Looking your dog in the eye is not always a sign of love

Understanding your dog is almost an obligation knowing that it is part of our multispecies family and that its gestures are at the root of its bond and its needs.

If we stop to observe his body rather than his verbal expressions, the behavior of dogs will not be difficult to understand.

The gaze is a very important element in the overall behavior of a dog and through it we can decipher many patterns of its behavior. The sustained gaze of a dog yields multiple interpretations that we will try to reveal.

Often our dogs are watching us fixed and there can be many reasons and causes that lead them to hold their gaze.

Dogs use body language more frequently than sound language to communicate many things and therefore it is essential to know the meaning of their looks. The reasons are multiple and the subtle nuances determine the meaning of that sustained gaze.

In the first instance, our dog will stare at us because he wants to ask for something that can usually be a toy, food, walk or pampering. A clear example is that if when we get home our dog stares at us, he will surely want to comply with the rite transformed into a routine and habit of going out on the street for a walk to walk and relieve himself.

On the other hand, dogs hold their gaze during their learning time, showing attention to the commands given to them. This is a clear sign of dedication and applied intelligence.

The dog concentrates to know in detail and correctly the signal we give him during training and therefore looks very steadily and attentively, demonstrating an absolute level of concentration. These levels of attention and concentration occur in dogs and very few animals.

Also, and this is more than important, in front of an unknown dog the sustained gaze can mean challenge or threat and refer to an aggressive posture, especially if it is accompanied by grunts, bristling hairs or showing teeth.

Paradoxically, there are countless dogs that avoid our gaze. This behavior may be a sign of social behavior problems, representing fear or insecurity, a circumstance that merits consultation with the behavioral specialist of our trust.

Having a healthy bond with our pets will have multiple benefits. It is known for certain that being in contact with dogs and cats reduces stress levels and accompanies the body with positive responses that generate beneficial substances. What was not known until now is how much contact time is needed to achieve those effects and lower anxiety and stress levels.

The most recent and serious research states that just ten minutes of qualitatively satisfying and intense relationship with our pets (games, caresses, etc.) have a significant impact on people's bodies.

In the scientific research work, the student volunteers who participated in the research by lending themselves to the study and interacting with cats and dogs achieved a significant reduction in cortisol, the stress marker hormone.

Due to the stress of students due to the intense pace of classes, the papers to be presented and the period of exam dates, many American universities have established programs called Pet Your Stress Away, where students can interact with cats and/or dogs to help relieve stress and anxiety.

After the study, it was shown that, when several cortisol samples were taken from each participant, it was found that only students who interacted directly with pets showed significantly less cortisol after that intervention.

The conclusion, in addition to confirming the beneficial role of animals in human health, stated that ten minutes is necessary and sufficient time to begin to achieve these effects.

*Prof. Dr. Juan Enrique Romero @drromerook is a veterinary physician. Specialist in University Education. Master's Degree in Psychoimmunoneuroendocrinology. Former Director of the Small Animal School Hospital (UNLPAM). University Professor at several Argentine universities. International lecturer.

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