Why Does My Old Dog Just Stand And Stare At Me?

Why Does My Old Dog Just Stand And Stare At Me? Reasons

My pet dog, Sparkles, is now 12 years old. And sometimes he does this thing, where he stands in one place, watching me; without a blink of an eye! Sometimes, it is creepy. But it gave me so many doubts about why he does this and where he learned this behavior from.

But why does my old dog just stand and stare at me? Most of the time, it is because he’s asking for something. When I ask him, “what is it?” he will show me what he needs. Sometimes, he is hungry or thirsty or needs to pee. Understanding why he is standing and staring is vital when trying to tend to his needs.

If you are as close to your dog as I am, you will find it extremely easy to understand what your canine is trying to say. It will take years of practice and watching your dog closely to interpret what he’s trying to say. 

If you are a brand new dog owner who just bought your first pup home and is now wondering why he’s staring at you with no clue, don’t worry.

As time passes, you’ll notice that you are getting the hang of reading your pup. But, for those still trying to understand answers to the question why my old dog just stands and stares at me. This blog is specially dedicated to you. 

Why Does My Old Dog Just Stand And Stare At Me?

There is not much talking in our relationships between our pets and us. Although we humans use language to communicate, it’s impossible for our dogs and us.

Sure we have all heard stories of brave, intelligent doggos who know precisely how to convey a message to their owner. But not all of us have overly smart pups like them. Instead, we can consider our pet’s “average.”

But, if you have the time to put in a little effort, you may be able to translate almost everything your pet is trying to tell you. And one of such things you will need to interpret all the time will be your pet’s stare.

And it’s no wonder if all the dog owners in the world start to doubt why my old dog just stands and stares at me.

I mean, these looks may give us heebie-jeebies and make us wonder if there is something behind us that only our dog can see. But, trust me 100% when I say it’s not the case.

Here are some instances where my old dog used to stare at me, sometimes without even blinking.

  • He’s hungry and out of time

When Sparkles got a sudden hunger attack, he would come to me, stand, and stare at me intensely. He’s a dachshund, so with his height, he has to crank up his head all the way up to stare at me, but that doesn’t stop him.

When he does this, I’ll question him, and that is when he drops the stare and runs to the food bowls with a happy dance.

Sometimes, he does this when he’s thirsty as well, and I forget to fill up his water bowl. 

  • Need to pee or poop

Naturally, our pets can’t hold in until their next walk in the evening to release their bladder and bowels.

And my pet, too, sometimes does this I-stare-at-you game to let me know he needs to go out. 

  • Trying to read you

Canines are a species that is alert to everything going on around them. So, it’s expected that they will always try to read and understand your mood and body language.

And the stare you are experiencing at the moment makes you wonder, “why does my old dog just stand and stare at me?” it might be your pet trying to read you. 

  • He just loves you too much

Dogs tend to stop and stare at their owners when experiencing a sudden burst of love and affection towards them. So, maybe you should just call him over and give him a nice belly rub, and he’ll definitely love it. 

Other than these four, they also tend to stare at the owners when they are in confusion, angry, or waiting for your next command. But, knowing how to read them will help you act appropriately in each situation. 

What Does It Mean When A Dog Stares At You Without Blinking?

Why does my old dog just stand and stare at me? This question is one of the many that arise in the journey of parenting a canine.

Because there is no natural method of communication between the dog and the owner, you will have to depend on the dog’s body language, vocalization, and behavior. 

When an old dog just stands and stares at me, the first thing that pops into my mind is he needs something.

Let it be some snacks, attention, need to pee, or play; with some effort, you will be able to find out what the dog needs. 

As I always say, you will not be able to read your pet as fast as you bought him home. And if this canine is your first pet, it will be much harder to read him.

But don’t get upset. With time and experience, you will be able to read his every move, even when he’s looking for a method to do something naughty. 

That is the pet that you’re taking care of. But what if some other old dog just stands and stares at me? Of course, I will initially feel creeped out, and I have all the good reasons to do so.

Because when a dog that you are not accustomed to starts staring at you with hard eyes and teeth blaring –which is optional- it means he’s giving you a warning before attacking you.

It’s better if you get out of the way before he decides you’re invading his territory.

So, that is almost all about it. And now you know why dogs stand and stare at you. So that the next time your pet does that, you might know precisely what to look for. 

Stay tuned with Jack Russell Owner for more interesting posts. Cheers!!

Author

  • Dominic Parker

    Dominic P. is a dog behavioral researcher who graduated from the University of Surrey and holds BVMsi (Hons) in Veterinary Medicine and Science. He has been around dogs since childhood and has unconditional love for dogs. It makes him become a researcher instead of practicing as a veterinarian. Dominic enjoys his work and likes to share his findings with dog parents to give them a better understanding of dogs’ behaviors.

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