Why Do Dogs Stare At You While You Eat?

Dogs stare at you while you eat because they want what you’re eating. In the wild, dogs stare at the pack leader as they eat. This is how they let them know they are hungry and hope to get their scraps. You’re the pack leader, and they are hoping you’ll share your meal.

How to curb staring during meal time 

Because this behavior is a natural instinct, curbing it completely can be difficult. You can, however, take steps to not encourage staring.

NEVER feed your dog from the table 

Unless you want your dog planted next to your seat at the dinner table for every meal for the rest of their life, do not toss them a treat from the table. Even if you only do it once, they’ll never forget. They’ll spend the rest of their life waiting patiently for a repeat. If you want to share your table scraps, you need to take your plate away from the table and put some space between the dog staring and you giving them the food so they doesn’t associate the two.

Ignore them 

You can’t say enough to eliminate a natural instinct. Instead, completely ignore their staring. Over time, this may help minimize the behavior.

Feed your dog first 

Some pet owners have had success with feeding their dogs before they sit down for a meal. If your dog is full, they may be less interested in whatever is on your plate. Of course, some dogs can never get enough, so don’t expect this to be one hundred percent effective.

Why do dogs stare at you while you eat? They want your food! If it really bothers you, or if you’re having company, simply crate your dog (if they are crate-trained) during mealtime to eliminate the problem. 

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