The "GSD Stare" what does it mean?

[Anthony8858]

There's a GSD owner a few blocks from my house. Her GSD is a stunning WGSL female about 80 lbs.
Whenever I bump into the owner (whether in my truck, or on foot), I always stop to say hello.

However, her dog freaks me out. The dog does not take her eyes off my face. I can "feel" her staring at me, but I refuse to engage.
She'll sit there and just stare, never removing her eyes. No movement, nothing.


Scares the crap out of me.

Now of course, the connection here is that I've witnessed Kira do that to certain people, and wondered the same.

[hunterisgreat]

Originally Posted by Anthony8858

There's a GSD owner a few blocks from my house. Her GSD is a stunning WGSL female about 80 lbs.
Whenever I bump into the owner (whether in my truck, or on foot), I always stop to say hello.

However, her dog freaks me out. The dog does not take her eyes off my face. I can "feel" her staring at me, but I refuse to engage.
She'll sit there and just stare, never removing her eyes. No movement, nothing.


Scares the crap out of me.

Now of course, the connection here is that I've witnessed Kira do that to certain people, and wondered the same.

Jäger does that.

Its either suspicion, or just curiousity... judging from how you describe how it "feels", that dog is probably suspicious of you. Does the dog ever greet you? Does the stare give you the same sort of "feeling" as this pic of Jäger? You can subconsciously pick up on their body language, posture, and the eyes... this is what you "feel" or why you are at unease from the stare... as apposed to the second picture (same dog), you can see there is no tention in this stare

[Anthony8858]

OMG jager nailed it, without the posture. It's more relaxed, but a cold stare.

[llombardo]

My dog does this all the time. I can tell that the people she does it to get nervous. She will stare at them until they are out of sight. It gives me chills. Her presence is enough to make people think twice.

[Kyleigh]

It means you haven't fed her enough and she is pondering if the person could be her next meal ... ha ha ha

Kyleigh does the same thing at the Tim's drive thru ... she just stares at the guy - no noise, not a whine, not a growl, not a bark ... he says she terrifies him! And we see him every day!

[lkellen]

Remington does the same thing when she sees someone far off and won't drop her gaze until they're gone. Not even a treat gets her to move her head! She also freaks me out when she walks to me sometimes, she drops her head real low and kind of lurks slowly. It's weird, but all in good fun, as she covers me with kisses when she reaches me!

[AJT]

I know your dog's name is Jager. It totally should be BANE (from Batman)!

[Sunflowers]

It means she is waiting for you to make a wrong move.
Just one.

[Magwart]

Try this: without looking at the dog, do some very exaggerated yawning. It's a calming signal that most dogs understand well, to communicate you are not a threat. My hunch is that after doing this a few times, the dog might watch you with a more relaxed posture. (Try to do it each time you see the neighbor, and tell your neighbor you are doing it, so he doesn't think you are being goofy.)

[katdog5911]

Stella does the stare down too. I sure would like to know what she is thinking... Is she just curious and taking it all in....or is she waiting for one false move!?