What Are Dog Whale Eyes? Vet Reviewed Facts & FAQ
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Does your dog hate trips to the vet? If so, you may have heard your vet or their staff remark that your pup has “whale eyes” as soon as they set a paw in the front door. Dog whale eyes are a form of dog body language that indicates stress, characterized by an unusual amount of white showing around the edge of your pup’s eyes.
Keep reading to learn more about dog whale eyes, what they tell you about your pet’s mood, other signs of stress, and why it’s important to understand canine body language.
Why Does My Dog Have Whale Eyes?
As we mentioned, whale eyes, also called half-moon eyes, occur when you can see more of the white part of your pup’s eyes than usual. Think of it as your dog looking out of the corner of their eye, with their head pointed one way while they look in the other direction. Your dog’s eyes may also look rounder or like they’re bulging further out of their head.
Dogs that display this body language are typically feeling nervous or anxious. They want to keep an eye on whatever is scaring them without looking directly at it. Using our example from the introduction, your dog may display whale eyes while the vet examines them as they try to watch what the doctor is doing without being noticed.
Other Physical Signs of Anxiety
In addition to whale eyes, dogs use other body language to demonstrate their anxiety or nervousness about a situation. Common physical signs of anxiety in dogs include:
- Dilated pupils
- Panting
- Drooling
- Yawning
- Lip licking
- Whining
- Crouched body posture
- Flattened ears
- Tucked tail
Recognizing and understanding dog whale eyes and other signs of anxiety is essential for dog owners and people who work with animals regularly.
Why It’s Important to Know What Dog Whale Eyes Are
Like humans, dogs react to stress and fear in different ways. Some try to hide or run away. Others may react more aggressively, such as growling and snapping, to protect themselves.
Unfortunately, even if a dog snaps or bites in an attempt to protect themselves, the consequences are usually unpleasant for them.
It can also be dangerous for humans, especially kids. In many cases, however, a dog offers many warning signs that they’re afraid before they escalate to this point. Recognizing these signs, including whale eyes, allows pet owners or animal care professionals to manage the situation before it reaches the danger zone. Dog owners with kids should learn these signs and teach their children to recognize and respond appropriately to them as well.
Just because you think it’s cute that your child hugs your dog doesn’t mean your pup does, so keep an eye on their body language.
Helping Your Dog Manage Stressful Situations
Okay, now that you know dog whale eyes are a sign that your pup is stressed, what can you do to help?
- Helping your dog manage anxiety somewhat depends on the situation and what is triggering them. Early socialization can help your dog become more balanced and comfortable overall and adapt to unfamiliar situations more easily. Obedience training is also vital to keep your dog under control and as a tool to distract them from anxiety triggers.
- In some cases, if you quickly recognize the signs that your dog is stressed, you may be able to remove them from the situation before it worsens. However, let’s say your dog gets stressed at the vet; it’s not in their best interest to avoid going to the doctor!
- You can practice desensitization training, replacing the negative associations your dog has formed about the vet with happier ones. For example, ask your vet if you can bring your dog by the office to visit and eat treats. You can work slowly through all the steps of the vet visit, offering treats and praise to your dog as they learn to stay calm.
- If your dog suffers from severe anxiety, talk to your vet about more advanced solutions. These may include a referral to an animal behavior specialist or prescribing anti-anxiety medications.
Final Thoughts
Dog whale eyes are among the most common indicators that a canine is uncomfortable or stressed. While we never want our dogs to be afraid, it’s also vital that pet owners learn to recognize these signs of stress and how to respond correctly for safety reasons. Many dogs are surrendered to animal shelters because of behavioral issues or biting, with unfortunate results. Understanding the dog’s body language can help you keep yourself and your dog out of situations that may escalate out of your control.
Featured Image Credit: Fotoshautnah, Pixabay
