Why Do Dogs Wink? Health and Behavioral Reasons Why Do Dogs Wink At You

Did your dog just wink at you? If so, don’t worry about it flirting with you. In fact, adult dogs wink pretty often, whether they do it voluntarily or involuntarily. If they flicker once, they look cute and funny. However, if they do it repeatedly, you might think they’re having a seizure.

So, why do dogs wink?

More than often, dogs will wink to show submission or affection. Other times, they’ll just imitate you for fun and games. However, excessive winking may be a sign of underlying health issues. Read on to discover when dog winking is horseplay or a reason to visit the vet!

Reasons Why Your Dog Is Winking At You

We often look in our dogs’ eyes, wondering what they’re thinking. Their facial expressions are often subtle, and winking is moderately rare. So, when it does happen, you want to know why. Well, here are the most likely reasons why dogs wink:

Behavioral Reasons

The dog’s body language is pretty easy to read. Usually, they don’t beat around the bush when trying to get across a message. In their catalog of physical gestures, winking can be a sign of:

1. Submission

When your adult dog winks at you, it may show humbleness and obedience. In a pack of hounds, the alpha dog will never wink at the others. Instead, it’s the other pups winking to show they know their place in the pack’s hierarchy. In your case, your pooch simply shows it sees you as its superior or leader.

You may want to try this by staring directly into your dog’s eyes. After a few seconds, it should blink subtly. In other words, the dog is saying, “You’re the boss. I don’t want any trouble.”

Lastly, as a rule of thumb, if your dog stares back with increasing intensity, it may show aggression. Look at signs of hostility, such as stiffness, ears pinned back, and the dog’s whiskers erect and alert. In this case, many pet owners would consider a training program to reduce aggressive behavior.

2. Affection

Many times, a playful dog winks simply because it’s happy. If you treat your puppy right, feed it well, and play together often, it will have more reasons to wink. Playful dogs often wink to show affection and that they are in high spirits. In this case, you should entertain them and reciprocate their puppy love. For some breeds, dog winking is rare. So, don’t waste this moment!

3. Imitation

We sometimes forget that canines are nature’s people pleasers. Most breeds want to be by your side all the time. Also, whatever you are doing, it looks great to them. So, they want to get in on it.

Now, they cannot talk, type, or wash dishes. But they CAN wink. Therefore, many times, younger dogs wink back at their owners only because they are mimicking their gestures. It’s just harmless fun for everyone.

4. Seeking Attention

Last but not least, your dog’s winking may just be a sign of neediness. Some dog breeds are clingier than others. Simply put, they need affection and attention 24/7. So, when you are not attending to their needs, they’ll let you know with a wink. In this case, a short pet on the head and a few words of tenderness will reduce their clinginess.

READ MORE: Why Does My Dog Follow Me Everywhere?

Health Issue Reasons

Now, let’s talk about the worse reasons for a dog wink! Unfortunately, a wink is not always a sign of playing or being submissive. Sometimes, winking may be a symptom of health issues, such as:

5. Entropion – Severe Dog Winking

Excessive winking is not a sign of your pup saying double entendre jokes. Instead, it could be a symptom of Entropion. This genetic disorder is common in adult dog breeds with short noses and chubby faces. For instance, bulldogs and Chow Chows are the most likely ones to carry it.

Entropion causes your dog’s eyelids to roll inwards. At that point, the eyelid rubs against the eyeball, which causes pain and discomfort to your fuzzy friend. As a result, you may notice it winking excessively or squinting and blinking unnaturally often.

Below, we’ll talk more about how to care for this genetic condition in your pup. For now, you should know that if you delay treating it, Entropion may evolve into corneal ulceration. In the long run, it may even lead to your dog going blind.

6. Blepharospasm – When Dogs Wink Repeatedly

If your dog is repeatedly winking, it may suffer from Blepharospasm. This condition causes dogs to blink involuntarily. Some owners refer to it as a spasm because it always occurs out of the blue. Others see in it nothing more than an eye twitch. However, behind it may be a more severe health issue.

Unfortunately, if left untreated, this condition could lead to worse health problems. So, you may want to visit the vet and investigate it.

What to Do When Your Dog Winks Excessively

Your dog’s winking can be a cute trick you show to your friends for a laugh. However, if this behavior persists, you shouldn’t take it so lightly. So, talk about it with the vet on the next annual checkup. This way, you can identify a potential issue in time and prevent it from worsening.

On the other hand, if your pet just picked up winking from humans, you should let it be. After all, it’s just your furry friend’s way of making facial expressions.

READ MORE: Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

Should I Wink Back to My Dog?

Absolutely yes! If your pup is playful and winking, you should wink back. That’s the best way of showing everyone in the room you have a special bond with your pup.

However, if your dog winks excessively, you shouldn’t reciprocate it. That would only be repetitive blinking from both of you. So, don’t make it awkward. It’s better to see a vet.

Why Does a Dog Wink with One Eye?

As we mentioned above, a dog wink happens for various reasons, such as:   

• It shows submission.
• It expresses affection and happiness.
• It is feeling clingy.
• It is imitating human behavior.
• It suffers from Entropion.
• It deals with Blepharospasm.

Depending on the context, your dog may be winking for any of the first four reasons. For example, if you are having fun in the park, your puppy will wink once in a while. The same goes for when you scold your furry friend and, in return, it shows submission.

On the other hand, if your pet is often under the weather, winking may be a sign of an underlying health problem. For instance, if it winks excessively and doesn’t eat or play as much as it used to, you have to see the vet.

Why Does My Dog Stare at Me?

Dogs have the habit of making eye contact with their pet parents for no apparent reason. Sometimes, they can gaze at you for several minutes, thus making you feel uncomfortable. However, you should know that they’re not doing it due to their terrible social skills. Also, it’s not because their parents didn’t tell them it’s not nice to stare at people.

The reasons your dog is making eye contact with you may vary. For instance, maybe it is waiting for a treat. Also, it could be because the usual time for going for a walk is getting close. In these cases, your puppy is simply waiting for a positive sign from you.

Alternatively, maybe your pup just wants to play. So, it’s waiting for you to throw a ball, tease it with a toy, or simply give some pets. If you don’t engage, you will get bored and walk away. And, you’ll see it gaze downward disappointingly as it slowly gets out of your sight.

Lastly, a dog may make eye contact with you because it hates you or has reasons to mistrust you. It happens rarely and often with other people’s dogs. However, when you notice a pup you barely know staring you down, you should ignore it. Don’t stare back and try to diffuse the tension by pretending it’s not there. By breaking eye contact, you will avoid a potentially scarring situation.

How to Maintain Dog’s Eyelid Health

Like most mammals, dogs have an upper and a lower eyelid. And if you ever watched a dog wink closely, you would’ve noticed how they work. For instance, the upper lid moves downward to touch the lower lid. And, for a brief moment, when closes its eyes.

This natural mechanism helps protect the animal’s eyes from dust and debris. Furthermore, it hydrates the eyeballs to keep them moist and healthy.

When a dog is winking excessively from one eye only, it may signify decaying health. Your best choice is to visit the vet as soon as possible. In most cases, the veterinarian will prescribe eye drops to alleviate discomfort and pain. In extreme situations, there may be a need for eye surgery.

FAQ

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