If you’ve ever owned a dog or spent any length of time with one, then the chances are you’ve seen that side-eye look. As a Doodle Dog owner, I remember seeing it for the very first time in our Cavapoo the day we brought her home. I remember thinking it was so cute and funny to see, but I later learnt that Doodle Dog side-eye (or any breed for that matter), actually has a reason that I wasn’t aware of.
What is Whale Eye in dogs?
What is Whale Eye in Dogs?
Dog side eye is often referred to as Whale Eye. Whale Eye is used to describe the way a dog looks when you can see the whites of its eyes. The dog will usually have its head turned away from you with its eyes watching you from the side.
Whilst as humans we have a tendency to think this is quite a cute look, it can actually mean that your dog is suffering some discomfort or distress.
What Does Dog Side-Eye or Whale Eye Mean?
We can learn a lot from the way our dog looks at us. Dogs generally use their body language to convey their feelings. We might see them tuck their tail down between their back legs when they’re feeling anxious, or see them wagging their tail to show they’re excited when we walk through the door. Doodle pooches are often incredibly loving, and they love nothing more than greeting us with a wagging tail when they’ve not seen us for all of five minutes.
The same goes for their eyes. We can tell a lot about how a dog is feeling by simply looking at their eyes. In a calm, happy and healthy dog, the iris will usually be fully visible.
If your Poodle cross gives you the Whale Eye, then there could be a few reasons:
- Anxiety – Some dogs can suffer from anxiety, particularly when they’re away from their owners or familiar surroundings. This anxiety can show itself with the dog giving the side eye.
- Discomfort – Dogs can’t communicate with us by speech, so they use their body language to let us know that they’re suffering. If a dog is in discomfort for any reason, you could witness Whale Eye. You’ll need to get to the root cause of the discomfort to make your dog feel more comfortable as soon as you can. This could be something as simple as sensitive skin causing your dog discomfort. Give them a good check over and see if you can see anything obvious.
- Nerves – Some dogs struggle with their nerves. This is particularly true with young dogs who haven’t socialised much, and might get nervous around new dogs or people.
- Health issue – If your dog is displaying Whale Eye and you’ve ruled out the possibility of nerves, anxiety or obvious discomfort, then there could be a health issue. If you’re unsure, you should always seek the advice of your vet. Any health issue can cause discomfort which in turn can cause Whale Eye. It could be something as simple as blocked anal glands, or a bacterial infection, but make sure you get your dog checked out.
Sometimes, the reason for your Doodle Dog Side Eye will be fairly obvious. For example, that day we took our Cavapoo puppy home and she gave me the Whale Eye was because she was nervous and scared. It was the first time she’d left her Mum, she had no idea who we were or where we were taking her.
What To Do If Your Dog Shows Whale Eye
Your Doodle Dog’s side eye is their way of letting you know that they’re not happy, they’re asking you to help them.
First of all, try to work out if there’s something simple going on that you can fix to make your dog feel more comfortable. Is there another dog nearby that they could be feeling anxious about? If so, move your dog away gently and reassure them with a calm voice that they’re ok. Is their collar too tight? What about their harness? Are there noisy children around that could be making your dog feel nervous? Focus on the things you can do to make your dog feel as calm as possible and see if their mood and demeanour improve.
If you’re satisfied you’ve done all you can to make your dog feel calm, then it’s time to start investigating other possible causes of Whale Eye, particularly if it’s being exhibited alongside other symptoms such as loss of appetite or hair loss. Get in touch with your vet and ask them to take a look at your dog.
How To Know If It’s Actually Whale Eye
Sometimes, your dog may just look to the side without it being an issue. Perhaps they’re just briefly glancing at you before carrying on chewing their Yak chew. In these instances, this wouldn’t be classed as Whale Eye and it’s not something you should be worried about.
When a dog gives you the Whale Eye Side Eye, they will also be displaying other signs of discomfort too. This could be anything from backing into a corner, physically shaking, or tucking their ears back as a sign of distress.
Other Signs Your Dog Is Stressed
If your dog is stressed, they will let you know through their body language and their behaviour. All dogs are different, but these are a few of the most common signs of distress in dogs:
- Growling
- Showing their teeth
- Panting
- Pacing
- Tail tucked between back legs
- Ears tucked down
- Lip licking
- Shaking
- Hiding
- Whining or barking
- Shedding
Is Whale Eye always something to be concerned about?
If your dog is showing other signs of distress as well as giving you the side eye, then you definitely need to look into the cause.
But, let’s be honest here, dogs are highly intelligent, and that’s particularly true of Doodle dogs (Poodle crosses). They are highly intelligent and if they want your attention, they’ll do whatever it takes to get it. That could well mean giving you that sad side eye look that makes you run over, pick them up and give them a hug!
Whale Eye is Normal for Some Dog Breeds
Many short-nosed dog breeds will always have the whites of their eyes showing, so if your Doodle Pooch is crossed with any of these breeds, then the white of the eye showing could be normal for them. This includes the following breeds:
- Pug
- Shih Tzu
- Boxer
- French Bulldog
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- English Toy Spaniel
The key here is to note any changes in your dog. So if your dog doesn’t usually have the whites of its eyes on show and all of a sudden it’s giving you those sideways glances, then it’s time to take a look into why that’s happening.
