Is this a whale of a puppy that we have four months old?

simply gives me a perceptive gaze. Whale eye has a lot of context. Whale eye is a common playtime symptom for my hyper-focused daughter; it happens mainly with smaller toys when her prey drive intensifies. However, she also gives off the whale eye when she feels uneasy in particular circumstances.

To put it another way, I believe that a dog with a whale eye is one that is intensely focused on something. If you want to know if the emphasis is playful, angry, afraid, etc., you have to read the additional body language. Just my viewpoint, though.

I had never heard of a whale eye before :sob:. What does it actually mean?

The whites of a dog’s eyes can sometimes indicate that it feels uneasy or that it is terrified of something.

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Is there anything more particular about it? When my dog begs for food or attention, he definitely has more whites in his eyes.

It’s not it if he’s pleading for food or attention. It’s a reaction of terror. They may just adopt a stiff, lowered posture, or they may attempt to flee. It’s not all that unlike how our eyes can widen in fear or surprise.

I believe that in this case, context is crucial. Did you do anything that the dog would find uncomfortable? Is it bothering him/her that you’re in their area? If not, it may be as simple as their shifting their entire head so that their eyes are focused on you. I love how much attention you’re giving your puppy’s body language!

Indeed, I was having trouble adding text while I was posting an image, but in essence, we were just lounging on the couch, which is his favorite spot, and I was giving him a peck. He turned back to face me as I stopped, and I had a good feeling that he was saying something like, “Come on, Mum, I want more pets!” However, after reading blogs about how dogs occasionally give the “whale eye” when they’re uncomfortable, I began to have second thoughts about how I had interpreted his behavior.

I greatly appreciate your reply! I’m going to try my hardest to ensure that this young kid has a happy childhood because he is my best friend. However, there is undoubtedly a learning curve, hehe

It’s great that you’re so committed to understanding your pup’s communication. In this case, I think your original interpretation was right. When he turned to you and made eye contact, he was asking for more pets.

Whale eye usually involves the dog looking away from you. Turning towards you is often a sign of engagement and enjoyment. So, in this case, his behavior indicated that he was enjoying your pets and wanted more.