Dog behavior/training question-dog stares mercilessly

[cowboymom]

OK Dog experts, my son needs your help.

I have a 14 year old son and a 3 year old Blackmouth cur female dog. Since she was about a year old she has stared at him constantly. He mentioned it about a year ago and since then we’ve all noticed that she really does stare at him All The Time. No matter what he does. When he’s on the xbox completely ignoring her, watching tv, on the computer. Talking to us, when he’s doing chores outside-she sits out on the porch and watches him. He’s not a real hands on dog guy, he’s more of a cat guy. He doesn’t take her for walks or feed her or play with her but he speaks kindly to her when their paths cross although he will scold her to stop staring. She’s a low energy dog, she sleeps a lot and isn’t running around wanting to play or anything, she sleeps by the fire most of the time. Very food motivated. I’ve asked him to ignore her, and as usually happens with that advice, it made no difference or made it worse. When he scolds her “DON’T STARE” she just keeps staring at him, no change in expression. We have to literally put her into another room to break the trance. He’ll wake up in the morning and she will be in the doorway of his room, staring at him. Goes without saying he can’t eat in peace.

This kid is a pro at messing with other peoples’ minds and practical jokes and I have to admit I see a lot of humor in the situation. :lol: But I don’t reward the dog, until recently I completely ignored his complaints and her behavior-way down on my list of concerns. But lately I have been calling her away from him but she’ll come sit by me and keep staring at him. :lol: It doesn’t matter who else is in the room, she stares at him. She watches him as he walks around the house.

It’s driving him to distraction and his complaining about it is driving the rest of us to distraction. But it’s all in good spirits-he’s not genuinely mad and I’m being more helpful about it now.

I think her motivation is that she’s food obsessed and he’s a slob. It’s begging for food, 24/7. Even while he sleeps. She’s always there… in the shadows… <watching>

:lol::lol::lol:

What to do? He never feeds her on purpose. The slob thing could be a factor though he tidied right up when I mentioned it… I owe her for that one.

http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/steele4/12-13-2011/

A sampling from the last few minutes. He took the pictures where she’s looking at the camera, I took the two where she is gazing adoringly at him as he walks around the room. :yes:

[MunchingonHay]

[QUOTE=cowboymom;6019575]
He’ll wake up in the morning and she will be in the doorway of his room, staring at him. Goes without saying he can’t eat in peace.

This kid is a pro at messing with other peoples’ minds and practical jokes and I have to admit I see a lot of humor in the situation. :lol:[/QUOTE]

I am sorry I have no advice but these two things made me laugh out loud ! :lol::lol:

May be she just really really loves him. Does she whine and look for him when he is not home?

May be he should just pet her already and she will leave him alone?

I have no idea really

[lovey1121]

First–What a BEAUTIFUL GIRL!!! Just gorgeous!.

I think its typical unrequited love. And I think she has a sly sense of humor.

[HPFarmette]

This might be what the Monks of New Skete characterize as “the gaze”. I don’t buy into their methods but you might enjoy their book.

[jadewolf]

Wow, what an adorable pup! Those eyes make me melt!

Count another me as vote for unrequited love.

Either that, or she’s just a StareDog. My previous border collie, the late Zappa, would stare with the cute-eyes ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/jadewolf/2904725404/in/set-72157603488725375 ) at all hours of the day and night!

[cowboymom]

Oh my, I don’t think he could handle the BC stare, too intense! But so sweet! I knew a BC named Tuffy that always stared at people like that too!

Thanks for the compliments on her, she’s a sweet dog and she knows how to work those eyes…

I keep telling him it’s because she adores him and his response is always “ why?? I totally ignore her!”

There’s a love lesson to be learned here, young man. :yes:

I made him shower attention on her this morning and she was so happy… then she followed him around all morning staring at him some more… :lol:

[jessiesgrrl]

Okay don’t laugh…but maybe she see’s something in him that people don’t.
Like maybe he has a great coloured Aura, or spirits or something.

I don’t always believe in that stuff, but sometimes things happen that make you think “well maybe…” and if my dog watched me like a hawk all the time, I would def be thinking “well maybe…” lol

Or maybe they were best friends in past lives…

Or maybe he sneaks her snackies when no one is looking??

So really no usefull info here, just my humble opinion!

[wendy]

yeah, I suspect he’s a poster child for how well “random reinforcement” works- he mostly ignores her, and then every now and again he drips food, or says hi to her. So she follows him around waiting, waiting just in case…

[cowboymom]

I think you’re right, wendy! It’s fun watching them attempt to interact though.

I told him that consensus was that she just loves him and he’s seeing her in a new light now. More like a loyal dog, less stalker.

:lol:

[Paddys_Mom]

My dog used to do that to my husband.
I had my husband give him a bunch of commands…sit, down, etc.
Pretty soon Cody found something better to do.

[Larksmom]

Toffee does that

She is a quiet little dog, and insanely jealous of her buddy, Snickers. He is a BC/Aussie mix and a perpetual motion machine. She is happy to sleep all day long. But when in my presence, she Stares. At. Me. All. The. Time. When I stare back, she tries to fit her 60 pounds into my lap. It is nice to know SOMEONE loves me!

[BetterOffRed]

[QUOTE=cowboymom;6019928]

I keep telling him it’s because she adores him and his response is always “ why?? I totally ignore her!”

There’s a love lesson to be learned here, young man. :yes:

I made him shower attention on her this morning and she was so happy… then she followed him around all morning staring at him some more… :lol:[/QUOTE]

uhoh! Ladies Man in training!

I joke that everything I’ve learned about men is because of my horse and my dog. My friend jokes that if that is the case, I am in a highly abusive relationship! :winkgrin:

The more attention I give them, the more they abuse me and ignore me. :sigh:

[JackSprats_Mom]

My dog used to do that to my husband.
I had my husband give him a bunch of commands…sit, down, etc.
Pretty soon Cody found something better to do

:lol::lol::lol:

This would probably work well

[Canaqua]

The ACD mix is my husband’s dog and she stares at me a lot, more than she does him. I work from home sometimes and I’ll be sitting there typing away or on a conference call and everytime I look up, she’s staring at me. She wants to know what I’m going to do next and doesn’t want to miss it! Even though she’s most devoted to DH and follows him everywhere, she stares at me if we’re in the same room. I’m the feeder, walker, groomer, nurse, trainer, treat giver…so most good things (other than actually being DH) come from me, if I make a move, she wants to get there before the other animals.

She’s staring at me right now! My dog is in her crate, door open, with a bone and ignoring me, but DH’s dog has her eyes glued to my face.

[Still_Workingonit]

To be frank, I wouldnt event notice - but then I am “mum” to 2 BCs - one who has the “strong eye” that makes most people I train with worried - tho’ I dont know why . As another poster put it, she is just watching to see what it is happening next.

I usually acknowledge her (by patting her head or stroking her back) and then carrying on. I take it as a sign of love and wanting to be with me. If your son acknowledges and interacts with the dog, she will probably really appreciate it.

[veetiepony]

She is sooo pretty, love the last picture!

[Chall]

Every dog needs a young boy just like every pony needs a little girl.

[cowboymom]

Especially a boy that dribbles food randomly! He’s like one of those toys that they can roll around and a piece of food will fall out occasionally! :lol:

I led with the “loyal dog that wants your attention” and they’ve reached a new understanding. :yes: She’s a sweet dog, very kind and he can appreciate that. And she lets his cat sleep on her dog bed so that helps too.

thanks!