Why Does My Dog Stare At The Wall?

If you walk into the living room and find your dog hunched over and staring intently at the wall, you might be a tad concerned. I mean, what gives? What’s on the wall that is captivating poochie so much?

You aren’t alone! Dogs that stare blankly at walls or simply into space are more common than you think. While some reasons are harmless and completely normal, other reasons might indicate a medical or health reason that needs to be checked out.

In this blog post, we’ll look at all the reasons why our beloved dogs are often fascinated with walls and can’t seem to take their eyes off them! 

Behavioral Reasons Why Dogs Stare At Walls 

First, we’ll look at all the behavioral reasons why dogs sometimes stare at walls. 

1. They Hear Something 

We are so enraptured by a dog’s formidable sense of smell that at times, we forget that their sense of hearing far surpasses our own. Dogs can hear double the number of frequencies that we can, which means they often hear things that are out of our range, which is why we don’t hear dog whistles and they leap to their paws. 

They can also hear sounds up to four times farther away, and while we can barely hear something happening 50 yards away, to them, it might sound like a foghorn. 

If they just happened to be facing the wall and staring at it while they pick up something we don’t, they might freeze in that position to get a better sound. They might also cock their heads to better channel the sound waves into their ear canal to figure out what it is. 

2. They See Something

While a dog’s sight isn’t as acute as some of their other senses, they can still pick up on stuff on the wall like little creepy crawlies that we miss. If your dog is looking up at a wall and staring, he or she might be simply checking out a bug on the wall and observing it to determine the threat level. 

3. Your Dog Wants Attention

Have you ever entered the room and noticed your dog staring at the wall before? What did you do? Did you call your dog to you, pet it, or otherwise give it love and affection? 

Your dog might have picked up (very sneakily!) that staring at a wall means it is about to get loads of attention, and if your dog is in the mood for some TLC, he or she might simply be staring at the wall to get a big belly scratch.

4. Your Dog Is Bored And Compulsive 

Bored dogs often display compulsive behaviors such as excessive licking, chewing, digging, and pacing. Compulsive behavior in dogs can be a troubling problem for owners to manage. 

It most commonly manifests as repetitious behaviors such as chasing an imaginary object or obsessively grooming themselves. It can also manifest in strange behaviors like staring at walls or chasing their tail. 

Compulsive behavior in dogs can be managed but educating yourself on the disorder and properly adapting your dog’s lifestyle and environment is essential to helping them cope. In addition, make sure that they are getting enough exercise to stay physically and mentally happy. 

Although still relatively harmless, compulsive behavior is probably one of the more worrying behavioral reasons why your dog is staring blankly at a wall. 

Preventing compulsive behaviors in dogs requires owners to pay attention to their pet’s behavior and provide them with an adequate environment. The key is to provide enough exercise, mental stimulation, quality sleep, and socialization with other dogs. 

You can make sure your pooch has the opportunity to engage in activities they like and they should avoid overstimulating them. Creating a consistent and rewarding routine can help dogs stay relaxed and motivated.

If you feel this behavior is getting out of hand, or if you notice other compulsive behaviors like the ones stated above, you might want to consult a vet or animal behaviorist so they can determine the trigger of the problem and help find an appropriate solution.

Medical Reasons Why Your Dog Is Staring At The Wall 

While some behavioral reasons might be relatively harmless, medical reasons most likely will need professional diagnosis and treatment. Some conditions, if left unchecked, can escalate into more severe illness that is difficult to rectify.

1. Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome

One of the more common conditions that affect dogs, especially older ones, is Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, or CDS. CDS is a common affliction among aging dogs and is comparable to dementia in humans. 

CDS is a neurological disorder that affects older dogs more commonly than younger ones. It is caused by the gradual deterioration of nerve cells in the brain which leads to confusion, disorientation, and memory loss in our four-legged friends. 

Dogs suffering from CDS often display changes in behavior such as increased sleeping time, decreased interaction with people or other pets, loss of house training habits, difficulty recognizing familiar people and animals, or even barking for no apparent reason. 

If you notice any of these behaviors in your pet dog that weren’t present before, take them to their veterinarian as soon as possible – they will be able to diagnose CDS and provide treatment options tailored specifically for your dog. 

Treatment options often include medications that can help slow down the progression of the disease while also providing relief from its symptoms. In addition to these medications, there are lifestyle changes you can make at home such as providing a secure environment with minimal disturbances or environmental stimulation regularly. 

Additionally, providing mentally stimulating activities such as puzzles or interactive toys can help keep your pooch’s mind active while giving them something fun to do.

Although this condition can be tough for both human and canine family members alike, identifying the symptoms early on allows us to get our furry friends the care they need so that we can maximize their quality of life for years to come. 

2. Seizures 

Another common condition in dogs, seizures are not just convulsions and frothing, but also can manifest in other ways like staring into walls or space. These kinds of seizures are called partial seizures or focal seizures, which can be tricky to diagnose. 

Focal seizures are a type of seizure that affects only one area of the brain. Also known as partial seizures, these occur when an abnormal electrical discharge occurs in one part of the brain. This abnormal activity can cause behavioral changes such as jerking or twitching limbs; unusual vocalizations; compulsive behaviors; or disorientation and confusion. 

A focal seizure usually lasts for less than two minutes and is not associated with loss of consciousness. In some cases, however, a focal seizure can spread to other parts of the brain and become a generalized seizure. 

The most common causes of focal seizures in dogs are idiopathic epilepsy—a neurological disorder characterized by frequent seizures with no known cause—or trauma to the head or brain. 

Other potential causes include metabolic disorders such as kidney failure or liver disease; infections such as distemper; tumors; toxins; or exposure to certain drugs or medications. 

If your dog experiences a focal seizure, it’s important to take them to the vet right away so you can get a proper diagnosis and begin treatment if necessary. 

The treatment plan for focal seizures will depend on the underlying cause but typically includes anti-seizure medications and lifestyle modifications such as avoiding triggers (like stress) and providing a low-stress environment at home. 

If your pooch has had more than one seizure in six months, or two or more unprovoked seizures within 24 hours, they may be diagnosed with epilepsy and put on anti-seizure medication long-term to reduce their risk of future episodes. 

If your pup ever experiences any unexpected behaviors such as jerking limbs or vocalizations, it’s important to take them to the vet right away so they can diagnose the underlying cause and begin treatment quickly if necessary. 

3. Diabetes and Loss of Vision 

The majority of dogs with diabetes will often lose their vision after a while. The loss can be partial or full, depending on the severity of the condition. A dog that is slowly losing its vision might be staring into space or at walls to try to adapt to its new physical state. 

Diabetes affects about 1% of dogs, especially senior ones. The condition can be a serious health risk, and it is even more troubling when the disease is advanced to the point of causing vision loss. 

Living with diabetes often means managing altered diets and lifestyle modifications, but when those measures do not prevent vision loss due to diabetes, owners must also consider corrective care for their dogs.

Final Thoughts

If you notice your dog staring at walls once or twice, it might not be a reason to panic and it could be simply an isolated incident. 

However, if your dog frequently stares into blank spaces or at walls, it might be time for a vet visit just to rule out any medical issues.

When in doubt, always seek the help of a doggy healthcare professional. After all, we all want the best for our pooches!