You may be eating dinner, watching TV, or trying to take a nap and there is your Shih Tzu staring at you. It can be uncomfortable if you are unsure as to why Shih Tzus and most dogs in general stare at their owners. This is not a random act, but in most cases, your Shih Tzu is trying to tell you something with its constant stare.
What follows are the four most common reasons why your Shih Tzu is staring at you. They may think you are fascinating, but it’s just as likely to be one of the four following reasons.
Confused
While humans are pretty good at communicating with one another, your Shih Tzu may not have the same ability. Arguably the most common reason why a Shih Tzu may be staring at you, especially when you are interacting with them is because they are confused. They are trying to follow what you say, but do not quite get it.
This also happens if you are doing something around the home and they want to know what it is. Sometimes, your Shih Tzu simply wants to know what is going on.
Attention
The desire for attention runs through all dogs. They love their owners and want to interact with them. There is usually nothing specific in terms of the attention that they want, they simply want some of your time to be with you. So, a quick pet or a little attention may go a long way when they are staring at you.
Guidance
This is something like confusion, but it is really about providing guidance to your Shih Tzu. This usually happens when you are training your dog and they want to know what to do next. You will need to figure out what is going on and to provide them with the guidance necessary.
They Want Something Specific
In this case, the staring is usually accompanied by something else designed to get your attention to do something specific. From playing catch to rubbing their belly to wanting food, your Shih Tzu will stare at you and usually add something else to indicate that they want to do a specific thing. You’ll need to note what they are doing so that in the future you’ll have a better idea of what they want.
While these are the most common reasons why your Shih Tzu is staring at you, keep in mind that it’s not just the eyes, but their body language that you should pay attention to as well. This means that your Shih Tzu may be in some distress, or angry, or otherwise telling you something in more ways than one. So, pay attention not only to their eyes and head but the rest of their body as well. Plus, listen for any signals such as growling that might indicate something else is wrong.
If your Shih Tzu stares at you, it is because they love you and need something. That’s always a good sign and learning to respond in the right way will show your affection back to them.
