Why is my dog giving me side eye?

Photos, videos, and GIFs of dogs giving side eye have become part of popular culture. While these memes are meant to present dogs as sharing the same emotions as humans when using this expression, there are other reasons why a dog may appear to be giving side eye. Dogs communicate with their eyes and body posture. Direct eye contact between dogs can be threatening, so it’s common for dogs to look at each other from the side to let one another know they’re not a threat. Read on to learn:

• What the side eye facial expression looks like
• How the side eye can be a body language cue for dogs
• When to talk to a vet about your dog’s eyes

It’s also important to discern a side eye expression from strabismus, which is an involuntary sideways deviation of the eye associated with medical conditions, and whale eye, a facial expression that’s used to show fear or anxiety.

In humans, “side eye” is a facial expression that combines an eye roll with a sidelong glance to express disapproval, scorn, or other negative emotions. Sometimes dogs make a similar expression, voluntarily moving the colored part of their eye (the iris) to the side to reveal the white part of their eye (the sclera). This can be especially funny when we apply human characteristics to the dog, which is an example of anthropomorphism.

Anthropomorphism is defined as the attribution of human form or personality to non-human things. It’s important to understand that a dog making the side eye expression doesn’t necessarily mean the dog feels disapproval or scorn. Since anthropomorphism can be comical, memes with dogs giving side eye have become a big part of pop culture through photos, GIFs, and videos.

Side eye is a voluntary eye movement. Involuntary eye movement to the side, or strabismus, is a medical condition that can appear similar to a side eye expression. Talk to a veterinarian if your dog’s eyes are consistently not pointing in the same direction or involuntarily moving to the side.

There are many reasons why a dog might give a side eye glance at other dogs or people. A dog’s facial anatomy, behavioral communication with other dogs and people, and learned behaviors from their owners can all result in the appearance of a side eye glance.

Anatomical

Breeds with bulging, rounded eyes, such as French bulldogs, chihuahuas, pugs, and boxers, have become more popular in recent years. The shape of their eyes causes the whites of their eyes to be more visible for no reason other than their facial anatomy. Dogs with rounder, flatter faces who also have round eyes and short noses appear more human-like, so humans are more likely to relate their dog’s facial expressions to human emotions.

Canine communication and body language cues

“Dogs are highly social and communicative creatures,” explains Dr. Jo Myers, a veterinarian on the Vetster platform. “Instead of speaking like humans, dogs rely on body language, which includes facial expressions, to communicate.” Avoiding direct eye contact is a big part of communication between dogs that lets others know they’re not a threat. Dogs approach each other from the side and avoid eye contact while greeting each other when they want to send a message that they aren’t a threat. A dog may also do this with their owners or other humans they meet. The shape of a dog’s eyes can also communicate fear, excitement, and anxiety. Each dog has a unique way of expressing their emotions, just like people.

Side eye should not be confused with “whale eye,” another common eye expression in dogs. When dogs are fearful, tense, or anxious, they widen their eyes to make the whites of their eyes visible, often while staring straight ahead. A dog with a whale eye expression may glance to the side, but this expression isn’t the same as side eye, and a dog showing this behavior is actually alarmed and uncomfortable. Whale eye is often accompanied by other behaviors and body language, such as a flattened ear position or a tense posture associated with stress or fear. Dogs often offer warning signs like whale eye and altered posture before escalating to growling or snapping, so it’s important to read a dog’s body language correctly to avoid injury.

Learned behavior from humans

Dogs are empathetic, trainable, and able to learn body language cues from other animals and humans in their household. They’re also likely to repeat behaviors that elicit positive responses, including:

• Praise or laughter
• Receiving something they want, such as going outdoors
• Removing an annoyance from their personal space

Even though dogs can mimic human body language and facial expressions, this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re feeling the same way humans feel when they make the expression.

Why is my dog giving me the side eye?

Dogs can give the side eye for various reasons. Some dog breeds have rounded or bulging eyes that give the appearance of side eye more often. Dogs may also avoid direct eye contact to communicate a message of deference or to avoid conflict. They may also learn to do it as a trick to mimic human behaviors, just like shaking hands. Every dog is different and has a unique way of communicating.

Why are my dog’s eyes looking to the side?

A dog may look to the side because direct eye contact can be considered threatening. A side eye glance can also be used to communicate with their owners. Some health conditions cause strabismus, which is an involuntary deviation of one or both eyes to the side.

What does a dog’s side eye mean?

A dog may look at another dog or person with a sideways glance to avoid direct eye contact, which can be seen as a threat between dogs. In other situations, a side eye glance can be a learned behavior that mimics human behavior, just like a handshake. A sideways glance that shows the white of the eye might also be “whale eye,” which is a dog’s way of communicating stress or anxiety.