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January 12, 2016

Listening to Your Dog’s Eyes

Despite my best efforts to teach Eko and Penny to speak English, the pups still haven’t picked it up. Or they just refuse to talk to me. Which is understandable. But spoken language is overrated. Eko and Penny can tell me just about everything with body language. I love the
Despite my best efforts to teach Eko and Penny to speak English, the pups still haven’t picked it up. Or they just refuse to talk to me. Which is understandable. But spoken language is overrated. Eko and Penny can tell me just about everything with body language. I love the litany of subtle wags, postures and head-cocks each dog uses to communicate. I am most impressed by what dogs can communicate with just their eyes. Rhodesian Ridgeback, blog, chicago, puppy, adventure

With Penny, I know this “thousand yard stare” look (as with most of her looks) means she’s about to explode into action

Rhodesian Ridgeback, blog, chicago, puppy, adventure

Can you blame her? Tackling the photographer is much more fun than posing for a photo

Rhodesian Ridgeback, blog, chicago, puppy, adventure

Even closed-eyes speak. Eko’s blissfully soaking up the sun here

Rhodesian Ridgeback, blog, chicago, puppy, adventure

Although I didn’t need any confirmation, I think this awed-pose confirms Eko’s happiness

Rhodesian Ridgeback, blog, chicago, puppy, adventure

Conspiratorial side-glances are a perennial favorite of mine. When the pups think I’m about to announce it’s dinner time they both remain frozen, while giving each other “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” eyes

Rhodesian Ridgeback, blog, chicago, puppy, adventure

When dinner is announced, the co-conspirators explode off the couch

Rhodesian Ridgeback, blog, chicago, puppy, adventure

I’m not sure if Eko and Penny are religious, but bath time seems to get them in the mood to pray

Rhodesian Ridgeback, blog, chicago, puppy, adventure

“If there is a Dog up there, I’m asking you to please make this bath quick!”

From wide-eyed stares of shock to happy-squinting to the much famed puppy-dog-eyes, there’s seemingly nothing our pups can’t tell us when we take the time to listen to their eyes.

The above photos capture just a few of my favorite types of looks. There are oh so many good ones to choose from. What are yours?

Comments for Listening to Your Dog’s Eyes

  1. Eyes speak louder than words anyway. Such expression wit your guys too. 😉

  2. Connie Taylor says:

    Dogs are so expressive with their eyes and sighs. When our Bentley is throughly content, she sounds like a cow softly mooing. I love the looks you captured with your kids. You could make a great book with nothing but their expressions!!

  3. I know that 1000 yard stare….that’s the moment Mark looks for a tree or a light tower to have an “anchor”, because the eagle is ready for lift off….

  4. Victoria says:

    i love the “how can you” look – you know the one – the one where you are taking them to get groomed and they turn and look at you as they are led off by the groomer and show you those “how could you” mom eyes.

  5. Jura says:

    Love these. Tala has recently perfected the ‘I swear I haven’t been fed anything today’ look just for my husband which has resulted in her being fed twice in the last few weeks…

  6. Kismet says:

    Your two are passive when it comes to dinner. Kaci and Kali actively campaign for dinner if they think it is late. Of course, they’re the judge of that-it doesn’t matter what the clock says.

  7. coastingnz says:

    Yes the eyes say it all. My favourite are the lying snuggly in their beds with just the eyes following my moves – just in case…. well anything actually lol

  8. I love when Dakota has his “sensitive” look which he has much of the time because he has such sensitive eyes. I also love when he “smiles” and his eyes sparkle. He has another look that makes me laugh, it’s his “uncertain” look…when we got him when he was 8 mos old he used to give me what I call a “side look”…he didn’t completely trust me at that time, now…every now and then if he thinks I am going to ask something of him that he doesn’t like or is unsure of he gives me that same “side look” and it always makes me smile

  9. Jan & Rusty says:

    Rusty has gorgeous brown eyes, very expressive. And, yes, I’ve always been a sucker for brown eyes. Among his many looks, his look of indignation is particularly well done. Like when I go outside during a bad storm to get the mail and don’t take him with me. Just not acceptable behavior on my part, according to him.

  10. DZ Dogs says:

    I love a dogs eyes, they really do tell a tale, and give you insight into what they are thinking. 🙂

  11. Ogee says:

    I love the “I didn’t do it, the {insert other dog’s name here} did” look. Used in equal measure in our house.

  12. Oh so true. Maggie is so shy and she doesn’t look at me often, so I really love it when she does.

  13. These are great – cats do the same thing – eye communication is a biggie. I prefer the QUIET eye communication anyway to the bark/meow thing…….they make the same point but more quietly!

    Pam

  14. Mom is getting pretty good at reading us, but the one thing she will never forget is Katie. Back in Germany in Katie’s younger, wild years, she was off leash most of the time because they lived pretty much at the beach which was six miles long and depending on the tide a mile wide. Katie loved to romp and play, but every now and then, Mom would call her, she would come running and stop about six feet from Mom’s area of reach. She would tip her head, look left and right, and then take off. Mom could do nothing, but she knew it meant a good hour of watching Katie romp wildly until she stopped to rest and Mom could sneak up on her and capture her.

  15. Tietser says:

    Kees has heavy eyeliner like the Egyptians on their wall paintings. It literally underlines what she says with those expressive brown eyes. The eye smiles, the “who me?” and the “…yes, are we? yes we are…YES we are going out!” I like the most. Also the look in her eyse when for moments long she will follow something invisible to us on the ceiling. She is then so focused that she forgets her surroundings, loses her balance and falls with her head back on the pillows of her bed followed by the “now what was THAT??” look. Cracks me up every time.

  16. My favorite look is what Mom calls, “WHY ARE YOU STARING AT ME?!!!!!” I use that one a lot. I like to keep her guessing.

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

  17. Roxy lays her chin on the couch and looks up at us, eyes shifting back and forth between us. She knows she’s welcome to join us on the couch,Mobutu she wants us to invite her up. I think it’s her way of making us beg.

  18. Just love dogs eyes, they tell so much.

  19. Allison Gray says:

    This is wonderfully accurate!

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