Should You Outstare a Dog?

In their wolf ancestors, staring is considered threatening and rude. Some dogs still retain that attitude. That's why you should never stare down strange dogs or hold dogs still to stare into their eyes. If a dog gives you a hard stare, with unblinking eyes and a stiff posture, back away and don't make eye contact.

Should I stare back at my dog?

With so many opinions and misinformation about dog eye contact, it's understandable why people wonder what eye contact means to a dog. Eye contact happens naturally; it's part of normal body language. However, staring is considered rude and it's scary to most dogs.

Is it bad to make eye contact with a dog?

To a dominant dog, direct eye contact can be interpreted as a threat. Always keep your eyes on an unfamiliar dog, but try to avoid direct eye contact or staring. ... Staring directly into a new dog's eyes can make a nervous dog hostile or afraid, which can result in the dog lashing out or becoming unpredictable.