Why Do Dogs Show the White of Their Eyes (Whale Eyes)?
First of all, lets look into some of the “mechanics” behind this facial expression. In other words, what triggers dogs to show the white in their eyes in the first place?
Whale eye comes out of an instinctual behavior of both wanting to look away (considering that direct eye contact means confrontation in the canine world), but also, at the same time, needing to keep an eye on what’s coming.
Whale eye may also be seen when dogs widen their eyes out of fear or as Barbara Handelman explains in the book Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook, when the skin on top of the dogs head is so taut that it ends up stretching the dogs eyelids away from the eyes, exposing the white portions of the dogs eyes.
Dogs may show a “whale eye” in a whole host of situations from being hugged or photographed or when they are guarding a toy or bone. In these types of situations, they may feel uneasy or uncomfortable.
Dogs in these situations may not understand the situation that’s happening or may feel threatened by something and therefore, tense up. It’s key to read the rest of your fur baby’s body language to see whether they really are showing signs of fear or stress in a given situation.
Dogs May Give Whale Eyes If a Stranger Hugs Them
One of my biggest concerns is when a child hugs a dog. Most dogs don’t like being hugged, or held too tightly. If they feel like they don’t have a way out, they could bite.
In the above, you can see that the dog isn’t very happy about being hugged by this child. If this situation were to continue without interruption (such as an adult asking the child to release the dog), the dog may become so uncomfortable and stressed that he feels he has no way out and therefore bite.
Not All Whale Eyes in Dogs Are Bad
Not all whale eyes in dogs are equal — and not all whale eyes in dogs are bad. Some dogs are masters at not moving their heads, only their eyes. If you have a dog like this, then you have a clown in your home. I know because I have one.
Oscar, my Labradoodle, loves to keep his head still while looking at me by just moving his eyes. I’m sure I reinforced this behavior because it makes me laugh every time he does it. So, for Oscar, when he shows the whites of his eyes, he’s playing and wanting to engage. I’ve taught him some silly tricks that encourage him to show me the whites of his eyes. For example, placing a soft toy on his head and asking him to wait very still before I release him to throw the toy off his head and catch it mid-air. While he’s waiting for me to say “OK,” he’s shifting his eyes back and forth and up and down, with anticipation while exposing the whites of his eyes. We love this game.
Cloudy Eyes in Dogs
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‘Whale eye’ is a term used to describe dog body language referring to the dog’s eyes. This is when the whites of the eye (know as sclera) become pronounced. Whale eye is the most common term, but it can also be referred to as ‘half moon eye’.
Depending on the direction in which the dog’s eyes move, it is most likely to occur on either the inner corner or outer sides of the eye. In most cases, whale eye can be seen when the dog is experiencing some form of discomfort or anxiety.
The reason the whites of the eyes are visible is that the dog is most likely trying to avert his gaze, perhaps slightly turning his head away from what may be of concern to him, but he is also too cautious to take his eyes off the thing of concern. This action of slight head movement whilst trying to keep an eye on things causes the whites of the eyes to become evident. A fearful or aroused dog’s eyes become wider – another reason why the sclera becomes more pronounced. It is also likely in such cases that there will be muscle tension and ridges in areas of the face, pulling the eyes open wider.
If a dog is relaxed, the eyes appear slightly squinted or almond shaped. Certain dog breeds naturally have slightly bulging eyes, allowing the whites of the eyes to be visible at times, but, with such dogs, generally the amount of sclera visible is not as pronounced as true ‘whale eye’. This is why it is important not only to observe the eyes but the dog’s whole body and body language to correctly interpret what you have observed.
Whale eye should be treated with caution. Depending on the body language and context, it may mean the dog is feeling threatened, and there is a possibility the situation could escalate to a bite.