*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning, I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through one of my links, at no cost to you.
0 Shares
Have you ever asked yourself: why does my dog stare at me when I eat?
Dogs do a lot of things that can be pretty confusing to us humans. There are many great things that a dog will do with you. They’ll cuddle you, play with you, and offer you a best friend for life.
But some things that dogs do seem pretty weird. And some of them are downright annoying!
One weird thing that your dog might do is stare at you while you eat. You’re trying to enjoy your tasty meal, but there’s a pair of eyes nearby that are glued to you!
So why does your dog stare at you when you eat? Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
Why does my dog stare at me when I eat?
The most likely reason why your dog is staring at you while you eat is because he wants whatever you’re eating. That food looks and smells pretty tasty to him!
In a minute, we’ll get into the specifics of why dogs stare while their humans are eating. We’ll also talk about some ways you can try and get your dog to stop.
But before we get to that, you may want to check out these articles about other strange but common dog behavior:
- Why Is My Dog Barking at Nothing?
- Why Does My Dog Guard Me?
- Does Barking Make Dogs Tired?
Why does my dog want everything I eat?
As I said, the most common reason why dogs stare at their humans while they’re eating is because they want that food.
But why does your dog want your food so badly? Especially when he has his own tasty kibble?
Essentially, your dog wants to eat what you’re eating because you’re eating it. In the wild, dogs will hunt and bring the food back for the pack to share. Your dog might be expecting you to share your “prey” with him, and that’s why he’s staring at you.
Your food also likely smells pretty good to him. And your dog probably has a point! After all, if it didn’t smell or taste good, you probably wouldn’t be eating it either. Consider taking it as a compliment!
On a related note, you might want to consider getting your dog the best dog food delivery service for fresh cooked food. This will keep your dog happy, healthy, and well-fed.
Is it mean to eat in front of my dog?
Your dog really, really, really wants your food. That’s why he’s sitting in front of you and staring while you’re eating.
But you don’t want to give him any, of course. And your dog has his own food to eat!
So is it mean to keep eating in front of your dog? Especially since you know you’re not going to give him any?
It’s not mean, necessarily, but it’s certainly not going to stop your dog from staring at you. And if that’s annoying to you, then you might want to try something else.
One thing you can try is feeding your dog either before you eat or at the same time as you. Many people believe that letting their dogs eat first makes the dog feel like they’re the alpha of the pack.
But that’s not actually true! It’s totally fine to feed your dog before you eat or while you eat. And that might be what you need to do to stop him from staring at you.
You might also want to check out these 7 tips to stop a dog from begging for food.
Related topic: For dog training in general I highly recommend you get a program that walks you through step by step, such as Braintrainingfordogs. Certified dog trainer Adrienne Farricelli teaches you to train your dog to be the best dog he can by be using mental stimulation! Check out Dogpackr’s review to see if this is a fit for you!
Why does my dog stare at me when he eats?
Some dogs don’t just to watch their humans eat. Some dogs seem to want their humans to watch them eat, too.
So what’s going on here? Why does your dog seem to want you to watch him eat so badly?
If your dog refuses to eat unless you’re there to watch him, that’s actually a symbol of how much your dog trusts you. Your dog might feel safer when you’re there to watch him eat.
That said, this can also be a sign of an issue. Your dog might be so used to only eating when you’re around that he just can’t do it if you’re not there.
That’s a sign that your dog could have separation anxiety. If you think your dog might have separation anxiety, then you’ll want to check out these related articles:
- 9 Signs and Symptoms for Separation Anxiety in Dogs
- Do Puppies Grow Out of Separation Anxiety?
- How to Crate Train a Dog with Separation Anxiety
How do I get my dog to stop staring at me while I eat?
The most common reason why dogs stare at their humans while they’re eating is because they want that food. It smells great, and you look like you’re enjoying it! Your dog wants to share too.
Unfortunately, even though this food-begging behavior is super common, it can be pretty annoying. While some dog owners learn to ignore it, it can be hard to have your dog stare at you while you’re eating.
So what can you do? Is there a way to stop your dog from doing this? The good news is that there are lots of ways you can show your dog that this isn’t something you like!
Send him to his bed while you’re eating
Of course, one of the best ways to get your dog to stop staring at you while you’re eating is to send him away.
If your dog isn’t in the room, then he can’t just sit there and watch you eat! And that means that he can’t cry and beg either.
If you’re giving him table scraps, now is the time to stop. This is especially true if you want your dog to stop begging while you’re eating.
One effective way to send your dog away is by teaching him a “place” command. This is a super great command for your dog to know. You’ll be surprised by how often it comes in handy!
Basically, you’re teaching your dog to go lie down in a specific spot, like his bed. This will help you send him away quickly and easily.
You might also want to work on crate training your dog. Haven’t crate trained your dog and not sure where to start? Here’s how to crate train a dog easily in 13 steps.
Don’t give him any table scraps
One of the reasons why your dog might be staring at you while you eat is because you’ve been unintentionally encouraging the behavior.
You may have been rewarding his begging by giving him scraps from the table. By doing this, your dog has learned that if he stares and begs, you will eventually give him food.
There are lots of other reasons why you should avoid giving him your table scraps. Many foods that are yummy and fine for us to eat can be dangerous for your dog, and make him very sick.
Ignore the staring
Your dog staring at you while you’re eating can be pretty annoying. There’s no denying that! But just saying “bad dog” to your dog while he’s staring probably won’t help much.
That’s because in situations like this, your dog wants attention. He wants to know you’re paying attention to him so he can try and get some of your food from you!
When you give your dog attention, even if it’s to tell him to stop, that’s still giving in! Your dog is trying to get you to focus on him, and you’re doing exactly that!
So, if you want your dog to stop staring at you when you eat, it’s best to ignore him completely. Don’t pay any attention to your dog, and don’t respond to your dog if he starts begging.
If it gets really frustrating, you can always send him to his bed while you finish eating. But other than that, your best bet is to just ignore your dog entirely.
Feed your dog first
As I said earlier, it’s completely fine to feed your dog before you eat.
Even though many people still believe that letting your dog eat first will make him feel like the alpha, we know that’s not true.
And not feeding your dog soon enough could actually be part of what’s causing the staring problem.
Your dog might be staring because he’s hungry and he wants to get some of your food from you.
If that’s the case, then feeding your dog first could help. By the time you sit down to eat, your dog might be full enough that he’ll ignore you while you’re eating your food.
Just bear in mind that this may not work with every dog. Some dogs’ stomachs seem bottomless, and he might still try begging for food! In that case, the above tips will help.
Why does my dog stare at me in those situations?
Lots of dog parents have dogs that stare at them when they eat. But there are plenty of other situations where your dog might stare at you.
Here are a few of these—and why he’s doing it!
Why does my dog stare at me when he poops?
One really weird thing that your dog might be doing is staring at you while he poops.
This can be strange. And let’s face it—it can be a little creepy too.
But the truth is that the reason why your dog is doing this might actually be a little sweet. Your dog might be staring at you while he poops because he’s in a vulnerable position. Your dog might be staring at you because he’s seeking reassurance that you’ll protect him.
Why does my dog follow me everywhere and stare at me?
Your dog might follow you around and stare at you because he’s feeling particularly clingy. It might be sweet to know that your dog loves you so much that he just can’t leave you alone.
But there’s no denying that tripping over him all the time can get pretty annoying. And having a pair of eyes watching you constantly can make you feel uncomfortable.
For more information on clinginess, take a look at these related articles:
- 9 Reasons Why Your Dog Is So Clingy All of a Sudden
- Why Is My Dog So Clingy
Why does my dog stare at me when I cry?
It’s pretty sweet that your dog comes over to you and watches you when you cry. It’s like he’s worried about you!
In fact, your dog probably is worried about you. He might be experiencing something called emotional contagion. This means that he’s responding to your sadness without really understanding what it means.
And that can make your dog pretty confused and concerned!
Why does my dog stare at me when I sleep?
Dogs might stare at their owners while they’re sleeping for a lot of reasons. It could be that your dog is just bonding with you, or he’s feeling protective.
For more information on that, check out this article: Why Does My Dog Guard Me?
If the staring is annoying you, then you can always put your dog in his crate when nighttime comes around.
Why does my dog stare at the wall?
Dogs have a really, really strong sense of hearing. Even though you may not be able to hear anything going on, your dog’s super sensitive ears can pick up on things you’re not aware of.
If your dog is staring at the wall, he could be hearing something on the other side of it. There could also be something in the walls, like mice, that your dog is hearing.
Conclusion
Having a dog is a wonderful thing. They’re such affectionate animals, and they make great companions. But there are some things about having a dog that you might find a little annoying and confusing.
If your dog is staring at you while you eat, the most probable reason is because he wants your tasty meal. This is super normal behavior, but if it’s annoying you, there are ways to curb it. Give them a try and both you and your dog will eat in peace again!
