If a dog looks you in the eye, that is generally a sign that he sees you as being more dominant. Dogs will look away from other dogs if they cower or back down to show submission and retreat (also known as ‘looking away’ and turning their head to one side). They also do this when playing tug-of-war. The only time the dog might not avert its gaze is if you pat them on the head or give them a treat; these are signs of acceptance, but not necessarily dominance.
This article offers some possible reasons why dogs tend to look at people differently than they would another dog – like looking an owner in the eye instead of at their feet, for example. It then goes into what those different types of looks might mean to your dog.
It also gives some hints on how to tell if a dog is happy or not, and gives a few tips on how you can train them to look at certain things so that you know their emotions.
The article talks about the importance of being able to read what your pet’s body language is telling you so that you’ll know what to do for behavior modification. This is very useful if you have a dog with certain challenges.
Let’s say your pet barks every time the mailman comes to your house, or when children are playing nearby. You can use their body language to tell when they are just being playful and excited, or if it’s not appropriate.