basically, whale eye happens when a dog turns its head to look at something while keeping its body oriented in a different direction. As a result, you only see the white part of the eye and not the black circle or colored part.
Whale eye can be a sign of distress or fear in dogs. Dogs use it to see what’s going on around them while avoiding direct eye contact which can be perceived as a threat, especially by other animals.
The term "whale eye" originates from the way a whale's eye looks when it surfaces from the water with only the white portion visible.
If you notice your four-legged friend displaying dog side eye or whale eye, assess the environment and try to identify potential stressors that might be causing stress for your dog.
Stay tuned to the PuppyHero blog for more information on decoding dog behavior, such as what does it mean when a dog sighs or gets hiccups.
17 February, 2023