Surely on more than one occasion you have noticed that your dog stares at you while doing his business. Although the truth is that it can be a bit strange, this behavior is not accidental and there are several theories about it.
One of them is the survival instinct . According to veterinary experts, this gesture is because while they are in this position, they perceive themselves as defenseless against any possible threat and need to feel protected by you.
This has a scientific cause. In 2009, a group of experts from the Japanese Azabu University conducted a study that concluded that making eye contact during this time produces a psychological reaction similar to that experienced by mother and son. That is, he identifies you as part of his family and sees in you a father figure.
This study was based on the observation of oxytocin, a hormone that is produced in the hypothalamus and that has a great influence on human relationships. The behavior of 30 dogs with their owners was observed for at least half an hour, paying close attention to their reactions and gestures between both parties. Once the observation was completed, the oxytocin levels in the urine of the dogs and humans were measured, comparing them with those prior to the study. The results concluded that the greater the interaction between the dog and the owner, the higher the level of oxytocin in the brain of both.
Looking for protection
As the veterinarian Kathryn Primm stated in the I Heart Dogs portal, “if your dog looks at you while he is relieving himself, it is because it is up to you to know if he should be afraid or not and if so, let him know. through body language ”. That is why there is no problem if you also look back at him, what’s more, it is beneficial for him since he will feel safer and more protected. In addition, the expert has also stressed the importance of not doing anything that may startle him while he is looking at you.
A theory supported by animal expert Mary Friedman, who explains that the feeling of vulnerability comes from her ancestors . One of them is the wolf, an animal that fends for itself in nature. “I think the dog wants to make sure his back is covered while he’s in a position that makes him vulnerable,” he told The Dodo .
This also explains why it is common for him to always seek to do it in the same places, those in which he feels calmer and safer, or to even go away to do it. Respecting his natural inclination to be far away and trying to make him feel as comfortable as possible during the defecation process are two aspects that experts emphasize the most.
Positive reinforcement
Although there are those who think that they do it to ask for privacy because they feel observed, nothing could be further from the truth. The theory of the need for protection is one of the most accepted in this regard. However, there could be other causes that explain why your dog looks at you while he is defecating. One of them is positive reinforcement.
But what is positive reinforcement? Very easy. When it is small, one of the first aspects that is usually taught to the dog is the habit of obedience and, specifically, the obligation to perform its needs in the street and never at home. During this process, owners often carry out positive reinforcement by giving them a treat or some other food that they like as a reward. This way, when they behave well and poop outside the home, they expect to be rewarded . Hence, I look at you waiting to receive this award.
To ask permission
Although it is not known for sure what is really the cause that leads dogs to look at their owners while they relieve themselves, one of the theories that has gained more force is the one that states that they do it to ask permission with their eyes , as if asking: “Can I do it here?”
The importance of non-verbal language
In addition to the time to defecate, there are many other times when your dog communicates with you through the use of non-verbal language. Have you ever wondered why he looks you in the eye so often? For him, the look is a fundamental part of communication because it gives us clues about his state of mind. Hence the importance of knowing how to interpret it properly.
