Puppy Dog Eyes: Why Dogs Give this Cute Eye Expression?

Since dogs can’t speak, they convey their feelings or communicate with their parents or other dogs through eye expressions. In the pool of dog eye expressions, some look angry and humorous, and some are so cute, like the one we’re discussing: the puppy dog eyes!

That cute eye expression has the power to melt your heart quicker than butter on hot toast. Those big, charming “please give me that treat” saying eyes can make even the toughest people fold and give in.

While some people interpret it as a humorous or sad expression, puppy dog eyes are a social signal aimed at humans. This expression is a way for dogs to communicate or appeal emotionally, fostering a bond or seeking care and attention.

Let’s go even deeper to understand why dogs show this endearing eye expression and how eye contact can create a robust bond.

What are Puppy Eyes in Dogs?

Puppy dog eyes are a facial expression in dogs that involves raising their inner eyebrows, giving their eyes a larger and more infant-like appearance, which rug people’s hearts. This look mimics the same look humans make when sad, so people think this expression indicates sadness in their dog.

While puppy eyes might appear like a sad expression in dogs, a study reveals it’s not a sign of sadness, rather it’s a clever trick dogs use to manipulate you to receive attention and affection. Ah, their sharpness!

What Lets Dogs Make Puppy Eyes?

Dogs make puppy eyes when they want human attention or to express emotions and win over humans.

This cute eye expression evolved due to dogs’ domestication and human interaction. According to scientists, dogs build up unique muscles called the levator anguli oculi medialis (LAOM) around their eyes which lets them raise their inner eyebrows, creating “puppy eyes”. These muscles were absent in gray wolves, their wild ancestors.

The development of these muscles came in dogs from stronger emotional bonds with humans by mimicking human facial expressions. However, newer research says similar muscles also exist in some wild canids.

Responding to Your Dog’s Puppy Eyes

When your dog gives you puppy dog eyes, it means they’re trying to communicate something specific, like seeking attention or affection, requesting food, showing submission, expressing anxiety, or understanding your intentions.

Respond by making gentle eye contact to strengthen your bond with your dog, which can lead to better behavior. However, if your dog uses eye contact to beg for food too often, it’s best to neglect their puppy dog’s eyes to discourage begging. So responding appropriately is important to maintaining healthy communication with your pup.

Why People Adore Puppy Dog Eyes

Those who notice their dog’s puppy dog eyes for the first time, love it—even if they don’t know its meaning. Here are the reasons why this expression is such adoring:

1. Humans Are Drawn to Larger Eyes

Humans are naturally drawn to looks in pets that resemble human infants, with big eyes being one such charming feature. This phenomenon, known as baby schema or kindchenschema, triggers human caring and nurturing responses.

2. They Express Vulnerability

The expression creates a sense of vulnerability that triggers our protective instincts. This vulnerability signal helps strengthen the human-canine bond and often results in increased care and attention from dog owners.

3. They Look So Emotive

Eye contact is one of the main ways dogs communicate with parents. Dogs’ ability to make puppy eyes gives them a wider range of facial expressions, making them appear more emotionally intelligent and relatable to humans.

4. Easy to Interpret

Unlike some other canine behaviors that might be subtle or complex, puppy dog eyes are easily recognizable by humans of all ages and cultures. This universal understanding helps facilitate clear communication between dogs and humans.

Telling Apart Various Dog Eye Expressions

Dogs show more than just puppy eye expressions; they have a bunch of other eye expressions too, which are also crucial to know to better understand your pooch. Here are some of them with their meanings:

Dog side eye: Dogs give side eye by looking sideways while keeping their head still which signals different emotions including stress, discomfort, or playfulness.
Soft eyes: When pups give soft eyes with relaxed eyelids and sometimes squinting, it’s a clear sign your dog is comfortable in their environment and content.
Hard eyes: When they are on high alert and may feel aggressive or guarding something, they give hard eyes by wide opening their eyes.
Avoiding Eye Contact: It’s when you look at your pup, but he looks back and forth and doesn’t make eye contact. It’s a sign that he is shy or discomfort.

While these are the usual ones, dogs have even more types of eye expressions. I thought these should help you understand what your dog wants to say when he shows different eye expressions, so I shared.

Dog Breeds that Display Puppy Eyes Most Often

In the pool of dog breeds, there are hundreds of breeds but of course, not all are created equal. Most of the breeds show puppy eyes but ancient dogs like Siberian Husky are considered exceptions due to their resemblances with wolves and almond-shaped eyes.

Some dog breeds are naturally prone to showing puppy eyes because of their facial structure, behavior, and the way their eyes are positioned.

So the breeds that display puppy eyes most often include Basset Hounds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Pugs, Shih Tzus, and so on so forth.

Deepen Your Bond Through Eye Contact

Eye contact is a powerful communication tool between dogs and their parents that releases oxytocin, creating an emotional connection. Here are some how to’s for eye-to-eye connection:

Practice soft, gentle eye contact
Avoid prolonged staring (or they may perceive it as threatening)
When training, make brief eye contact to keep attention and encourage good actions.

When your dog makes voluntary eye contact, reward it with its fav treat! This approach can help build trust and create a deeper, more intuitive understanding between you and your canine companion.

Wrapping Things Up

Puppy dog eyes are on the list of many adorable dog traits parents love. Yes, it is a cute expression, but dogs also use it as a tool to communicate and strengthen their bond with humans.

Plus, dogs show puppy eyes to express their love or their trust in you, not just to trick you to get extra treats. You must know why dogs give this look, the science behind it, and how to respond appropriately to deepen your connection with your pup!