This is Why Your Dog Winks At You: 5 Reasons

When being cheeky with a friend, you may accompany your punchline with a wink. Or maybe you’re one of those rare guys who can pull off a subtle flirtatious wink without being creepy. Winking is an endearing action used by humans in a variety of ways, but when you catch your dog winking at you, it can be disconcerting. This may lead to an array of questions.

Do dogs wink for the same reason that humans do? We want you to get to the bottom of your dog’s winking, so let’s discuss everything you need to know about the unusual pup behavior.

What Is a Dog Wink?

Before we dive into the possible reasons why your dog is winking at you, we should first discuss what a canine wink looks like. Dogs participate in a variety of unique behaviors, so we want to make sure we are all on the same page.

The term “wink” describes an action in which your dog closes and opens one eye quickly. They may have a preferred winking eye just like humans do, but it may also shift from eye to eye on occasion. Your dog will typically be looking in your direction when this occurs, whether they are truly directing this action toward you or not. Your pup may blink just once or repeatedly.

A dog wink often looks just like a wink in humans. The only difference is that it usually occurs without context (If your dog is winking at you after a well-timed joke, you have bigger problems). For any curious pet parents with a winking pup on their hands, this article should get you closer to understanding the reasons behind this odd behavior.

1. They Know It Gets Your Attention

If it seems like your dog has been winking at you regularly, then he might be trying to get your attention. This could be due to the fact that you are enforcing this behavior without knowing it, as many of us respond to our dog’s winks with adoration and affection. A winking pup is adorable, so how could you not respond? As long as this behavior does not become bothersome, then there is nothing wrong with your dog blinking for attention!

2. They Are Being Submissive

Does it seem like your dog only winks when he is interacting with other canine friends? In addition to winking, does he also display behaviors such as cowering, laying his ears flat against his head, and tucking his tail? If this is the case, your dog might wink when he is being submissive. Many dogs will squint their eyes and blink rapidly when they are trying to communicate that they mean no harm, and this can often look like they are winking.

3. They Are Mimicking You

If you are someone that often winks at others around your home, then it is possible that your dog is simply mimicking your behaviors. While this may seem odd to some, mimicking can be a way for your dog to show affection toward her owners. This is similar to humans yawning in unison, as it is often believed to help humans connect with others around them. So, the next time you see your dog winking your way, she might just be trying to connect with you and show her love.

4. They Are Having an Eyelid Spasm

Does it seem like your dog is not only winking at you, but that his eyelid itself is twitching? If this is the case, your dog could simply be experiencing an eyelid spasm. Humans can experience eyelid spasms as well, and they often occur when we are exhausted or stressed. The term used for this eye twitching behavior is “blepharospasm,” and it is quite common in both dogs and humans. If your dog is indeed experiencing an eyelid spasm, it will often look as if his eyelid has a heartbeat. In most cases, the spasm will only last a few seconds to a few minutes.

5. They Are Experiencing Eye Irritation

Sometimes it may look as if your dog is blinking at you, but she is actually experiencing eye irritation. Eye irritation in dogs can cause them to squint their eyes frequently, and it may even lead to excessive blinking in some cases. Sometimes this excessive squinting and blinking can look like winking, leading many pet parents to miss the underlying eye irritation. To make sure you can differentiate between winking and discomfort, let’s list a few common signs of eye irritation in dogs:

• Redness
• Squinting
• Excessive blinking
• Watery eyes
• Pawing at the face
• Swelling around the eye
• Eye discharge
• Change in eye appearance (cloudiness, color changes, etc.)

If you notice any of the above symptoms in addition to your dog’s winking, then we suggest reaching out to your vet for guidance. Eye irritation is not something to take lightly in our canine friends, as this could be a sign of a serious underlying eye condition.

Eye complications in dogs can lead to permanent damage, so seeking veterinary care from the moment you notice these symptoms is best. Based on your dog’s current symptoms, your vet can suggest the necessary diagnostics to get to the bottom of her symptoms.

Should I Be Worried About My Dog’s Winking?

At the end of the day, as long as there are no signs of eye irritation along with winking, then there is likely nothing to worry about.

The occasional wink from your pup can be due to everything from attention seeking to submissive behavior and may not be a result of any underlying health concerns. Just be sure to pay attention to the signs of eye irritation that we listed above and be sure to reach out to your vet if any of these symptoms are present.

Final Thoughts

Now that you are aware of the most common reasons why dogs blink at their owners, you can begin to better understand your canine friend’s behaviors moving forward. It most cases, it’s absolutely no cause for concern!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © smrm1977/Shutterstock.com