Dogs have different personalities, different breeds exhibit different characteristics. However, a dog’s body language has more or less the same meanings. A responsible pet owner should take time to understand the body language of the pet as by doing so the moods and the feelings of the pet can be detected. The pet’s actions and reactions will be anticipated before they occur. The head, the ears, tail as well as the eyes indicates the mood of the dog. They are used as well to interact with humans and with other dogs. Dogs are often seen staring blankly, staring at people and staring at other dogs. What can be the reason for this rather odd behavior?

A dog may stare because it is begging for food. Dogs in the wild would stare at eating dominant dogs. Weaker dogs have to wait until the alpha dog and the other dogs higher in rank would have their fill before they can have their turn to eat the prey.

Domesticated dogs would also stare at humans to beg for food. A dog that was left at home all day would stare at the master not only because of the fact that the master is home but also because the dog is anticipating a doggie bowl filled with food. The dog also stares at eating people to ask for scraps of food from the table.

Dominant dogs would stare at other dogs to remind the weaker ones that he is the alpha dog and the rest should do his bidding. Another dog may challenge the dominant dog by staring. This can be a violent situation as in most cases it would result to dog fights.

A dog wanting to be taken out for a walk would whine and stare. A dog would also stare at the family preparing to go out. This action means that the dog wants to be with the family and to be a part of the activities. Owners should not ignore this behavior of the dog. A dog that is left alone will be bored and can suffer separation anxiety. For sure owners would not want this to happen as a bored dog turns into a destructive dog. If it is not possible to take the dog, leave some toys. Taking the dog for a long walk is another good idea.

A dog may stare because it is sick. If the normally active dog suddenly become lethargic and stares blankly medical attention should be given to the dog as soon as possible as the behavior can be due to rabies, poisoning and distemper. A head injury would cause a dog to stare. These medical conditions should be given prompt attention.