My Dog Keeps Looking Up and Around

People love their dogs. More than companions and more than just pets, dogs often feel like part of the family. The things they do and the quirks they acquire endear them to us, strengthening the natural bond that exists between a dog and their person.

So when your dog keeps looking up and around and developing other strange, inexplicable behaviors, it’s natural to have slight concerns. 

Understanding why your dog keeps looking up and around will help put you at ease. Some explanations for this behavior are perfectly harmless. However, some reasons might require further study and a trip to the vet.

Harmless Reasons Your Dog Looks Around

When you catch your dog looking up and around, you might feel concerned. But remember: there are a lot of practical explanations for why your dog might be behaving this way. Jumping to conclusions about your dog’s health will only lead to anxiety on your part, so it’s best to consider all the possibilities before making any calls to the vet.

They See Something

Dogs are alert, and their sense is usually better than ours. But when it comes to vision, they actually don’t see as well as humans do. Seeing something on the ceiling or in the sky could capture their attention as they try to figure out what they’re seeing.

It may seem strange if your furry friend suddenly starts staring at the ceiling, and you don’t spot anything interesting up there. And if you find yourself wondering why your dog keeps looking up and around, remember that what might seem dull and mundane to you could be incredibly interesting to them.

Often, a dog looks up and around simply because they’re curious. If your pup sees something, they want to figure out what they’re observing.

Even if they see something they’ve seen a hundred times, like a fan or a stain on the ceiling, you’ll likely catch your dog looking up and around quite often.

They Hear Something

If you catch your dog looking up and around, it might be that they don’t see anything. It could be that they hear something.

Dogs have notoriously good hearing, much better than we humans. Often, a sound will catch their attention, and they will look up and around to try to locate the source. 

If you catch them staring upward and you can’t seem to figure out what they’re staring at, consider the possibility that they’re staring at nothing. It could be that they’re just looking for a sound. 

They’re Bored

Dogs need stimulation and entertainment. They need things to occupy their minds and use up their energy. 

A dog looking up and around can signify that they’re bored and need something exciting to do. If your pal keeps staring at the ceiling, and there’s nothing on the ceiling, consider taking them for a quick walk around the neighborhood. 

When a dog gets bored, that usually leads to bad behavior. If your dog keeps looking up and around, and it doesn’t seem likely that they’re looking at something exciting or trying to locate a sound, it might be that they need some exercise. Putting this off can lead to chewed shoelaces and massive holes in the yard.

More Serious Reasons

Sometimes, when your dog keeps looking up and around, it’s a sign that something more serious is going on with them. Whether it’s a sign of a medical condition or anxiety, it’s essential to know how to react when these behaviors catch you off guard.

Stargazing 

We all know what stargazing is, but what about when we see our dogs stargazing? Does this mean there’s something wrong with our four-legged buddies?

Stargazing could be a sign of many things. Infections, viral and bacterial, can cause your pup to stargaze. Some organ dysfunction causes stargazing, as well as head injuries and neurological problems. 

If combined with other strange behaviors, such as snapping at the air or licking the floor, stargazing could signify gastrointestinal disease. 

Stargazing can be a sign or a symptom of something serious going on with your dog. When your dog starts looking straight up and staring for long periods, it’s wise to seek consultation with an expert. 

Disorientation

If your dog keeps looking up and around and you notice that they seem disoriented, it could be a sign of something called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS). 

CDS is more common in aging dogs, especially when they live longer than expected. CDS acts like Alzheimer’s in a dog, reducing their cognitive function. 

CDS is challenging to diagnose in a dog. It’s much more common in aging dogs, and usually, a process of elimination must be utilized to figure out what’s going on with them. 

Disorientation is usually the first symptom of CDS, followed by other symptoms such as looking up and around with no apparent explanation. 

Fly-Snapping

Fly-snapping can be a sign of many different things. If you notice your dog snapping at flies, pay attention to other things that they do to try and figure out what might be going on with your dog. 

If you notice lots of fly-snapping associated with other things, especially looking up and around, it could be a sign of some neurological disorder in your furry friend. If your dog keeps looking up and around and has fly-snapping syndrome, it could be a sign of epilepsy.

Epilepsy is one of the more common neurological problems a dog might face, and getting them the proper treatment is critical to making sure your dog can still have a good life. 

Final Thoughts

If you’re wondering why your dog keeps looking up and around, it could be a sign of something serious that requires the attention of a veterinarian. 

However, if your dog keeps looking up and around, it could simply be a sign of them getting distracted, hearing things, or checking out something interesting on the ceiling. 

There’s no need to panic if you notice that your dog does this, but it’s worth paying attention in case your pup does need expert attention.